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Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

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  • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

    Originally posted by bluebottle View Post
    As far as the alleged incident goes, I do not acknowledge or admit any liability whatsoever and none should be presumed or inferred. You are put on notice of the following -

    • Your client's security contractor searched my bag without my consent, removed items from my bag, alleging I had stolen them, but offered no evidence to substantiate his allegations, even though I denied such allegations;
    • placed me in a locked room which although could be unlocked from the inside was locked from the outside by means of a digital lock which required a code to be input into a keypad in order to gain entry;
    • demanded my personal details and to fill in a form, which I never signed;
    • one of your client's employees although in the room at the time, failed to take any action to stop your client's security contractor searching my bag; and
    • both failed to observe and comply with statutory provisions governing the detention, questioning and dealing with of minors, that is, any person below the age of 18 years.

    Can I add this to the list?
    • Any written or verbal consent which I may have given, although I do not recall giving any consent, were made under duress from your client's security contractor

    Making me feel more intimidated or pressured is duress, right? Like I said earlier in the post, the security officer kept on saying 'you're a bad girl' etc. which made me feel more intimidated and added to the pressure and panic I already had from being detained and being busted

    Comment


    • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

      Originally posted by thepinkranger View Post
      Can I add this to the list?
      • Any written or verbal consent which I may have given, although I do not recall giving any consent, were made under duress from your client's security contractor

      Making me feel more intimidated or pressured is duress, right?
      Unlawfully searching your bag is going to compromise any case they may think they have. The italicised passage you have suggested would come into play if RLP and Boots were foolish enough to attempt to pursue any proceedings with a view to going to court as this would form part of your defence, as pressuring someone or intimidating them is deemed to be use of duress or coercion.
      Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

      Comment


      • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

        Originally posted by bluebottle View Post
        Unlawfully searching your bag is going to compromise any case they may think they have. The italicised passage you have suggested would come into play if RLP and Boots were foolish enough to attempt to pursue any proceedings with a view to going to court as this would form part of your defence, as pressuring someone or intimidating them is deemed to be use of duress or coercion.
        So in another words, it doesn't matter as I would have already pointed out how the security goon acted unlawfully, and it won't exactly harm if I did include it?

        Comment


        • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

          At the present time, Boots have compromised their case by letting the security goon behave in the way he did and their employee failing to take any action to stop the security goon searching your bag. Wait and see what RLP have to say before bringing up about the use of duress and coercion. My gut-instinct is that RLP will have enough to deal with trying to explain the unlawful searching of your bag. They would be very foolish, as would Boots, to try and push it knowing an unlawful act had been committed by their client that would raise questions of culpability in a court of law.
          Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

          Comment


          • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

            Hey blue bottle can I have some help please. I got caught today shop lifting in boots I was taken to a room out the back of the store and asked to hand over the goods ect. The security officer was very harsh towards me wouldn't let me talk was shouting over me and saying some pretty nasty things calling me a little girl :/ I know I did wrong it's the first time I have ever done something like this it was very stupid and I don't even know why I did it!!!! I regret it so much. Anyway he gave me letters as I am banned and he has gave me a letter about paying a fine? But I didn't quite get what it was for because I was in shock and it was all such a blur :/. When he asked for my ID witch has my own address on as I live on my own. I forgot what address was on my license and I said what address is on it and he said why what other address do you have and he didn't believe me that the address on my licence was my address he then went on to say if I did something like this again I would spend the night in a cell where people piss and have been sick :/ when I left he told me that I will be constantly watched whenever I am in town now. Surely I have rights to something? It was my first crime ever I made a mistake and he was looking & talking to me like I was a criminal. I know I did wrong but I shouldn't be watched for the rest of my life for it. The products came to £18 and I paid for them after as I was asked to and the manager said he didn't want to call the police because it wasn't a massive amount. The security guard was really trying to push him to call the police I feel like he was making it a lot bigger and worse than it actually was. I know theft is a stupid and bad thing but I have learnt my lesson I really have. I'm waiting for a PSO from my local town to contact me I feel like I'm going to explain how he made me feel. I just want to know where I stand because I have been reading loads onlike saying to not pay the fine? My sister even recorded it all because he was being so harsh.

            Comment


            • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

              Hi Carley123, & welcome to Legal Beagles.

              Sounds like the security has got 'issues' of his own, lol.

              Why do you think a PCSO will visit; have you asked them to? Did the manager contact the police? (I doubt it, the police would normally come to the shop)

              I reckon the most that will happen is that you'll receive a demand for money from an outfit like Retail Loss Prevention, saying they represent the shop etc, etc.

              If that happens, let us know (on this thread) - do not pay the leeches one red cent!

              & as for the security officer, you mention that your sister recorded the incident?.........
              CAVEAT LECTOR

              This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

              You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
              Cohen, Herb


              There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
              gets his brain a-going.
              Phelps, C. C.


              "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
              The last words of John Sedgwick

              Comment


              • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                Hi and welcome

                That security ape not only has issues, he's got problems if your sister witnessed you being bullied and recorded it.
                You could easily make a complaint about your treatment, but I anticipate that quite understandably you would not want to.

                I assume that having paid for the goods, you were allowed to keep them.

                As per Charity, you won't be hearing from the police, & you will not be watched even for one minute, let alone 24 hour surveillance

                You will receive demands and threatening letters from RLP which you can safely ignore.
                They work on the basis of pressurising vulnerable people.

                Ignore them, Get on with your life.

                Comment


                • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                  Think you met the local moron who has no power or rights over you youpaid for the goods.
                  Can I ask if you actually left the shop

                  Comment


                  • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                    Yes I paid for the good £18. The security guard wouldn't let me keep the receipt because he said I was not allowed to return stolen good. He also said "I will let you keep these because you've paid for them usually we have to burn the stolen goods" I was like right ok. I just think he was trying to scare me and maybe make me cry! I didn't cry and was not scared. I'm just worried because he told me I have to pay a fine of £135. I didn't sign anything while I was in the room! He just seemed like he had not caught anyone for ages and was on a high.

                    - - - Updated - - -

                    The security guard was shouting at me saying that the PCSO would call me and if I didn't answer my phone they would basically hunt me down. :/ yes she did record everything when we was in the room. He started asking if I earn money & where I worked when he asked them questions I said "why do you want to know" and he said "I'm only asking" I didn't feel in my rights I had to tell him this so I didn't.

                    Comment


                    • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                      Hello yes I left the shop for 2 seconds he came up and approached me and was talking to me really nice saying "we have just seen you on cctv putting an item into your pocket" I admitted it straight away as I was caught! That when he turns nasty he said right I'm going to get my badge out he did the whole police thing where they show their badge. (He had a black wallet and opened it up) he then said he has the right to arrest me, he was saying (very angrily) "where are the goods) he looked like he was grunting his teeth! I threw the goods into a toilet bin. A lady was in the loo so we was waiting outside she hadn't even opened the door properly and he was telling me to go in I told him "to wait for the lady to actuall leave" he got the goods out the bin (the 2 I stole) then carried on looking through the bin 😂 Lol. He said to me "I'm going to serch you when we are back in the office). He never searched me.

                      Comment


                      • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                        Hold it !!! So you didn't have anything from the store in your possession when you were stopped outside the store ?

                        Ooohhhh Could be nasy for HIM !

                        Comment


                        • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                          Originally posted by Carley123 View Post
                          Hey blue bottle can I have some help please. I got caught today shop lifting in boots I was taken to a room out the back of the store and asked to hand over the goods ect. The security officer was very harsh towards me wouldn't let me talk was shouting over me and saying some pretty nasty things calling me a little girl :/ I know I did wrong it's the first time I have ever done something like this it was very stupid and I don't even know why I did it!!!! I regret it so much. Anyway he gave me letters as I am banned and he has gave me a letter about paying a fine? But I didn't quite get what it was for because I was in shock and it was all such a blur :/. When he asked for my ID witch has my own address on as I live on my own. I forgot what address was on my license and I said what address is on it and he said why what other address do you have and he didn't believe me that the address on my licence was my address he then went on to say if I did something like this again I would spend the night in a cell where people piss and have been sick :/ when I left he told me that I will be constantly watched whenever I am in town now. Surely I have rights to something? It was my first crime ever I made a mistake and he was looking & talking to me like I was a criminal. I know I did wrong but I shouldn't be watched for the rest of my life for it. The products came to £18 and I paid for them after as I was asked to and the manager said he didn't want to call the police because it wasn't a massive amount. The security guard was really trying to push him to call the police I feel like he was making it a lot bigger and worse than it actually was. I know theft is a stupid and bad thing but I have learnt my lesson I really have. I'm waiting for a PSO from my local town to contact me I feel like I'm going to explain how he made me feel. I just want to know where I stand because I have been reading loads onlike saying to not pay the fine? My sister even recorded it all because he was being so harsh.
                          Boots really do need to get a grip on their security contractors/staff. What goes this letter say about paying a fine? The only authority that impose a fine is a court of law. Also, you are under no obligation to provide your personal data to security staff or a retailer and they have no power in law to do so. The references to the police locking you in a cell are, I suspect, designed to intimidate and, if truth be told, the police see alleged shoplifting as a minor crime. As for the security officer saying you would be watched everywhere you went in town, he really does need to be careful of what he says as there are laws governing surveillance of individuals of which he clearly has little or no knowledge.

                          When you say a PSO, do you mean a PCSO? How badly did this security officer behave? Are you sure this was, in fact, shoplifting and not some security officer on an ego trip? What individuals in the retail and security industries perceive as shoplifting doesn't necessarily equate with how the law defines it. The accuser has to prove dishonesty and intent to permanently deprive. If they cannot prove dishonesty, the matter is going nowhere as the law requires a two-part test, known as the Ghosh Test, to be satisfied in full in order for dishonesty to be proven and, consequently, the offence to be proven.
                          Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

                          Comment


                          • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                            As for any 'fine', see the attachment - & refer them to the Oxford case!

                            (Especially from para 14 onwards :tinysmile_twink_t2: )
                            Attached Files
                            CAVEAT LECTOR

                            This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

                            You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
                            Cohen, Herb


                            There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
                            gets his brain a-going.
                            Phelps, C. C.


                            "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
                            The last words of John Sedgwick

                            Comment


                            • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                              Originally posted by thepinkranger View Post
                              I know this is really wordy and long but please take time to read this .

                              Recently, I was arrested (yes, the police were involved) for shoplifting from Boots (and subsequently banned for life) and the police dude who interviewed me told me that I would be released with police bail (NOT court) until I speak to a member to a Youth Offending Team (YOT) (as I'm 17 and is still a juvenile) who will then cancel the bail once I talked with them and hopefully I won't have to go to court (the same police officer said that there's 95-97% chance I WON'T go to court and that his 'guess' is usually right so a little assurance there :tinysmile_grin_t.

                              He also said that this will be wiped clean once I turn 18 years old so it won't turn up on CRB/background checks emplyers/universities go through.

                              Is this true?

                              Anyway, time for what the post/question is about: Retail Loss Prevention (RLP)

                              Yep, today I received a letter from them to pay for compensation (I'd rather think of them as fine) £147.50 otherwise they're going to do stuff with court. I personally think that this is more like a threat/blackmail, idk like 'gimme money or else'. My parents are thinking of paying the fine (and then I pay them back some way or another because it was me who did the wrongdoing) so they can avoid all the hassle and stuff.

                              In the letter and the internet, it also said that the information will stay in their national database.

                              This is what was written on the FAQ file you can find on the internet (Link: http://www.lossprevention.co.uk/pdf/adviceU18.pdf):

                              If you were 16 or 17 at the time of the incident, you are advised that the basic personal information we hold may be used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purposes of crime prevention and detection and is also held on a national database of civil recovery incidents. This information is available to companies with a legitimate interest to screen an individual’s integrity in relation to employment decisions. This information is held within a closed user group in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 - for 3 years from the date of the incident. Access to the information may be available to the Claimant, the Courts, legal advisors, crime partnerships and the police where there is a legitimate reason for doing so in
                              accordance with the Act.

                              But this is what was written on the non-under18 FAQ (Link: http://www.lossprevention.co.uk/pdf/advice.pdf):
                              A civil claim for damages is separate from a criminal prosecution. At the conclusion of the civil claim, you will not have a criminal record.

                              Does this mean this can be seen by unis/employers when undergoing CRB checks and that it can harm my chance of getting into uni or getting employed?

                              Just to let you know, all the goods I stole were in resalable condition. and I didn't sign any papers the security officer from Boots gave me, including the banning letter. It's not because I refused, it was because THE SECURITY OFFICER DID NOT ASK ME TO SIGN ANYTHING.


                              THANKS A LOT for reading this through (I know it's really wordy and tedious)

                              Please don't judge me. It was really hard writing this because it was bringing up bad memories and worries.

                              Hopefully I provided you with all the information you need. If you need some additional info, let me know.
                              It's like this. It is a civil action for lost goods. It is not criminal at all, so it's not a criminal record issue. It's the police and Crown Prosecution Services who say it's criminal offence. The company will have to apply for a county court judgement against you for that amount. So, if you were to pay off that amount or ask them if you can pay it off over a few installments, that's the end of the matter. How many times have you stolen from the relevant store as banned for life seems very harsh unless you're a threat to their business, ie you have stolen goods several times or are a regular offender.

                              Comment


                              • Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

                                Originally posted by Openlaw15 View Post
                                It's like this. It is a civil action for lost goods. It is not criminal at all, so it's not a criminal record issue. It's the police and Crown Prosecution Services who say it's criminal offence. The company will have to apply for a county court judgement against you for that amount. So, if you were to pay off that amount or ask them if you can pay it off over a few installments, that's the end of the matter. How many times have you stolen from the relevant store as banned for life seems very harsh unless you're a threat to their business, ie you have stolen goods several times or are a regular offender.
                                Standard procedure for Boots to say "Banned for life from all Boots stores."
                                As it is private property they are entitled to refuse any person admission, aren't they?

                                A bit over the top, and almost impossible to enforce.
                                And what are they going to do if you do ever bother to set foot in their premises again? Sue for trespass?

                                Comment

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