Method and apparatus for inspecting a security element

Method and apparatus for examination of a security element of a security document (6), wherein the security element includes at least one particulate substance having electroluminescent properties and at least one field displacement element comprising the steps of: - applying the security element with an electrical excitation field, - generating an optical image (16) at least a portion of the security element according to or during the generation of the electric excitation field, - detection of local intensity maxima (15) in the optical image (16), - verification of the security element, if a number of different image positions existing local intensity maxima (15) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, said number is at least two.