---
# System prepended metadata

title: SOP - Security
tags: [SoP]

---

###### tags: `SoP`
# SOP - Security

The Internal Security Department (ISD) is a crucial part of every Nanotrasen corporate holding. As a member of the ISD, you are expected to protect the installation, as well as your fellow crew, from any threat that arises.

## Duties & Expectations

- Maintain order. The installation cannot function under chaos.
- Work with the crew. Both the ISD and all others are part of the installation's staff - it is not you versus them.
- Protect the installation from any threats, whether internal or external.
- Practice good etiquette. Remember, you are often on the front lines of first contact - represent the company in good light.
- Uphold [[Corporate Regulations]]. They are provided for the crew's safety.

## Dress Code & Presentation

Members of the Internal Security Department hold both authority and responsibility. They must be easily identifiable while on duty.

- It is **mandatory** to wear recognizable security uniform(s), **or** otherwise recognizable clothing.
- Recognizable clothing include:
    - Most clothing with dominant colors consisting of two or more of: black, blue, and red.
    - Clothing must *practically* allow physical motion, given the duties which often fall upon the department. 
    - Overly casual clothing, e.g. short tank tops and skirts, are allowed but discouraged.
- Those with nudity permits **must** wear either a red security armband, appropriate outerwear, or appropriate headgear.
- Detectives / Forensics agents do not need to follow the above; they may wear something thematic for their job.

## Definitions

Relevant terminology is clarified below, both for security directives as well as for corporate regulations, to clear up confusion.
- **Lethal Weapons**: Any weapon intended for and/or able to be used in a lethal configuration. This includes things like energy guns, as they have a lethal setting.
- **Non-Lethal Weapons**: Weapons not designed to be used lethally and/or not containing a lethal setting. Ballistic armaments that are unable to fire lethal rounds without (illegal) modification are included.
- **Director**: 'Director' refers to the installation's director, facility director, captain, or the acting director in times of crisis.
- **Central Command / Installation Oversight / Corporate:** Each installation has an assigned command post, or an assigned relay station/ship for said command post. This is where most faxed reports go to.
- **Crime** refers to any breach of [[Corporate Regulations]].

## Chain of Authority

The Internal Security Department operates with a more unique chain of command than other departments. 

- The Director of the installation and the Head of Security serve as de-facto leads of the ISD. The Head of Security may overrule with *sufficient* reason in cases of conflict.
- The warden holds de-facto authority over the brig, and the final word on sentencing, within reason.
- Other members of Command have no hard authority on security proceedings. Security, however, must abide by valid orders while in another department.
    - The directives of Command should regardless be considered, even if not binding. You are here to work with them, not against them.
    - Command staff are not above Corporate Regulations. You are expected to follow best judgement to determine how to resolve any particular breach.
    - Attempts to hamper legitimate exercise of Security's responsibility towards protecting the installation may be overruled, e.g. a head of staff harboring a fugitive in their department and refusing to allow Security entry. In severe cases, the member of command may be charged with the same breach as the person in question, if judged to be aiding and abetting.
- Those in employ or command of the ISD are **not** above regulations and directives. The ISD has an obligation to protect the installation, including from those in command of it if necessary.
    - The Warden would be able to rightfully stop the HoS/Director from checking out multiple lethal weapons from the armory without reason.
- The HoS, Warden, and Director **do** possess the power to temporarily suspend or modify the sentencing and/or sanctions levied upon an perpetrator, potentially up until the end of the shift.
    - They do **not** possess the power to pardon individuals or **overrule** charges. A violation of regulation still occurred, regardless of what is done in response.
    - Severe cases are recommended to be faxed to Central Command for book-keeping and review.
    - It is recommended to involve IAA if corruption or nepotism is suspected.
- Sentences **may not** be suspended in extreme cases where doing so would represent a tangible threat to the installation.
    - e.g. The HoS may not order letting a murderer run free in most cases. Attempts to do so may additionally result in charges of 'Exceeding Official Power' towards the Head of Security in question.
- **Detainment powers:** All members and leaders of the ISD, including acting Directors, carry the power to detain crewmembers for investigation.
    - Forensic analysts and Detectives are primarily hired for investigations; they should hand off arrests to officers outside of emergencies.

## Rules of Engagement

The Internal Security Department is equipped with a wide variety of tools and armaments, ranging from non-lethal, to less-than-lethal, to fully lethal.

- **Verbal coercion and de-escalation is to be prioritized in all cases where it is possible.** Remember: You are here to work with the crew, not against them.
- **Non-Lethal** and **Less-Than-Lethal** weaponry may be used to detain someone attempting to escape custody or resist a valid arrest. Examples;
    - Someone running away from a valid arrest
    - Someone attempting to break out of detainment
- **Lethal force** may be used in cases where a crew-member's life is at risk, or when the installation is at risk of severe damage. Examples;
    - Someone with an explosive attempting to use it on the installation
    - Someone threatening crew with a lethal weapon
    - Someone attempting to pilot the installation (in case of ship deployments) into asteroids
    - Someone attempting to seize the bridge
    - Someone attempting to subvert stationbound synthetics
    - Someone attempting to raid the ISD's Armory
- **Lethal force** may be used if all reasonable attempts at non-lethal detainment fails. Examples;
    - Someone is green, mean, screaming, and punching their way out of the brig.
    - Someone is hopped up on extreme painkillers and waiting them out is not viable
    - A synthetic which stun weaponry is not effective against.
    - The brig is destroyed, and a violent criminal is resisting arrest.
- **Lethal force authorization is just that, authorization.** Officers of the ISD are expected to be able to justify with valid reasoning any application of lethal force.
    - An officer may be charged with **excessive force in detainment**, or in extreme cases, **murder** if they are found to be using lethal force at a whim.

## Immediate Threats

The following scenarios and intrusion in the following areas allow for the *potential* use of **lethal force** to subdue a perpetrator without the usual following of RoE. It is expected that an officer make a best-effort judgement call.
- Armory, or any attempt at securing high-grade lethal weaponry via illegal means.
- AI/Cyborg uploads, or any attempt at unlawful modification of synthetic laws.
- Toxins Lab, or otherwise fabrication/usage of high explosives, biological weaponry, or chemical weaponry. See 'Terrorism' in Corporate Regulations.
- Research Server Room, if sabotage is suspected.
- Engine Core, if sabotage is suspected.
- Gateway, if sabotage is suspected.
- **It is expected that a best-effort judgement call be made in all cases.** In almost none of the cases above is immediately attempting to terminate an offender a justifiable action unless there is already reason to believe the installation is in serious, lethal danger.

## Standard Equipment

All members of the ISD are expected to wear/carry the following at all times:
- Full set of uniform in compliance with departmental dress code.
- A set of non-lethal weaponry such as a standard flashbulb device, pepper spray, taser, etc.
- An emergency light source, like a flashlight or flare.
- Police tape to mark off ongoing disturbances.
- A way to access records remotely, especially for checking arrest statuses; HUD glasses are recommended for this.
- Supplementary devices like PDA cartridges, hailers, warrant projectors, recorders, etc, are recommended.
- **All members of the ISD must be on-comms, with a security communications key, at all times while on duty.**

### Warden / HoS / Director

The Warden, Head of Security, and Director are permitted and recommended to carry a lethal weapon for emergency purposes, whether this be their provided defense weapon in their locker or something else of their choice. All weapons from the armory must still be checked out with the Warden (if one exists), or otherwise made a note of.

### Detective / Forensics

Forensics agents may carry the standard less-than-lethal weaponry in their lockers. They should also be carrying their forensic gloves, evidence bags, recorder, tape, camera, etc - anything to assist in investigation of an incident at short notice.

## Weapons / Permits

See corporate regulations for more details.

### Permits

Standard permit forms may be found in [[Guide: Paperwork]]. There should be valid reasoning to issue a permit, especially if the permit is for something considered highly dangerous.

Permits must be signed by the Director, or the HoS, or the Warden, in that order of priority, depending on who is onboard at the *time of issue*.

It is considered common courtesy to inform a newly arriving ranking officer of permits issued before their arrival.

- Permits may be revoked by their issuers, or revoked by a higher ranking officer.
- Permits do not mitigate crimes committed with weapons or contraband in such permit.
- Permits may be terminated by *any* officer's discretion if the items in question were used to commit a crime.
- **No individual may sign for their own permit.**

### Security

Members of the ISD have *de-facto* authorization to carry armaments necessary for their job.

This includes:
- Anything listed in 'standard equipment' given to them in their lockers
- Anything found in the brig as additional eqeuipment that do not fall under armory gear
- Anything checked out from the armory through valid means

Officers nonetheless require permits or for weapons obtained externally that they otherwise would not have by default.

Officers are **not** immune from contraband regulations.

### Visitors

In addition to permits, visitors may be granted permission to carry contraband onboard verbally by the Director or the Head of Security. Security is advised to monitor all proceedings if this clause is exercised, as they are responsible for ensuring no harm comes of it.

- This clause is expressly written to expedite matters involving other sector entities, like traders.

### External Areas

To expedite excursions and scouting conducted under the company, most contraband and weapons policy are **suspended** within the research, expeditionary, and mining department's interiors, as well as on any company owned or external shuttlecraft, or while on an excursion of any kind. Infractions of regulations (e.g. assault) are still be to be charged as such, and injunctions **against** this clause may be issued if problems arise.

## Searches

Searches of person(s) or property are always permissible in the following cases:
- If the person is being detained for a valid reason
- If the person is directly witnessed as to be breaching regulations
- On **blue alert**, or higher: Suspicion alone is enough to justify searching a person
- On **yellow alert**, or higher: Search authorization is fully ignored and department heads are expected to comply with any entry by the ISD if pertinent to the emergency in question.
- On **red alert**, or higher: Privacy regulations are fully revoked due to an immediate threat to the facility. Security may search any one/place for any reason.

Search authorization in the form of a written warrant is required to search someone outside of the above, for privileged data, or to enter a department or other area if the person(s) in charge of said area do not consent to a search.

Search authorization may be obtained from the warden, HoS, or Director. IAA are expected to audit suspicious or unnecessary issuance of warrants.

**Verbal authorization** is considered valid search authorization in justifiably time-sensitive cases. 

### Privileged Data

The following are considered privileged data, and require search authorization to be accessed, ouside of emergencies:
- Sensor data
- Medical records
- Medical scans, unless they are pertinent to security/a potential threat (e.g. sentient parasitic infections, contagions, dangerous contraband in the form of cybernetics, explosives)
- Telecommunications logs of any kind (and any data collected by wiretapping)
- Employment records
- Data stored on the Research mainframe

Each of these will be detailed in their own department's directives pages.

## Arrest Procedures

Standard arrest procedures **only** apply when detaining someone verbally compliant or otherwise not physicallly combative. Otherwise, follow **Rules of Engagement**.

1. Inform the person in question of the main reasoning for their arrest.
    - If the person is an **unregistered visitor**, e.g. visiting traders, diplomats, etc, **consult with the HoS/Director** for how to proceed. The ISD holds jurisdiction over them on Nanotrasen property, but maintaining relations is crucial for operations.
2. If paying a fine will suffice and questioning is not required, offer them a chance to do so before proceeding. Do not waste time with unnecessary detainment.
3. It may be advisable to handcuff the person in question if they are suspected of a violent crime, have weapons on their person, or if escorting them alone.

If the crime scene may require investigation, consider taping it off.

## Criminal Processing

This section is relevant when someone is already in the brig.

- Inform the suspect of their charges, as well as of their right to have the charges audited by an IAA on request. Inform IAA of their request if they choose to levy a complaint.
    - **Do not** delay processing/questioning. IAA investigations happen in parallel; see IAA section.
- Conduct any relevant questioning. See: 'Interrogation'.
    - This is also a good time to search them for any further contraband they may or may not have.
- Determine relevant charges and punishments to apply.
- Cell procedures:
    - Take the suspect to their cell; make sure the 'general area' shutters (if applicable) are closed while processing.
    - Strip off any gear that can be used as a weapon or to escape and put them into the locker. This usually involves their backpack, pockets, job equipment, etc. Do *not* strip them of their clothes/PDA/radio, or other irrelevant items!
    - Set the timer accordingly.
    - *If* deemed uncooperative, you may buckle them to the cell, and flash them before stripping them of their handcuffs and leaving the cell.
    - Open up the shutters to the general area if necessary.
- **Update security records accordingly.** List all charges in comment with a timestamp of arrest, and sentence applied. Set their status to 'incarcerated' for the duration of their stay.

## Prisoner Rights

Employee rights are **not** suspended in most cases of imprisonment.
- Prisoners should be immediately released if the brig is under severe threat, outside of cases where releasing such prisoners would pose a threat (e.g. held-until-transfer for murder).
- Prisoners are entitled to medical treatment during their stay, either by a medic treating on-site or temporary relocation to medbay. **Their timer continues to tick during treatment.**
- **Solitary confinement may only be used in the most extreme cases, and prisoners inside *must* be monitored regularly.** Solitary confinement is **not** a punishment, and reinforced cells only exist for absolute emergencies. **Abuse will result in a quick demotion and likely dismissal.**
- Prisoners are entitled to standard amenities like food, water, etc, in long stays. 
- It is expected to allow prisoners into the general area of the brig for any sentence longer than ten minutes.
- Prisoners should **not** be left unattended for long periods of time. Don't forget about the brig if someone's inside. If no warden exists, the arresting officer carries the responsibility of letting them out afterwards and monitoring their health.

## Interrogations

Interrogation rooms are provided to privately screen suspects and get any pertinent information.

- Simple matters does not require use of said interrogation rooms; do not waste time for dramatics.
- Time used for interrogation should be taken into account during sentencing. If you kept someone in interrogation for thirty minutes and they end up being charged for any less than thirty minutes, you can probably skip the brigging part.
- Time used for interrogation should not take more of someone's time than the worst case sanction of their infraction. Interrogating someone for half an hour over petty theft is asinine.
- Interrogations **may not** be conducted via duress, and any confessions made under duress outside of the most serious crimes are to be safely disregarded. Abusive practices will **not** be tolerated.

## Internal Affairs and You

**Internal Affairs** are not lawyers. They exist to audit the crew's compliance with reguations and directives.

- IAA may request entry to the brig **at any time** unless there is a valid, justifiable reason to deny them entry.
- IAA hold no hard power over the ISD. They are expected to communicate with the HoS and Director, as well as with Central Command if a compromise cannot be reached.
- IAA are **not** lawyers. It is their job to investigate questionable charges, questionable practices (e.g. nepotism, permit fraud, recklessness, unreasonable sentencing, excessive force, etc), and directive adherence within the ISD. It is **not** their jurisdiction to determine what to do with every criminal!

## Cadets

Cadets are officers in training who have received a minimum of screening and preliminary interviews.
They are not full officers, and should defer to full officers in all cases during their candidacy.
It is expected that full officers and up conduct cadet training where available.

- Cadets are expected to **avoid** engaging outside of emergencies, and when they are instructed to for the purposes of their training.
- Cadets should not attempt arrests alone **unless** no officers are onboard and there is a clear cut and dangerous breach of regulations.
- Cadets may be overruled by any other member of the ISD.

## Crew Restrictions

Installation security is expected to be capable of tasks ranging from patrols, to detainment, to investigations. As such, there are some minimum guidelines towards employment in the department.

### Physical Fitness

Members of the ISD are expected to be capable of free, unassisted motion, including trekking outdoors in standard atmospheres, climbing ladders, and the ability to carry standard and additional gear required to carry out job duties.

- EVA training is heavily recommended, but not required.

### Height / Size

Due to the demands expected of installation security, employees are required to be, at a minimum, 2'6"/76.2cm tall.

### Communications / Sensory Requirements

Members of the ISD must be able to clearly communicate and survey their surroundings. As such:

- Speech is a required part of the job.
    - TTS devices adequately serve as a replacement if not natively able to speak.
- Good eyesight is a must-have. Those with nearsightedness must have it corrected to 20/20 with usage of prescription glasses or contacts.
    - Senses that are provably equivalent to eyesight serve as a replacement.
- **Galactic Common is a must.**

### Biologies

The following lifeforms/species are **not** allowed to be permanently employed within the ISD:
- Xenochimera - Members of the ISD are potentially subjected to dangerous, provocative situations. The unique and sensitive biology of a Chimera may result in loss of control.
- Proteans - Sector treaties prohibit the express usage of nanocluster-based synthetics as dedicated policing units.
- Vox - Company policy prohibits Vox from serving as part of the ISD.

The above are open for further review.
