To be shocked by what DD told me about her workplace?

[whatinthenameofcrapisthis]

DD(17) has a part time job at Greggs around her college hours. She told me today that they (the staff) regularly find used needles in the toilets from people injecting drugs, and that it's well known that particular people spend a long time in the toilets doing that. The same people also often shoplift sandwiches and drinks. I asked DD what the policy is for dealing with this, ie do they contact the police, and she said "we don't ring the police, we just report the drug use via a specified number", ie a drug hotline for Greggs itself (?), and that some staff have protective equipment to pick up needles. I was so baffled by this.

Surely used needles being left in toilets is a matter for the police? Greggs staff are not paid enough to have to deal with this surely? I told my daughter she should not be doing this.
Granted it's not the best area where the store is that she works at, lots of poverty and crime etc, but still... This has really shocked me!

AIBU to expect my teen daughter who is paid minimum wage in Greggs not to have to handle used needles?!

I forgot to add that they don't even report the shoplifting culprits to the police anymore it's so commonplace!

Greggs needs to put a code lock on the door. The code is given on the receipt with a purchase . The code changes hourly.

I think it's seen as a civil matter . The police won't come out over food that will be eaten so no evidence and no way should the staff have to confront shoplifters

You’re not unreasonable to be shocked (she is your child after all), but probably a bit naive. I worked in a corner shop through college and people would steal tinfoil for heroin, threaten us with knives when they tried to steal wine, spit at us etc etc. If we had to report every incident nothing would have gotten done in the shop. Police wouldn’t have cared either, I don’t think our CCTV even worked.

I presume because it’s Greggs that she at least never works alone? I used to do 5am-10am solo on Sunday mornings and was always terrified.

Well, the police aren’t going to come and fingerprint the syringes to track down the culprit, are they? Do Greggs supply guidance and safety equipment for removing the needles?

I think since police force has been cut they are very cutthroat about what they do and don't deal with.

A Greggs I go to has recently had it's seating taken out and is now takeaway only. Given the area it's in (crappy area of SE London) it wouldn't suprise me if that's the reason why.

DD says they do supply this yes, but DD herself hasn't been specifically trained on dealing with this.

I'm just shocked that this is something she has to consider working in a sandwich shop/bakery. Maybe it's the area, it's well known as not being the best part of the city (we live on a different side).

The police won't give a shit.

Came here to say this. They need code locks on the doors. Problem solved. A lot of places do this now. If not code locks then at least a door that is key locked and paying customers that need to use the toilet can have it unlocked for them by staff

YANBU to not want your DD to handle needles but probably you are a bit sheltered.

It is commonplace for drug users to use toilets for drug taking. They used to put UV lights in toilets to prevent the addicts seeing their veins.

They need to install those funny blue lights.

I wonder if there is an argument for installing sharp bins, not a great look but preferable to sharps being hidden somewhere. (That's just thinking out loud)

The police are only usually interested in drug use if it's dealer level - they're not going to come out and arrest known addicts for being addicts.

It's rubbish that your daughter has to deal with it, though it's not unusual for staff in retail and hospitality to deal with such things. Greggs as an organisation could do more to help the staff though, eg training and PPE.

@KeyWorker
Also they wouldn't need to fingerprint the needles, the shop has CCTV so would show the person who'd spent 20 mins in the toilet before the needles were found. What if a child went in before the staff had discovered them? It's just awful.

Also blue lighting doesn't stop people shooting up, it just makes it more dangerous for them to do so!

I am sure you could get someone to claim to be a customer and contact Greggs head office about this. As it is a toilet used by members of the public.

What are the police going to do ? Yes, it’s not pleasant but you do sound very naive

That’s great that they supply the correct equipment to clean up. Your DD should request she does the training or be sure to get someone who has been trained to do it. I wonder, if it’s an ongoing issue if they could liaise with the local needle exchange or drugs liaison officer to help with the issue. That may then impact on the amount of ship lifting taking place.

Very common, most places are told not to challenge theft.

I've been in cafes where they use UV lights to deter drug users.

They won't have enough staff to be running back and forth to lock and unlock doors or changing codes every hour.

Children are surely accompanied by a responsible adult?

Needless to say in public toilets are so commonplace op.... it's not something the police will come out for, neither is shoplifting a few sausage rolls

A blue light won't stop the problem at all.

I expect the police could persuade the store to have a code lock. Would not stop everyone but would stop some.

Maybe greggs should install ultraviolet lighting in the toilets so that the junkies are unable to see their veins to inject into. Some supermarkets have done this

Do some Greggs have cafes? I don't think I've ever been to one with a customer toilet. If it's just a takeaway I didn't think they needed to provide toilet facilities. I agree it's not something your daughter should have to deal with. If they're shoplifters as well why doesn't the manager ban them?