Assaulted by Supermarket security guards.

[jasper77]

Hi all, I would like to share the story of what happened to my brother on the 23.01.10 when he went to do his daily shopping at *********

 

Basically, on Sat. 23.01.10 my brother went shopping at the local ********* After he paid, he moved to the side and started putting his shopping (only few bits and bobs) into his rucksack as it was going to work. In this moment suddenly one of the security guards approached him and without introducing himself or saying anything such as: (Hi, I am a security guard in this shop and...) something like any normal person will say, his first words were: "Do you speak English?" (By the way the man himself had a bad English) any way so my brother said "Yes", then his next words: "I need to look into your bag!"

My brother started to take everything out the bag, and after few items the man said “That’s enough” and he went. All this happened so quickly so my brother was actually shocked as he, or anybody he knows or I know has never ever seen or heard before that a *******store security guard has got the authority to ‘Stop and search’ inside the shop.

Remember this is BEFORE THE EXIT (BEEPER), this is inside the very shop, just few feet from the till straight after he paid.

Obviously the man thought that everyone knows that he is the security guard, as his ID badge was disguised under his long coat, and just by weaving the coat for less than a second he thinks that this is enough to introduce himself.

My brother put all his shopping and belongings back in the back and went towards the exit, but he didn’t wanted to leave this just like that, so he went to the guard to ask him to see properly his ID, to make sure that this really is somebody working in the shop.

 

My brother said to him: “Excuse me, can I see your ID, so I can see your name”, then the man said “Come here” and took my brother to the side on the front of some staff room door, and then he shouted “You want my ID? Huh! You want to check me? Huh! No, I will check you! Give me your ID, and if you don’t want to do it I’ll call the police.”

My brother lifted his hands in absolute astonishment and he said. “Why do you need to call the police, you’ve done your check everything was fine, and I just wanted to see your ID. Don’t call any police as I don’t have time for this as I will be late for work, I am starting in a 15 min. time.”

The guard deliberately went near the staff room as there were another two of his colleagues (and probably no CCTV), which after this thing with the police he told them to hold my brother. “Hold him!” So one of guards was literally holding him by his arms. Then they started saying things like:

“Ooo are you afraid from the police? Hmm! Give us now your name and address and we will do a check on you.” Then one of them was saying: “Get his driving license.”

Finally surrounded by three men one of which was holding his arms, my brother gave them his names, address and date of birth. YES PEOPLE, YES this is just by going shopping at *******and asking the security guard to show his ID as he was already doing something that he has no rights to do, by stopping and searching inside the shop.

We went this evening 25.01.10 to complain to the manager, but we find that only the duty manager was there and he said he will pass it to the big manager and gave us a number to call but I don’t think much will be done. People like those should not be working in the shop at all.

 

I’ve asked the duty manager to show me a copy of ******Privacy Policy to see where is stated that a security guard has the rights to stop and search inside the shop, but of course he said that this isn’t right.

 

So, what we have here is:

 

1. Stop and search inside the shop before even going to the exit (beeper)

2. Refusing to show his ID, which is absolutely necessarily to do so.

3. Aggressive behavior, language and assault. The kind of attitude where: “Look at me, I am the SECURITY GUARD here, I am the BIG man! Who are you little man, to ask for my ID? Let me give a lesson.”

4. Since when such a staff has got the authority to ask for your full details such as name, address, D.O.B…e.g.

 

My brother’s big worry now is, that he gave his details to some strangers and anything can happen, for example few months ago, somebody tried to open few credit cards on my brother’s name.

 

After conatcting by phone I was told that the manager of the Ealing shop will conatct me, but now three days later still no phone call?

Edited January 31, 2010 by MARTIN3030
see below.

[MARTIN3030]

Will move your thread.

 

Due to the nature of the allegations,I have removed the Identifiers of the Supermarket.

Nevertheless,it should be possible to get a determination of the wrongs and the recourse in the absence of the name in any event.

This is a precautionary measure to protect the site from action.

Thanks for understanding.

Edited January 31, 2010 by MARTIN3030

[My Real Name]

Did you contact the police at all?

[JonCris]

jasper please PM me as there are certain steps you need to take now if your brother is going to consider an action against this retailer

[JonCris]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/retail-loss-prevention/246875-templates-initial-response.html