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Original poster

Checking handbags 'for security'

99 replies

Swanhissing · 04/05/2019 21:10

I have increasingly found that my handbag is being checked for security reasons when i enter places. I dont mind genuine security checks but i am beginning to feel that the 'bag checks" affect women way more than men and have nothing to do with security.

I always ask what is being looked for and its generally food, glass bottles and knives. All of which fit in mens coat pockets (and mine)

Today i went to see a ballet in a small town and had to wait in a queue for 20 minutes whilst 3 blokes looked in all the handbags for knives and sweets according the the guy who looked in my bag. None of the men had bags so just strolled in to the bar. Presumably with coat pockets just free of sweets and knives because they can police themselves?
Is anyone else noticing this trend?

OP posts:
meditrina · 04/05/2019 21:17

Yes, women's clothes shouid have better pockets.

I suppose that buying only those with good pockets and providing feedback on purchase choices is the way tomgomabout it.

But then entering events might become even slower, if everyone has to be patted down.

They are, of course, also concerned about bombs (pocket size does rather less damage than bag-sized) but may not want to state that. So I think that bag searches are here to stay, and we'll orobabkynsee more security arches too. They're already in place in an increasing number of higher-risk locations.

DanaBarrett · 04/05/2019 21:18

I’ve found a few sanitary towels/tampons in the bag help reduce bag search thoroughness 😂

feelingsinister · 04/05/2019 21:20

It's a pain in the arse because you then have to hide your hip flask elsewhere.

Aimily · 04/05/2019 21:24

I went to the last match of the season for my local football team today.
I went with my dad, every single person was patted down/checked and my bag was checked.
There was only one woman on the door so rather than keep me waiting the guy I was facing asked me to turn out my pockets and then proceeded to pat my dad down.
I think in that situation pat downs and bag checks have become the norm, but as meditrina has said I suspect its more likely they're looking for potential bombs etc and bags are the easiest place to put them.

FeministCat · 04/05/2019 21:25

I’ve found a few sanitary towels/tampons in the bag help reduce bag search thoroughness

“I am having a REALLY heavy flow today.”

I wear a cup, but now I feel like packing a handbag full of tampons next time I know ahead of time I will be searched just for fun.

FeministCat · 04/05/2019 21:26

It's a pain in the arse because you then have to hide your hip flask elsewhere.

Or drink it all ahead of time. Wine

Comefromaway · 04/05/2019 21:27

I’ve always had my bag checked by a female member of staff at numerous theatres and football grounds.

Dh generally has a bag or backpack when we go to the theatre so he has to have his checked too.

BeardedMum · 04/05/2019 21:29

Everyone with bags are subject to bag searches. I always assumed they were looking for bombs or bigger weapons than just pocket knives.

TheInebriati · 04/05/2019 21:30

They can take my knife but they will get my sweets over my still twitching corpse.

Original poster
Swanhissing · 04/05/2019 21:31

See i have zero issue with actual security checks that check everone entering a venue properly and i get the reason for them .
Im just finding lots of places seem to only check women with bags and only in their bags. Its more like a fetish than a security check.

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 04/05/2019 21:39

Men get patted down. Or at least I'm a woman who doesn't carry a bag and I've always been patted down...

Original poster
Swanhissing · 04/05/2019 21:43

Its obviously just me thats experienced this Not one man was patted down, stopped, questioned in anyway. It was literally a line of women and the men just walked right past the line to the bar area. And this has happened a couple of times at a few venues now. Obviously i also go places where its done propeely as well but i'm just seeing more of this too.

OP posts:
WindsweptEgret · 04/05/2019 21:46

Men's bags would get checked too. Just don't take a bag if you don't want to queue. Women's clothing in general needs more and better pockets, but it sounds like your coat pockets would be sufficient.

WindsweptEgret · 04/05/2019 21:49

Were women without bags patted down but not men?

Magmatic80 · 04/05/2019 21:52

DP carries a bag and I’ve never noticed mine being searched and not his

Aragog · 04/05/2019 21:57

I've never known it to be just at random places nor for them to ignore men with bags either.

For example at theme parks it's always dh who carries the bag and he always has to have it checked. Me and teen Dd just walk through with no checks and meet him on the other side.

WindsweptEgret · 04/05/2019 21:57

My dad carries a small backpack and if there is a bag search then his is searched like everyone else's.

Comefromaway · 04/05/2019 22:00

It would be unlikely to be patted down at a theatre or similar venue as most will just be employing ushers rather than SIA registered security staff.

Original poster
Swanhissing · 04/05/2019 22:00

But i dont get it? I dont get how its secure as its clearly not secure...its like a false security. Like people will feel safer but not actually be safer.

I get that men would have bags checked if they have one. I really do. Im not suggesting they really decided to only check women. I get they decided to check bags and its just women happen to carry bags.

It just really struck me that the man i was sat next to pulled out 3 half full plastic from under his oversize mac and thinking a good job that wasnt a bomb then since noone looked at him on the way in.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 04/05/2019 22:02

Also my husband has been asked to remove a heavy coat entering the theatre and we’ve both been asked to turn out our pockets.

But they can’t pat down without being licensed.

AGnu · 04/05/2019 22:03

I've been to Legoland a few times where they have big signs up demanding that you have your bags ready for inspection so you detach all 3 of your bags from you pram & open them all & start to put them on the table only for the man to peer vaguely in the direction of the first bag, comment that you've got a lot of stuff before waving you through. Then you've got to spend the next 5 minutes trying to figure out how you'd managed to attach 3 bags to the pram in the first place.

I don't mind proper bag checks but if they're going to do them then they should actually check them! I'd feel less put out if they'd have tipped all my "lots of stuff" out to check through it properly. I could've had anything in there!

MitziK · 04/05/2019 22:05

It used to be that if somebody wanted to bring in drugs or drink where it wasn't permitted, they'd give it to their girlfriend, just as criminals would use their girlfriends to keep weapons or as mules because 'nobody's going to suspect or search you'.

I don't tend to get more than cursory glance in a backpack - but that's because I'm at events as Crew, rather than as a punter. Just as well, really, as, by being a tech, I've generally got tools (including extremely pointy things), plectrums, tuners, strings and assorted knobs in there and in my pockets.

Original poster
Swanhissing · 04/05/2019 22:07

I dont think it was that kind of ballet Grin

OP posts:
PlatypusPie · 04/05/2019 22:07

My DH carries a small backpack and I have always thought the searches of that are far more detailed than the cursory peering into my favoured cross body handbag.

We went to a big sports match that had pat downs, swabs and more thorough bag searches. I was wearing a big coat, with capacious side pockets, stuffed with gloves, a scarf and some some small, protective bubble envelopes that I had brought to give my DD. I could have had anything in those bulging pockets but just got nodded through which I felt a bit ambivalent about.

MountainEagle · 04/05/2019 22:10

I once got bag searched after I’d been to the Student Union and picked up enough free condoms to supply several housemates. Dread to think what went through their heads 😂