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[jonmorris]

People in business have to attend courses for all sorts of things these days and obtain certificates, but many courses are a guaranteed pass for attending - as long as you pay the fee. Those that have a test may well have someone helping you with the answers.

[Geoff]

The alarms rang once when I went through with a kettle, I think. I had paid and had the receipt. But I was just so embarassed.....

It did occur to me, afterwards that, whilst the bell was still ringing would be a good time to walk through with whatever you want, for free!

Just a couple of quick points in passing... I've got an awful cold:
1. It is actually abuse to touch people these days. We aren't allowed to do it!
2. I thought that security guards these days had to train and take an exam to get an ID card that would be proof of their status. Or doesn't this apply to Tesco (rhetorical)?

I think you may well be right that, technically, if you touch someone "aggresively" you are technically committing an assault.  The original post mentions that someone was "smacked up against a wall". Allowing for the possibility of poetic licence by the original poster "smacking someone against a wall" would certainly constitute, at least, common assault . Tesco, as the employer, would be responsible for the conduct of their employee if the incident occured as described.

With regard to certification and training many courses simply require the delegate to have attended. If you look at many of the certificates which are exhibited willy nilly you will often see the wording simply says that Person X has succesfully attended a training course. From my own experience this generally means one arrived at the training centre, was capable of writing one's name in the log, sat through a couple of lectures without falling asleep, and possibly took part in a practical exercise, and finally navigating your way back to the car park when the course closed.

An example of our obsession with certification and registration I'm afraid. And I hope you recover quickly from your cold Anne.

[GhostTown68]

Its all in the wording - I myself have had dealings with over zealous security guards, but  I very much doubt someone who was reaching for a receipt would be 'smacked into a wall' in full view of other shoppers.

[markwoods39]

GT,I very much doubt someone who was reaching for a receipt would be 'smacked into a wall' in full view of other shoppers

Once again GT you have twisted the words ? I never saw in Kay post she said, he was reaching for the receipt    DID YOU

[Anne]

An example of our obsession with certification and registration I'm afraid. And I hope you recover quickly from your cold Anne.

Here is a link to a security training website:
http://www.securityhr.co.uk/security-guard-training-courses.html

Here is a link to a website that sells fake certificates that look very authentic, or so they say:
http://www.nd-center.com/

And... Thank you Geoff.   

[mark325i]

Hello ,
From what I've noticed
.
Security guards are not there to beat people up, they too need to pay their mortgage. I know lots of bouncers, security guards, even police ..etc who would like a non violent and pleasant day even though they are trained to bash people to the ground. Now, they will get upset and forceful if standard questions are not answered and procedures are not met. They are there to get the "scum" people and you need to show that you are not "scum".

So, if a security guard / bouncer asks for something such as ID or to show a receipt or show the equipment purchased what is the problem in showing them unless you have something to hide?
I have noticed that some members of the public don't like security people asking them things. They automatically think "they are calling me a thief, liar, bad person"... which is not the case. The security are just doing their job. We all rely on other people to assist us in our jobs so why can't you help the security people do theirs???
If an alarm goes off, just show that you legitimate receipt and off you go, or make some recommendations.  What is the problem?
If you are carried away kicking an screaming you are obviously out of control, and no need for that... just walk properly and talk sense, talk properly and address the root of the problem.

[dizzy]

I agree with mark.if you have been stopped they are just doing their job,show the receipt,and be polite.and all is well.it cant be easy trying to stop real thieves and  it cant be easy for the staff to get it right all the time.we all make mistakes.If its handled wrong ask for the manager and oput your point in a proper manner .

[jonmorris]

If they're going to stop someone and stand any chance of securing a conviction later on, they'll need to have already established that the person has taken something (CCTV monitoring, plain clothed security etc). They can't just stop you and hope to get lucky!

So, if they stop you and you can show a receipt and they apologise then why did they stop you in the first place? What were they doing? The alarm at the door isn't sufficient and they can only ASK you to come back in and volunteer to be temporarily detained while they do checks or a search.

Sadly, if the security people are too inept to spot people in the act then there's little they can do. If they stopped you later and found an item with a tag but no receipt, it would never make court as you could simply argue that you had bought it elsewhere or at another time, or lost the receipt.

I know this would be incredibly frustrating for the shop owner and security - but think of the alternative! You're stopped, have your bag searched and they pull out a Snickers bar you've had in the bag for weeks. Aha, you're nicked (I realise these aren't tagged but what if they stop you because you walked out the store at the same time as someone else?).

[GhostTown68]

GT,I very much doubt someone who was reaching for a receipt would be 'smacked into a wall' in full view of other shoppers

Once again GT you have twisted the words ? I never saw in Kay post she said, he was reaching for the receipt    DID YOU

Apologies, I had missed this - and apologies for not reading the OP's post fully.

Allow me to rephrase - I doubt that the person was smacked against the wall for walking out the shop, as opposed for reaching for his receipt. Asked to step back inside, spoken to authoratively - sure, but not smacked into a wall. With that many witnesses he'd currently be suing the backside off Tescos.

[mark325i]

Hi ,
I agree with the previous members.
You need to catch the crooks on CCTV... (I support CCTV because one else would back you up. Always know how to use your Mobile phone motion camera).. or have them re-walk through the detectors etc... most people would do that.
However, there is someone I know who is a very nice, clean, caring person with temper. It's these people who end up on the wrong side, I've tried telling him that it's his big mouth and the way he expresses himself in an argumentative and defensive nature that gets him in trouble even though he does not mean it, of-course he would not think twice about hitting out if he is pushed. And so, If this person were to be jumped on by security guards because of the way he talked/swore at them, it would more likely he his fault.

I feel it's the way one conducts themselves when being approached by people.
 

[markwoods39]

If this person were to be jumped on by security guards because of the way he talked/swore at them, it would more likely he his fault.

Hi Mark,

Wrong, not his fault in my view, these security guards should have be trained to a high standard and know how to handle awkward situations without him being jumped on. If they can't do this they should not be in the job.After all you are innocent until proven guilty.

Just my view

[markwoods39]

GT,I very much doubt someone who was reaching for a receipt would be 'smacked into a wall' in full view of other shoppers

Once again GT you have twisted the words ? I never saw in Kay post she said, he was reaching for the receipt    DID YOU

Apologies, I had missed this - and apologies for not reading the OP's post fully.

Allow me to rephrase - I doubt that the person was smacked against the wall for walking out the shop, as opposed for reaching for his receipt. Asked to step back inside, spoken to authoratively - sure, but not smacked into a wall. With that many witnesses he'd currently be suing the backside off Tescos.

That's better, and thank you for your apology

[mark325i]

If this person were to be jumped on by security guards because of the way he talked/swore at them, it would more likely he his fault.

Hi Mark,

Wrong, not his fault in my view, these security guards should have be trained to a high standard and know how to handle awkward situations without him being jumped on. If they can't do this they should not be in the job.After all you are innocent until proven guilty.

Just my view

I too agree the security guards need to be trained to a high standard in the art of communication which especially encompasses understanding the person in question.

I think the way Airline security deals with people is okay, right?
Which security company private/government would in your view (and others reading this) could we use as a model? (We all have decided Tescos is not all that good).