New rules at work - checking customer's bags: Where do I stand?

ivoryandgold

Hello,

I work in the Box Office at a major attraction in the UK. After the Paris attacks, we have now been told we need to carry out bag searches on customers. I feel really uncomfortable doing this - I have no security training at all and I feel exposed. I was wondering if anyone knew of any legal reason I should not have to do this just because I have been told to, or can I demand proper training?

Thanks in advance

sangie595

ivoryandgold wrote: »

Hello,

I work in the Box Office at a major attraction in the UK. Last week a knife was found on site and after the Paris attacks, we have now been told we need to carry out bag searches on customers. I feel really uncomfortable doing this - I have no security training at all and I feel exposed. I was wondering if anyone knew of any legal reason I should not have to do this just because I have been told to, or can I demand proper training?

Thanks in advance

I doubt if there's such a thing as a course in checking bags. But there is no legal grounds to refuse to do it - and as a major UK attraction, in the current climate, I can't see anyone objecting. But if they do, that is a management problem - nobody has a right to enter an attraction without adhering to the rules and if a search of bags is one of the rules, then they agree or don't enter.

DCFC79

ivoryandgold wrote: »

Hello,

I work in the Box Office at a major attraction in the UK. Last week a knife was found on site and after the Paris attacks, we have now been told we need to carry out bag searches on customers. I feel really uncomfortable doing this - I have no security training at all and I feel exposed. I was wondering if anyone knew of any legal reason I should not have to do this just because I have been told to, or can I demand proper training?

Thanks in advance

Training to do what ?

All your doing it checking bags.

Just be polite about it.

ivoryandgold

Let me phrase this better - Is this not a job for a security guard who has training to deal with security issues, not someone selling tickets?

sangie595

ivoryandgold wrote: »

Let me phrase this better - Is this not a job for a security guard who has training to deal with security issues, not someone selling tickets?

Not if your employer says it is your job.

ivoryandgold

Is my employer just allowed to tell me thats my job though, via e-mail, and expect me to start checking people's bags the next day?

duchy

Yes

Somewhere in your contract will be a catch all phrase that says something like " and any other duties the employer deems needed in the role" could be toilet cleaning or bag searching or plenty of other things.

Personally I'd rather know bags had been searched than not if I worked in a place of public gathering and would be happy to do it as it would contribute to my own safety as well as that of my colleagues and customers.

fryedslyce

Your employer should at least be providing you with training for these pointless searches.

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2015/jul/28/aggressive-perverse-offensive-security-checks-at-london-museums-are-a-farce

andygb

When I have gone into large shops - Harrods for instance, or French Hypermarkets - the searching of bags is ALWAYS done by security staff, as it is at my local Tescos or Asda.

agrinnall

Tell your employer that if you're now required to check bags for knives you expect to be provided with a pair of these.

theoretica

There are trainers who offer training in bag searches. Do you know everything you are looking for?