12 year olds being stopped and bags searched.

[Howdoidoit100]

My daughter and her friend were today stopped in a large store and told (not asked) to hand over their bags. They were absolutely terrified so just did as they were told. They hadn't put anything in their bags but one child had something in her hand that she planned to buy. The security officer then told another member of staff to take them to the tills to ensure they paid for the item in the girls hand.

At the time they were searched they were in the middle of the store still browsing (not trying to leave)

No apology or explanation was offered and one of the girls disolved in to tears after leaving. They were absolutely humiliated with everyone in this large store staring at them whilst they were searched.

Am I unreasonable to feel they were treated unfairly? At the very least I would like the security to have called me before searching them and provided an explanation of why they were being searched. I would have been able to guide the girls on what to do and perhaps made it less frightening for them.

I do understand kids do steal....I just don't like how this was handled. Not sure if I'm being over protective.

Ok...so what would she do if she came across a particularly ignorant security guard who after showing her bag/receipt then blocked her exit as happened to me when I was an adult?

I’m guessing your abrasive attitude may have played a role in this situation.

It's really funny that you think kids don't change between the ages of 8 and 12.

In my experience people who refer to other people as "jobsworths" are usually being stopped from doing whatever it was that they were doing for a good reason.

It's irrelevant. I showed my receipt. He merely wanted to see it again to find out who had served me. I had proved I hadn't stolen anything. He had no right to try to detain me and physically stand in my way ....my "attitude" is nothing to do with it.

I think it's totally unacceptable to search their bags without good reason - a good reason being, they actually saw them putting something in there. I've worked in a large shop and sometimes staff or security wanted to look in bags but that is because they knew without doubt that they had stolen something. Most of the time it was a prolific shoplifter who they had seen before.
I would be so annoyed if this happened to my child that I would be articulating my thoughts about it in a very strong email.

They do change.
Typically, they get more aware of their rights, they get better at expressing themselves, and also more confrontational.

Of course your attitude is relevant - those who are obstructive normally have something to hide.

You must be in cloud cuckoo land if you think a 12 year old girl would feel able to explain their rights or behave in a confrontational way with an adult (I presume male) security guard. Most would be feel quite nervous.

No. I had proved I hadn't stolen. He had accepted I hadn't stolen.

I'd be very interested to know what training retail security guards have to go through? Are they trained in how to deal with vulnerable people?

I teach 12 year olds and yes, they do know their rights and are - as a whole - usually good at expressing them.

Im sorry that your kids aren’t though.

I teach 12 year olds and yes, they do know their rights and are - as a whole - usually good at expressing them.

Im sorry that your kids aren’t though.

Pathetic

So when children are being questioned by police...do you believe they should be left to it without an appropriate adult? Seeing as they are so sure of themselves....

I’m not the one scared of the world and causing arguments wherever I go but go on, whatever boosts your fragile ego.

@SisterHyster ever heard about child Q who was strip searched by police without her parents being informed? Should she have just known her rights and spoken up for herself?

And your the one who thinks 12 year olds should be perfectly able to argue their legal rights with random security guards

Obviously a child should be able to have an appointed adult present at questioning, just like adults with a lawyer and employees may take union reps with them for work issues.

We aren’t talking about that though. We are talking about on the shop floor in a retail setting with other people and cctv present. The child has the right to say no; however the consequence will then be that they are placed in an interview room with a member of store staff present and held until the police arrive.

From my time working in retail; the only ones who refused were the shoplifters. They would act bold until the police/security asked for their parents phone numbers; then they’d panic. Then they’d be mighty sheepish as they were escorted out by their parents or the police.

Kids don’t want their parents called.

I think you are getting a little bit confused. We are talking about a child being asked to show inside a shopping bag, not inside their underwear.

I think adults seems to find it much easier to confront teenagers and do so when they wouldn’t with an adult or at least nothing to the same degree. I noticed a change when I grew up. I had a few experiences like this as a teenager and haven’t as an adult. I remember one time simply being asked to leave the shop when I was with one other friend shopping for another friend’s birthday. We were just browsing and weren’t messing around or anything. We were then escorted out by security.

Correct.

But I was challenging your point of view which states 12 years olds should know their legal rights and be able to express them. Clearly that's not always the case and clearly the fact that rules exist in order to protect children in these circumstances, shows you are quite wrong

Over reaction. I went to supermarket before Christmas and was spot checked. The guard just asked me to open my shopping bag and then emptied it, at a desk at the front of the store, checking against my receipt. It was annoying but hardly traumatic and not in the least be embarrassing. My only argument was that they either trust me to self check out or provide staff to do it.

I presume you're an adult?

Is there a sign on the door of the shop to say searches will be a possibility?
I feel if you are entering into a shop, and they target you just like anyone else, it is all part of this may possibly happen.
Teens are likely not necessarily yours, but this is a fact of life they need to know will happen.
A bit of discretion from security would be more civilised.
Kids have to be savvy nowadays thanks to those who ruin it for the honest ones.
I was chased out of a supermarket once and yelled to get back inside did I not purchase something, It was horrible, in my uniform.
I accidentally rescanned my item as I packed it.
She told me to find the thrown in the bin receipt for her. I refused so she did.
Discretion is lacking for some power trips I guess.