Can i legally be stopped and accused of shoplifting outside the store

A_Geordie

Okell said:

@A_Geordie -  many store security staff have bodycams these days.  Might it be worth the OP's while to ask for footage of the incident?  (Even if just to confirm the OP's version of what they think happened?)

Could do under a subject access request, but the security guard may have been relying on other sources of information such as staff or whoever was monitoring the store's CCTV so there may be no footage of the alleged offence other than the interaction. 

Most security guards are not employees and are outsourced, Mitie being one of the biggest providers.

Tumtitums

Okell said:

@A_Geordie -  many store security staff have bodycams these days.  Might it be worth the OP's while to ask for footage of the incident?  (Even if just to confirm the OP's version of what they think happened?)

it wasnt a member of the store security staff that stopped me and im not sure if this particular branch had security staff

DullGreyGuy

Tumtitums said:

Okell said:

@A_Geordie -  many store security staff have bodycams these days.  Might it be worth the OP's while to ask for footage of the incident?  (Even if just to confirm the OP's version of what they think happened?)

it wasnt a member of the store security staff that stopped me and im not sure if this particular branch had security staff

What outcome are you wanting? 

As stated by several people it's not illegal for them to approach you outside the store. That was your only question in the original post. 

Ergates

People who have committed a crime can be arrested for that crime after they have left the scene.  It's not a game where you get away with it if you cross the magic line without being stopped.

sheramber

Until you have left the store you could claim you were going to pay before you left.

[Deleted User]

Shoplifting isn't a crime until the person has left the store.
Security will wait a moment, just in case someone has inadvertently forgotten to pay.
This pause gives adequate opportunity for the person to 'remember' and return to the store.
If the person continues to leave the scene, it's then apparent that there was no intention to pay and security will intervene.
I'd say a job well done... it appears to have been a mistake but they seem to have acted appropriately. 

Tumtitums

[Deleted User] said:

Shoplifting isn't a crime until the person has left the store.
Security will wait a moment, just in case someone has inadvertently forgotten to pay.
This pause gives adequate opportunity for the person to 'remember' and return to the store.
If the person continues to leave the scene, it's then apparent that there was no intention to pay and security will intervene.
I'd say a job well done... it appears to have been a mistake but they seem to have acted appropriately. 

I dont understand why you are saying job well done , i didnt take anything from the store . Personally i think this is a job badly done

Aylesbury_Duck

Tumtitums said:

[Deleted User] said:

Shoplifting isn't a crime until the person has left the store.
Security will wait a moment, just in case someone has inadvertently forgotten to pay.
This pause gives adequate opportunity for the person to 'remember' and return to the store.
If the person continues to leave the scene, it's then apparent that there was no intention to pay and security will intervene.
I'd say a job well done... it appears to have been a mistake but they seem to have acted appropriately. 

I dont understand why you are saying job well done , i didnt take anything from the store . Personally i think this is a job badly done

No, they were mistaken.  Do you never make mistakes in the course of your work, or make the occasional wrong judgement call while doing your job in good faith?

What outcome do you want from all of this?  Or is it more a question of how much are you after?

mr_stripey

I've been approached by security leaving tesco before. No big deal. Didn't feel great but I knew I hadn't taken anything and that fact was quickly established.

Just get on with your life - it's just one of those things!