es, potentially – but your unarmed security officer licence itself does not authorise you to carry either. The Office of Fair Trading specifically states that an unarmed security officer licence does not authorise firearms, handcuffs or batons. Handcuffs and batons are restricted items under Queensland weapons legislation. Section 67 of the Weapons Act 1990 makes it an offence to possess or acquire a restricted item without a reasonable excuse.

Importantly, the Act specifically says that crowd or traffic control is not a reasonable excuse. An unarmed security officer performing genuine guarding duties may have a reasonable excuse to possess handcuffs or a baton where their duties and circumstances justify it, but simply holding a security licence does not automatically provide that excuse.

This is very different from crowd control, where the legislation specifically removes crowd control as a reasonable excuse. BARS Training Australia strongly recommends that an unarmed security officer complete appropriate baton and handcuff training before carrying this equipment. It is not simply about knowing how to put handcuffs on someone or use a baton – you need to understand lawful possession, reasonable use of force, safe application, positional risks, reporting and the consequences of getting it wrong. There are also specific requirements about how handcuffs and batons must be carried and stored.

Your employer and their insurer may also impose additional requirements. So yes, an unarmed security officer may be able to carry handcuffs or a baton with a genuine reasonable excuse – but don't confuse that with your OFT licence automatically giving you permission to carry them.