Horrible customer experience

cassidy0111

I was in a local Glasgow area branch of a certain chemist chain to purchase razor blades. Whilst looking at said item I had a look at my mobile phone and then put it back in my pocket before leaving the store without making a purchase as the price was eye-watering.

I was detained by a security guard in plain clothes who ran across the store to apprehend me with the assistance of a young member of staff from the store and a uniformed security guard from the retail park.

I was led into a small side room and accused of stealing "razorblades" and asked to empty my jacket pocket. It all became clear! My mobile phone! After emptying (all of) my pockets the store guard looked like he had seen a ghost in front of him and I informed him that the only thing that had went into my pocket was MY mobile phone.

He left the room and returned with a young Indian lady who explained that she was the manager of the store, although her badge stated that she was a Pharmacist. At this point I decided to phone the police and did so on the 101 number and explained that I had been assaulted and was in an office in the store in question.

The manager/pharmacist asked me to leave the side office and the uniformed guard and the store employee both left. The uniformed guard would not give me his name, but I did take a picture of him at this point as well as pictures of the store detective, manager/pharmacist and the young man. I also took a picture of my arm although by this point there was only a tiny mark.

The manager/pharmacist realised that I was not going to leave and made a phone call in another language which I assume related to the issue judging by her body language. The police arrived quite quickly as they had been on the retail park and were brought straight in by the young male employee.

I explained the situation to the two officers as did the pharmacist and the store detective. One of the officers left to speak to the retail security guard and the store employee. I have the names of both officers, the pharmacist/manager and the store detective.

I left with the two officers who gave me their names and details but they did not give me a crime number or any paperwork for that matter. I did not really push the assault angle as the store detective did look genuinely upset and uncomfortable.

Valli

You weren't assaulted; you were apprehended.

You could have asked to stay in the store (as opposed to going to the office) and empty your pockets there as proof you hadn't taken anything. A horrible and unpleasant experience for you.

Thing is, razor blades cost so much that they are shoplifted. Round here you have to take the empty packet to the till - they don't even have them on display. You must live in a very select area.

I hope you got an apology.

eskimo26

Did he physically touch you in anyway?

Did you go voluntarily?

As far as i'm aware they have no Police powers whatsoever, if fact their powers are the same as any member of public.

So you could have refused and walked away then he could have made a citizen's arrest [i believe it's called something else now] but he would only do this if he was 100% sure as there are consequences to being wrong.

More likely he would have tailed you and waited for Police.

Anyway if you were told to follow them and did so of your own volition then you don't really have a legal comeback.

But again i'm not a lawyer...

Wait I just re-read your thread you need to consider pressing an assault claim they are NOT allowed to touch you. Report the assault online to the Police and you will get a CRN, if the officers knew you had been physically assaulted you need to make complaint about them ASAP or they will ask why you waited.

That's what i would do. Do it now. People can't just come up to you and leave marks on your your body this needs to be taken all the way imo.

cassidy0111

Valli wrote: »

You weren't assaulted; you were apprehended.

You could have asked to stay in the store and empty your pockets there as proof you hadn't taken anything. A horrible amd unpleasant experience for you.

Thing is, razor baldes cost so much that they are shoplifted. Round here you have to take the empty packet to the till - they don't even have them on display. You must live in a very select area.

I hope you got an apology.

No apology and I was grabbed before the security guard introduced himself leaving a visible mark on my arm. Even the police officer explained to the security guard that he, as a police officer, would NEVER grab someone from behind without introducing himself as it leaves you wide open to assault.

Had the guard walked in front of me and introduced himself then there would have been no need to grab me know-it-all-Valli and I would not have needed to be frog-marched by three men into a back office.

worried_jim

Valli wrote: »

You must live in a very select area.

Glasgow? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

cassidy0111

eskimo26 wrote: »

Did he physically touch you in anyway?

Did you go voluntarily?

As far as i'm aware they have no Police powers whatsoever, if fact their powers are the same as any member of public.

So you could have refused and walked away then he could have made a citizen's arrest [i believe it's called something else now] but he would only do this if he was 100% sure as there are consequences to being wrong.

More likely he would have tailed you and waited for Police.

Anyway if you were told to follow them and did so of your own volition then you don't really have a legal comeback.

But again i'm not a lawyer...

I was grabbed from behind/the side. I actually saw the guy from the the corner of my eye run diagonally between two aisles but never really paid much attention until my arm was grabbed at the door and I was then walked back to an office by the store detective and a retail park security guard in uniform standing at either side of me with their hands on me. The young male employee walked in front and opened the doors etc.

cassidy0111

worried_jim wrote: »

Glasgow? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Haha, very select!!

Valli

cassidy0111 wrote: »

No apology and I was grabbed before the security guard introduced himself leaving a visible mark on my arm. Even the police officer explained to the security guard that he, as a police officer, would NEVER grab someone from behind without introducing himself as it leaves you wide open to assault.

Had the guard walked in front of me and introduced himself then there would have been no need to grab me know-it-all-Valli and I would not have needed to be frog-marched by three men into a back office.

Now now - no need to be rude! - it wasn't clear in your OP that you had been 'grabbed' you used the word 'apprehended' - that could have been a verbal apprehension (although with two or three people standing in front of you I accept it would have been intimidating). I notice the poster who posted after me was also asking if you had been touched - so can you accept that that part of your OP was not clear?

So, now I am aware you were physically detained then yes, it was an over-the-top reaction from them. And yes, it was assault.

It would appear, however, the police aren't going to take it further.

What do you intend to do now?

(And I did notice your location - nevertheless it must be a nice area if they display the stuff that gets shoplifted!)

System

Valli wrote: »

Now now - no need to be rude! - it wasn't clear in your OP that you had been 'grabbed' you used the word 'apprehended' - that could have been a verbal apprehension (although with two or three people standing in front of you I accept it would have been intimidating). I notice the poster who posted after me was also asking if you had been touched - so can you accept that that part of your OP was not clear?

So, now I am aware you were physically detained then yes, it was an over-the-top reaction from them. And yes, it was assault.

It would appear, however, the police aren't going to take it further.

What do you intend to do now?

If they hadn't been grabbed why do you think they took a photo of the mark on their arm? And how did you think that mark occurred? Magic?

Valli

goater78 wrote: »

If they hadn't been grabbed why do you think they took a photo of the mark on their arm? And how did you think that mark occurred? Magic?

Since the OP offered no explanation and I'm not psychic...

cassidy0111

Valli wrote: »

Now now - no need to be rude! - it wasn't clear in your OP that you had been 'grabbed' you used the word 'apprehended' - that could have been a verbal apprehension (although with two or three people standing in front of you I accept it would have been intimidating). I notice the poster who posted after me was also asking if you had been touched - so can you accept that that part of your OP was not clear?

So, now I am aware you were physically detained then yes, it was an over-the-top reaction from them. And yes, it was assault.

It would appear, however, the police aren't going to take it further.

What do you intend to do now?

(And I did notice your location - nevertheless it must be a nice area if the display the stuff that gets shoplifted!)

Apologies if I came across as rude- intended more as a joke than rude but I did mean apprehend literally (seize/grab).

Now that I have had time to think about it, I may ask the two police officers about the possibility of an assault charge. I have emailed the CEO of the company in question and the general manager of the retail park in question as I could not find the CEO email address of the company.