Was this wrong?

[gazza1591]

I'm not really here just for this, but i thought as i signed up i'd ask, and just to let you know, it was a store detective so i hope this is the right topic to post in.
I bought a jacket from a store, and asked could i wear it out the girl on the desk said yes. As i walked out the store a man came up to me, ( store detective at the time i didn't know), and i was with my brother, i had left the shop and he approached me and pushed me against the shop window with force. My brother turned round noticing a man had me against a wall, and i grabbed the man, and so did my brother. He told us to let go otherwise he would get back up. I asked for identity he showed the SIA card, so fair enough he was not a drunk or someone mugging me, which i thought he was, cause it was someone in plain clothes. He dragged me into the store literally, and said he saw me pick up this jacket put it on and walk out the store, he saw my receipt after i had to shove it in his face, he just let me go walked off without a sorry. Is this aloud, it's all resolved now. First of all after writing to head office i was offered £50 compensation! my dad threatend to go to court and we got £1000 and he was suspended, do you think this was totally wrong by the detective when i had bought it and he said he saw me pick it up and walk out? Should i have took this futher. Sorry for the long post. Just want to know from someone who is actually qualified. My dad asked a security guard, and apprantly they can only guide you by your arm into the store and ask nicely, unlike this man who dragged me in, and put me against the shop window. Thanks if u have the time to reply.

[80085]

Hiya,
Ill try and help you. When you say he approached you, did he approach you from the front or behind, and did he say anything to you, other than show his SIA Licence?

[gazza1591]

He approached me from the front and instantly pushed me back into the shop front entrance window, banging my head, and started shouting at me very aggresively, all he said was when he shouted, "i saw you pick up this jacked and walk out the shop", if you don't let go of me, i'll call for backup was going a bit mad like, didn't say much just that i'd been stealing.
thanks

[littlewoman]

His main mistake was that he didn't observe you correctly, ie he missed the fact that you had paid for it.
Technically they should challenge you without using any force and only use force if it is needed to stop you leaving. However, most shoplifting is drugs related and the drug addicts usually have a needle handy to stab you with and that has all the worry of AIDS etc. So I can understand, but not condone, that he overreacted.
There was a case recently where a security guard was kicked in the face suffering a fractures to the upper jaw, both cheekbones and nasal bones - he got no compensation and the offender got a suspended sentence. Attacks on security staff are very common and its rare that we get any compensation and often the attackers don't get prosecuted.

You have got some pretty good compensation considering that you didn't actually have an injury. The store detective was suspended. So it looks like you got a pretty good result.
He was wrong to deal with it like that but some of them don't get any training other than the SIA approved training and that doesn't deal with the physical side of how to restrain someone and that lack of training can lead to people using inappropriate methods.

[80085]

Hiya, Here is my professional opnoin, I do this for a living lol. Firstly he did not use SCONE, else he would have observed you paying for the item. so technically yes he is in the wrong. He should have said who he was when he appraoched you, and why he was stopping you. He shouldn't have pushed you that is unreasonable force.
It sounds like he should be given some extra training...... they will probably do this before he returns back to work.

You did ptretty well on the compo, I guess they were bricking it in case you sued them.

[fdj12]

I totally agree with lildev, i also do it for a living , im a Security Manager with a well known company....for those that dont know SCONE stands for
s Selection of the item must be seen
c Concealement of the item
o observation...continuos observation of the target, lose the target for seconds could result
in the item being dumped.
n non payment msut see the target leave the store without offering payment.
e exit...should really do the stop after target has left the store, there are exceptions though.

[gazza1591]

yes, well thanks for the replies i suppose i did get a good result, but the store had said that there was a lot of thefts in that perticular shop at the time. Which i know of because people at my school were selling jackets from the shop cheaply, but i agree he didn't use SCONE so really it was his own fault. Thanks for the help anyway, nice to hear from professionals and how it is done. Cheers

[Stumpy]

Guard committed Assault - plain and simple.

[hippy]

Ok, the group I am employed by own, several companies, 3 of which are retail. Therfore as Head of Group Asset Protection & Recovery I have a number of Loss Prevention Investigators, several Store Detectives and many Uniformed officers work for me.

The basic principle that all persons, be they Police or private, uniformed or plain clothes have to abid by when arresting is to identify themselves before laying on of hands.. Unless it is believed that to do so will lead to injury to others...

it would seem, with out wishing to commit myself to a situation to which I have only one side of the story (those of you shouting assualt please note) that you were detained incorrectly...

As to the circumstances that ran up to the stop I am confused... Can you re-clarify what the Store Detcetive said...

[DanD]

Gazza how old are you??