Your rights in the UK if accused of shoplifting?

katie85_2

I was in a shop today and when I walked through the security gate the alarm went off. Having nothing to hide, I went back to the counter and they searched my bag. Inside my handbag I had several garments that had been purchased that day. They asked me for 'security reasons' (as this was in a shopping centre) if I had the receipts for these garments, and I explained that my boyfriend had purchased them and therefore I did not have them on me, and he had already left for home.
I was then asked by a store detective to come into the back room,where I was told to empty my bag. He and a female colleague searched through my things and confiscated everything that I did not have receipts for. Was this legal? was I within my rights to just leave the shop, as they had no evidence and also they did not find anything on me that had been stolen, especially from their store?
The shop that detained me knew that I hadn't taken anything from their store, as they searched me and found nothing. Did they still have the right to keep me there, when the suspicion was regarding goods from another shop?
I'm in the UK, and have not been able to find anything solid regarding the law on this, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

dmg24

Were the items found in your bag available to purchase in the store in question?

What was the outcome of the store search?

Were the items in your handbag still in the bags from the store of purchase?

I am confused as to why you would have the items in your handbag, but no receipts?

katie85_2

They're all fair questions.
The items in my bag were not from the store in question, no.
The reason they were not in individual bags was to save space, I had lots of bits and bobs so I just chucked everything into my handbag. My boyfriend purchased the items for me and he was not there to show the reciepts so I can see how I looked guilty.
However, I was not sure whether it was actually legal for them to detain me when I did not have any merchandise specif to their store.
Thanks for the reply.

hieveryone

Katie, apologies if this comes across the wrong way, but something is just not adding up here.

I'm a girl, and a fairly shopaholic girl at that, and I would never put stuff in my handbag that I had just purchased, especially clothing (which I assume this is what you are meaning?) Were they in individual carrier bags or emptied out?

Secondly, I have no idea why upon purchasing an item, your boyfriend would take the receipt, but you take the garment.

Furthermore, why he would then leave you in a shopping centre to continue your shopping and not take the stuff with him.

To be perfectly honest it sounds like someone who has been round a few stores, nicked some stuff and has been picked up by CCTV and notified the other shops in the store. Retail stores often have machines that gives descriptions of someone acting suspiciously looks like.

As I said, apologies if this sounds harsh, and obviously if it is totally incorrect I apologise, but in black and white, this is how it looks to me.

As for your rights, I have no idea. Have they confiscated everything? Have you to go for a meeting/police station? Do you need to show them the receipts?

katie85_2

I totally understand why I looked suspicious.
The stuff in question was just small things, a belt, some briefs, things like that. Now that I look back on things I was stupid, as you must know, lots of small bags are annoying to carry so I got rid of all but one of them so I could fit them into my bag. I was staying at a friend's house in the city that night and needed the purchases, as my boyfriend was returning home. He paid for the items with his card so I presume that's why they gave him the reciepts
I have since got the reciepts back off him and am wondering what to do next to get my things back, but I was just wondering in general whether the store had the right to detain me in such a way when they did not find me to be stealing from their store.

hieveryone

Making a bit more sense now.

Assuming you weren't emptying the purchases in your bag in the middle of some shop and looking suspicious to other stores, and it is totally legit, I think I would be kicking up a bit of a stink.

As I said, I personally wouldn't empty things into my handbag, but then again, I'm not everyone and some people do. I know in places like Topshop they have asked me at times when buying a necklace/ring/etc if I just want to put it in another bag if they have no small ones left. So fair enough.

What exactly did they say to you when the held you? Did they ask you to sign anything? Did they ask a list of questions etc? What are the next steps they have advised you to take?

hieveryone

katie85 wrote: »

I was in a shop today

katie85 wrote: »

I was staying at a friend's house in the city that night and needed the purchases,

So, when did this happen and when are you staying at your friends? Not adding up I'm afraid.

dmg24

hieveryone wrote: »

So, when did this happen and when are you staying at your friends? Not adding up I'm afraid.

I agree, especially as that night would surely be now?!

If the store security had reasonable belief that you had been shoplifting, thy could ask you to open/ empty your bag. You could refuse, but they could then call the police.

You have not stated what the end result of this scenario was?

katie85_2

This happened today (Tuesday). I was so upset because of the incident I cancelled my plans and came home,not being in the mood to socialise.

They asked me to sign a form saying that I was banned from the store, which I signed as they told me this was the only way I was to be released.
They did not give me details as to how to follow it up as they blatantly thought I was a shoplifter.

dmg24

Could your bf not have come to the store with the receipts? This would surely have resolved the issue?

Which store was it?

sinw

Go to the citizens avice bureau (CAB) or consumer direct they will advise u best way forward.