Security guards at supermarkets

Surfingonthewaves · 2023-03-08T10:46:02+00:00

my son is 16 and the last few times he’s gone into Morrison’s he’s been stopped by security staff and asked what he’s buying and had his pockets looked into. He’s never stolen anything or behaved suspiciously. He’s a quiet lad, well behaved and has ASD. He’s not confident enough to question why this is happening. I called the store and was told ‘well we get a lot of trouble from the local college kids’. He’s not in college, he’s in school and this has happened on a weekend. I feel this is not right and am wondering if security staff have this ‘right’ to frisk people because of how they ‘look’. my son is affected by this and I’m really sad as he’s only just got the confidence to start going out without me, He was so excited to recently receive his free bus pass.

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 08/03/2023 10:59

SIA licensed security officer here - no, that sounds way over the top for what you have described. They need to have a reasonable suspicion that he has stolen something (ie need to have been witnessed taking something and putting it in his pockets and leaving without attempting to pay - Google ASCONE) but they have no right to search anyway.

If they have a suspicion that he has stolen, then they can ask to search him but he can refuse. If he does refuse, they can detain him for the Police to search him, but again, only if they have a reasonable suspicion of theft.

Personally I would be making a formal complaint to the supermarket's head office, and the security company that they employ, utilising social media if necessary.

If I had been stopped in the manner that your son has described, I would be loudly complaining at the time and making as much of a fuss as I could, without being aggressive, rude, swearing etc but appreciate that your son feels unable to do that. It definitely sounds like the security is going OTT and you are being fobbed off by the store.

Original poster

Surfingonthewaves · 08/03/2023 11:32

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 08/03/2023 10:59

SIA licensed security officer here - no, that sounds way over the top for what you have described. They need to have a reasonable suspicion that he has stolen something (ie need to have been witnessed taking something and putting it in his pockets and leaving without attempting to pay - Google ASCONE) but they have no right to search anyway.

If they have a suspicion that he has stolen, then they can ask to search him but he can refuse. If he does refuse, they can detain him for the Police to search him, but again, only if they have a reasonable suspicion of theft.

Personally I would be making a formal complaint to the supermarket's head office, and the security company that they employ, utilising social media if necessary.

If I had been stopped in the manner that your son has described, I would be loudly complaining at the time and making as much of a fuss as I could, without being aggressive, rude, swearing etc but appreciate that your son feels unable to do that. It definitely sounds like the security is going OTT and you are being fobbed off by the store.

Thank you for replying- it does seem he is being targeted based on his looks only (he’s over 6ft and built like a rugby player, but doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body, he’s so shy and wouldn’t hurt a fly) but more importantly he wouldn’t ever take anything without paying for it. I will look into making a complaint.

OP posts:

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 08/03/2023 12:07

Good luck. If I can be of any assistance, feel free to PM me.

gogohmm · 08/03/2023 13:15

I suspect they have issues with similar looking lads, what do you suggest? Security aren't targeting him personally, they are targeting the group they know are stealing. As it's upsetting him, could the security guards be approached so they know who he is and isn't stealing?

Freddiefan · 08/03/2023 13:20

The first time my grandson and his friend went shopping on their own, they were stopped by the security guard on the way out. They had looked at some chocolate, decided it was too expensive so bought something cheaper.
I was a bit annoyed when my daughter told me but she looked at it from the point of view that, if other boys at school tried to persuade them to go shop lifting, they wouldn't.

landyladyoom · 08/03/2023 13:29

OP you have stated that he has never behaved suspiciously. How would you know? genuine question.

Male101 · 08/03/2023 13:37

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 08/03/2023 10:59

SIA licensed security officer here - no, that sounds way over the top for what you have described. They need to have a reasonable suspicion that he has stolen something (ie need to have been witnessed taking something and putting it in his pockets and leaving without attempting to pay - Google ASCONE) but they have no right to search anyway.

If they have a suspicion that he has stolen, then they can ask to search him but he can refuse. If he does refuse, they can detain him for the Police to search him, but again, only if they have a reasonable suspicion of theft.

Personally I would be making a formal complaint to the supermarket's head office, and the security company that they employ, utilising social media if necessary.

If I had been stopped in the manner that your son has described, I would be loudly complaining at the time and making as much of a fuss as I could, without being aggressive, rude, swearing etc but appreciate that your son feels unable to do that. It definitely sounds like the security is going OTT and you are being fobbed off by the store.

Agreed. Also a sia license holder

HaveTheDayOff · 08/03/2023 13:57

I’m dissatisfied in the way the store handled this. I’d call or write to head office and explain your son has ASD. I don’t believe this security guard treats all potential shoplifters this way. He’s not asking a 6’ man to empty his pockets is he? He deliberately targeted a child to assert his power over him. It’s disgusting.

MrsSquirrel · 08/03/2023 14:08

If it was my child, I would be making a written complaint about this. Agree that the store is fobbing you off.

Original poster

Surfingonthewaves · 08/03/2023 14:28

I do appreciate shoplifting is rife and security staff have a job to do, but I disagree with the approach. I feel teenagers should be allowed to visit a supermarket unaccompanied without people (security staff or otherwise) jumping to the conclusion they are troublemakers or stealing.

I may not have been there but I do know my son, he is passive, timid and shy, he’s awkward a lot of the time and I’ve never been given any cause to disbelieve him. His teachers are always saying how kind, helpful and thoughtful he is in school, he is well liked and truthful. He had really come out of his shell since the pandemic. He was close to tears when this happened and this anxiety caused him to get muddled with how to get back causing him to catch the wrong bus. Luckily his data on his phone was on and I was able to find him through the find friends app and collected him.

I don’t think people should be tarnished with the same brush because of how some others in this category (ie teenagers) sometimes behave.

I have emailed Morrison’s and asked for their policy on this as I agree the store fobbed me off. There was no reason to suspect him and this has happened at least twice.

I’m just upset as this was a really big thing for him to go out independently and he hasn’t gone out since, so we’ve had to take a few steps back in terms of his social development.

OP posts:

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 08/03/2023 14:35

Surfingonthewaves · 08/03/2023 14:28

I do appreciate shoplifting is rife and security staff have a job to do, but I disagree with the approach. I feel teenagers should be allowed to visit a supermarket unaccompanied without people (security staff or otherwise) jumping to the conclusion they are troublemakers or stealing.

I may not have been there but I do know my son, he is passive, timid and shy, he’s awkward a lot of the time and I’ve never been given any cause to disbelieve him. His teachers are always saying how kind, helpful and thoughtful he is in school, he is well liked and truthful. He had really come out of his shell since the pandemic. He was close to tears when this happened and this anxiety caused him to get muddled with how to get back causing him to catch the wrong bus. Luckily his data on his phone was on and I was able to find him through the find friends app and collected him.

I don’t think people should be tarnished with the same brush because of how some others in this category (ie teenagers) sometimes behave.

I have emailed Morrison’s and asked for their policy on this as I agree the store fobbed me off. There was no reason to suspect him and this has happened at least twice.

I’m just upset as this was a really big thing for him to go out independently and he hasn’t gone out since, so we’ve had to take a few steps back in terms of his social development.

I am genuinely sorry to hear that and I hope you get a decent response from Morrisons.

Original poster

Surfingonthewaves · 08/03/2023 14:39

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 08/03/2023 14:35

I am genuinely sorry to hear that and I hope you get a decent response from Morrisons.

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Thank you, hopefully this is an isolated incident (as in this particular security person in this particular Morrisons). I’ve tried to encourage him to go out again but go to Asda instead (he just likes buying a pack of beef jerky when he gets his pocket money 😁)

OP posts:

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 08/03/2023 14:40

Surfingonthewaves · 08/03/2023 14:39

Thank you, hopefully this is an isolated incident (as in this particular security person in this particular Morrisons). I’ve tried to encourage him to go out again but go to Asda instead (he just likes buying a pack of beef jerky when he gets his pocket money 😁)

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I hope so too! Hopefully he will regain his confidence again quickly!

Turnipworkharder · 08/03/2023 14:49

I'd send him in again and walk a reasonable distance away from him, as if you don't know him and see what happens.

If security approach him, then you can pounce on them.

caramac04 · 08/03/2023 14:50

Well some adults steal but security guards aren’t stopping and searching them are they? Definitely OTT as pp SIA have said.

pasta4metonight · 08/03/2023 14:50

Your poor ds this is awful. Hope he gets back on track and is soon enjoying shopping again 🙂and his pocket money treats

MancandMam · 08/03/2023 14:52

We had a similar experience to someone above.
DD looked at something in Aldi, decided it was too expensive and bought something cheaper.
DD is autistic and I had encouraged her to pay herself for the first to help improve her confidence. Unfortunately it backfired as Aldi decided to confront her while still at the till and empty all her shopping from another store out while accusing of stealing in front of everyone, no apology or anything when I saw what was happening and stepped in or when they realised they were wrong.

The irony is kids are an easier target, while they were dealing with dd who did not even understand what was happening the local thieves were walking out of the store with baskets of meat and drink....

HaveTheDayOff · 08/03/2023 16:12

I hope Morrisons take this seriously and consider the impact it’s had on your son.

I know this will feel like a step back and I hope he’s comfortable going out again on his own soon.