It's just I noticed in a well known International store a large notice saying.."WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEARCH ANY BAGS LEAVING THIS STORE!!",also a cusion of mine had been on a shopping trip with friends of hers they had been into this store bought items from it, and as they left she was taken to one side by two of the employees, and ordered to turn out her pockets and show her shopping bags,now my cusion is the most honest person you could come across, being the honest girl and she had nothing to hide so did as she was told,when they saw she handn't stolen anything they told her to get lost. my cusion came home in floods of tears. Now I am under the imprestion that the only people that can search you and thats the police,and even then you have to be told why you being searched and it has to be done at a police station, is this right?
My cusions parents are now dealing with the store
Neithers to stay my cusion will not be shopping at this store again
2006-11-09 09:45:14 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I suspect only the police have the right to stop and search, and only if they have reasonable grounds of suspicion.
Maybe you could ask a consumer organisation, or the Citizens Advice Bureau, just to be sure.
If I saw such a sign in a shop, I'd vote with my feet, and go elsewhere, perhaps writing a polite letter to the manager explaining why.
A while ago, I wanted petrol from a garage; a sign said I had to pay first (before filling up the car). The inference was I (or any other customer) was not to be trusted. I went elsewhere.
Remember, without customers, a business will go bust. If I get treated badly, I tell as many people as I can, so they won't shop there either. Perhaps a letter to the local newspaper would help matters.
Adverse publicity in the press will hurt these businesses where it matters; in the pocket.
2006-11-09 10:06:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
A business can impose this condition on customers - it is therefore up to the customer to choose whether or not they would like to shop in that particular store. In reality, the store would only implement such policies if shoplifting was a problem and they suspected a particular person had concealed stolen articles. Who can search depends on the premises. Police can usually search in any public place; it does not have to be at the police station (unless a more thorough search is required). Security or other designated staff may also search. The shops have policies like this to prevent shoplifting and for no other reason.
2006-11-09 18:02:18 · answer #2 · answered by jameshens 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
THAT is how you deal with the situation. There is other stores you can go to.
Now to tell you why the store did what they did. Probably theft was up in the store. The get a profile of a person most likely to steal in stores. Suprise, teenage girls!
Unfortunately, employees who do security are not trained on how to tactfully approach anyone. So they BLEW IT when they stopped your cousin. Happens all the time. Everywhere!
But like you said, go shop somewhere else.
And yes, they have the right to search EVERYONE. Including their employees.
2006-11-09 18:03:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
no they dont they have no right to search you or your bags if they suspect you have stolen from thier store and you refuse to be searched the police should then be called for them to search you and when they do you have the right to ask them for a 'reciept' of that search and by law they are obliged to provide you with it, i know i have been on the wrong side of the law a few times and when i have been in the right i have refused to be searched by the store and thier isn't a thing they can do in terms of searching through your stuff. the police even have to provide you with a 'reciept' if you are stop searched in the street.take the store for what you can start with the management and work your way up the company structure from there, not so long a go(i have been out of trouble now for over 5yrs) i was stopped in a store when i was in there with my father, brother and partner and son the store ended up giving me free shop to the sum of £25
2006-11-09 18:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by zerocool 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a shop cant do anything until you step out of the store that means you can fill your coat our a bag inside the store as if your stealing and walk around and go up to the counter and empty your pockets and pay for them but they have no right to search you in there premises because you haven't stole anything until you step outside the store and even then they have to get the police to do the search good luck.... PS get somebody else to go round the store with a couple of stink bombs just to get a smile on your cousins face again....
2006-11-09 18:00:01 · answer #5 · answered by fivelighters 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
im sure they have to have a police officer present when this is done, and then only if you are suspected of shoplifting.
If they have good reason to suspect that they can hold you until the police get there, but it is a very grey area
you dont even have to give your name and address to these people, the only person that can demand that is a police officer in uniform.
If your cousin was innocent of all that make sure you make a complaint, not only to the store and get some legal advise
2006-11-09 17:55:57 · answer #6 · answered by ♥gigi♥ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes if they have a suspicion that whoever it may be was possibly shoplifting if they are wrong you can demand an apology but it will probably just be a letter. If they find stolen goods then they call the police. If you are innocent don't struggle. Make sure you have witnesses.
2006-11-09 17:58:35 · answer #7 · answered by Crazy Diamond 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Good question. I would not shop there with a notice like that, not with bags which I do not usually carry (but occasionally I do).
I had a row in the supermarket when they tried to cheat me recently, so it can work both ways.
If they asked me to open my bags, I would refuse, and if they put their hand on me, I would hit them with the bag, if it was suitably heavy.
I would know they were bully boys and I have an adverse reaction to bullies. These sort of people have been known to pick on certain people who would get upset at such things.
2006-11-09 18:16:55 · answer #8 · answered by Perseus 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They can ask you to open bags/pockets, but they can't force you to. They can then hold you and have the police come and force you to do it. they can do this because you have entered their store on their property. But they have to have some suspicion of shoplifting. If they just did this to people they thought looked like shoplifters, that would be harassment. It sounds like a couple of ego-driven A-holes were just out to abuse their power.
2006-11-09 17:56:42 · answer #9 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Slap a lawsuit on the suckers! A good attorney can come up with some doozies to sue over. No reputable business likes lawsuits! Peace
2006-11-09 18:15:39 · answer #10 · answered by hillbilly 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋