What exactly is one of those? Or where can I get info on how to put one together?

To update you all, as I thought I already had. I contacted RLP by telephone and asked them where I stood on having to pay the fine and surprisingly, the girl I spoke to was very pleasant and asked me to explain the situation and she basically told me that if I agreed with the store manager and police to pay the price of the stolen item plus compensation, they had no further action to take as the store manager had accepted compensation, and she asked that I put my case in writing including evidence. I wrote them a letter again, outlining the situation and the fact that I paid £20 for a £7 drill bit and explained that I foolishly didn't get a copy of the receipt in store but the receipt was infact kept by the store manager. I've never heard from them since. I would have at least appreciated a letter from them to confirm that the fine had been dropped, but I guess I'm just happy that it came to a close and I was given the opportunity to learn my lesson and get on with things. I've also received an enhanced disclosure for work over the last week and there's no record of it on my disclosure so I'm assuming it was regarded as a warning and not added which I accept isn't necessarily right, but am relieved nonetheless. I guess it's always better to sort these things out head on and talk to the people rather than stick your head in the ground and feel sorry for yourself. Even better not to steal in the first place though..

I accept what you're saying, however it seems you're saying it's acceptable to steal on behalf of other people but it's not acceptable to make a mistake. I like to think I would have felt guilt had I not been caught as I'm not a habitual thief. I have read other messages on here and wouldn't have posted if I didn't think that there were people on here who understand that people do stupid things as has been acknowledged in other threads. The example you give also makes clear that the offender also made a clear decision to steal the lipgloss, just for somebody else. I'm only asking for help. If everybody else reckons I'm a hopeless thief who doesn't deserve help, then I'm sorry I've wasted your time and space. With or without your help, I can guarantee I won't be repeating my actions.

Hi and thanks for responding. The £20 I paid in the store for the item was agreed under what is called a "Community Resolution", basically what they do is if they regard it as a minor offence and deem it appropriate, they give you the opportunity to make a good-will gesture to recompense for the offence. When the officer first suggested this to the manager, the manager said that he wanted me to clear all the litter from the car park, which in my defence the officer said he didn't think was appropriate or practical since I live almost an hour away from the store, so the store manager agreed if I paid £20 for the item, that would be that. They wouldn't give me the receipt as they put the sale through with an item costing £19.99 which the member of staff said they had to keep which I wasn't impressed about, however the policeman signed my Community Resolution form to say that I did as agreed. The notice of intended civil recovery issued to me by the security officer reads thus: "You have been detained in B&Q (insert store) upon our reasonable belief that you have acquired property or cash or by your wrongful actions caused loss to this company to the value of £7.88. This notice informs you that we will seek compensation from you by Civil Recovery for the financial losses we have suffered from your wrongful act. These losses may include but are not limited to:- ~ The value of the property or cash ~ The cost to restore the goods for sale if recovered and not damaged ~ The cost of your detention ~ The costs of the investigation in to the offence ~ A proportion of security costs, surveillance and loss prevention measures at the store to prevent such thefts. CIVIL RECOVERY IS NOT A FINE AND IS ENTIRELY SEPARATE FROM ANY CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS THAT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU BY THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES. IT HAS NO INFLUENCE ON ANY DECISION TO PROSECUTE YOU OR ANY PENALTY SUBSEQUENTLY IMPOSED UPON YOU BY A CRIMINAL COURT. STORE STAFF HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO DROP CRIMINAL CHARGES OR AVOID REFERRING THIS CASE TO THE POLICE IN RETURN FOR PAYMENT OF CIVIL RECOVERY. You are also notified that the personal information we hold may be passed to the police and to Retail Loss Prevention for criminal and civil proceedings against you and may also be used, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, to prevent crime and detect offenders including verifying details on application forms. You will be notified separately by Retail Loss Prevention Limited, the company acting on our behalf, of the amount of compensation required and how to pay. IN YOUR OWN INTERESTS YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. IF YOU NEED TO DISCUSS YOUR CASE OR REQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION LIMITED, PO BOX 5413, NOTTINGHAM NG7 2BJ TELEPHONE 0115 970 3525." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Community Resolution form states: [Following personal and offence details] The victim has intimated that he/she is willing to have this matter dealt with informally (or police believe it appropriate) and provide you an opportunity to make recompense for your actions. This is voluntary and if you agree and complete the process you will not be subject to any further police investigation. Failure to complete the agreed actions may result in the matter being formally investigated and you being liable to prosecution. Officer to record any response made by the subject...[none given] Suspect to sign after last word. Appropriate adult to countersign if applicable. Agreed coure of action: Return drill to B&Q. Pay £20 to B&Q (Drill value £7.88) Declaration; 'I accept responsibility for my involvement in this offence and agree to participate in the resolution as outlined within this document. I have been made aware that all informationis available to chief officers and may be disclosed under Criminal Records Bureau 'enhanced disclosure' process' Suspect signature... Officer signature... Officer's details... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I then received the letter from RLP which reads thus: "We act on behalf of B&Q. We are instructed that on September 13 2009 at our client's premesis in (insert store) you committed a wrongful act casuing loss to our client. You wrongful interference with our client's goods or their right to payment for services means that you will be deemed to have entered our client's premesis as a trespasser. Your wrongful actions entitle our client to pursue a civil claim against you for damages to cover their losses from this incident; these losses are as follows: 1.Value of un-recovered (or unfit for resale) goods/monies/services:- £0.00 2.Staff/Management time investigating and/or dealing with incident:- £52.50 3.Administration costs resulting from your wrongful actions:- £15.75 4.Apportioned security & surveillance costs:- £19.25 TOTAL:- £87.50 You are advised that this matter is in relation to civil proceedings only and is entirely separate from any police action or criminal proceedings for this incident. Although our client's claim is for £87.50 on an entirely "without prejudice" basis our client would be prepared to accept £70.00 in full and final settlement of this civil claim against you, provided that payment is made in full within 21 days. Failure to respond within 21 days from the date of this letter will result in further action being taken against you for the full un-discounted value of the claim. Further action can be avoided by making immediate payment by telephone on 0870-167-2181, or by any of the other methods stated on the accompanying sheet. Yours sincerely J Moorhouse Retail Loss Prevention Limited" ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I know that's a lot of info but I thought it better to put as much as possible to see if anyone can suggest anything. I can't help but think I'm being forced to compensate them again when I've already been forced to compensate them by the acting police officer (who's details I do have if necessary). I hope someone can advise me on what to do as I can't see how this is a fair and reasonable punishment for nicking a £7.88 drill bit. Thanks again guys, it really is appreciated. Kris

Hi guys, Sorry to add to the pile but I'm another idiot who has self-inflicted upon myself a relationship with RLP. I was in B&Q last weekend getting some stuff because I'm fitting a new bathroom, and when I was trying to work out which drill bit I need, I noticed there was a bit just lying on the shelf out of it's packaging, so I decided I would be really clever and cunning and just sneak it out. I was promptly collared just after going through the checkouts and marched into the security guys little room and busted. He told me he'd seen me acting suspisciously and had since found the empty packet on the rack. Turned out the bit would have cost £7.80 or something like that. He made me sign a letter to tell me that I'm now banned from all B&Q stores, and that they will notify RLP of what has happened and called the police. When the police arrived, I discussed it with the officer who did a check, found out I'm not a regular criminal and understood my reasons even though I don't excuse what I did, and he went and spoke to the manager of the store who agreed to take it no further if I returned the drill bit and paid £20 as the item was now unsellable (which it was anyway, but nevermind) and I would be released without caution. I was very ashamed and apologetic, paid the £20 and thanked them for being so lenient and left thinking I had been lucky to get away so lightly and planned on writing them a letter to apologise again and ask if they would reconsider my ban as I work in construction and spend a large amount of money on a yearly basis in B&Q stores and it would be better for both of us if I was allowed to continue shopping there. I am yet to put my apology in writing and have since received a letter from Retail Loss Prevention outlining that regarding the events of the aforementioned day, I now have to pay them £80. I'm not at home so can't give you the exact details this minute but will update as soon as I can. My main concern is that for a £7.80 drill bit, £80 seems awfully inappropriate. They have given me 21 days in which to pay, but they have broken it down into investigation charges, store security charges, and something else, but as far as I'm aware, the store security exists whether or not I enter the premesis, and £80 is simply not a reasonable cost of covering the potential loss of an £8 drill bit. I think they said £50 was investigation costs, even though I was busted and confessed within about 2mins of being collared by the security guy. What exactly has been investigated? I'm sorry if I sound like I'm sitting on my high horse because I am genuinely ashamed of what I did for the sake of £8, and while I'm grateful for the way it was handled at the time, I simply can't accept that paying £100 out for the "attempted" theft of a £8 drill bit. Like I say, I'll give further details as soon as I can, but can anyone give me any advice other than not to steal? Cheers guys, appreciate you taking the time to read this. Kris