Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

[thepinkranger]

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.

[bluebottle]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

Yes. Come back onto this thread and look for the red panda.

[Charley123]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

One possible way of giving RLP a fright is to wait for the third letter, then send them an anti-harassment notice warning them of an application for an injunction if they persist. In a lot of cases, the notice is usually sufficient to put a stop to harassment. I found that out a few months ago when helping someone on another group on which I am a member and admin. I had just finished composing the draft order and was about to email it to the victim, when the victim emailed me and said, "No need for the injunction. They have stopped and agreed, in writing, not to bother me anymore." So, you see, there are ways of curbing the actions of the likes of RLP by using the law in the way it is supposed to be used. Though, I have no doubt RLP would disagree with that as it doesn't suit their business model.

Ok thanks everyone, bluebottle pleas could I comb tact you on here if I do get letters from them

[bluebottle]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

One possible way of giving RLP a fright is to wait for the third letter, then send them an anti-harassment notice warning them of an application for an injunction if they persist. In a lot of cases, the notice is usually sufficient to put a stop to harassment. I found that out a few months ago when helping someone on another group on which I am a member and admin. I had just finished composing the draft order and was about to email it to the victim, when the victim emailed me and said, "No need for the injunction. They have stopped and agreed, in writing, not to bother me anymore." So, you see, there are ways of curbing the actions of the likes of RLP by using the law in the way it is supposed to be used. Though, I have no doubt RLP would disagree with that as it doesn't suit their business model.

[des8]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

The problem with deigning to respond in any way at all to RLP, is that they take it as a sign of weakness and redouble their efforts.
Possibly the majority of us who post on here would not object to stringing RLP along, but we should bear in mind that many will find the experience of being
badgered by any of these lowlife as quite worrying, if not frightening.
IMO the best advice must be to ignore them.
To start letter tennis will only result in more threats dressed up in legalese, and prolong the pressure.

[ostell]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

Deleted

[bluebottle]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

If RLP are demanding money under their usual questionable pretences, you could point out that by accepting full payment for the goods, which incorporates an element to cover their security, staff and other costs in the mark-up from the wholesale cost, Boots have given up their right to pursue legal action in the matter as they have not incurred any losses. Any alleged losses are down to the actions of Shouty Man behaving like his lower orifice and they should pursue Shouty Man and his employers.

[Openlaw15]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

I would love to write an apology letter to boots. For the manager NOT the security guard I would love to state how he treated me and that he was on a massive power trip. Would anyone recommend doing this? I feel I want to apologise.

Why not sit on this information and then if they try to take you to court, you can use it as a counter claim. If Boots wanted to take you to court for the amount, despite the problems they'd have with it (as discussed on this thread), are not likely to take your apologies seriously as then it means Boots were in the wrong. If a party has already admitted their staff treated a visitor/ customer badly it's hardly going to look good in civil proceedings. Boots are interested in their business at the end of the day.

[Charley123]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

Hello thank you for your reply. Yes I mean the PCSO. He basically said to me if I didn't answer the phone to them they would hunt me down. Come to my address, my work ect. He also said to me "I have seen you around town and thought you was dodgy" :/ the letter from RLP basically says they will contact me to pay a fine. If I don't it will proceed into civil action. I very much so think this guy was on an ego trip there was a member of staff in the room who didn't say a word, she didn't even look at me. He said to me he didn't like my attitude. I said to him "your talking to me like a piece of crap on your shoe" he said the the staff member "don't you think I'm right " and the staff member said "umm". This is my first ever offence he made me feel like I was someone who does this all the time! I was upset I didn't cry though. It's like he wanted me to cry and get down and beg for forgiveness. I said sorry countless of times. The manager was pretty reasonable actually. He didn't want to go any further with it. He just told me to pay for the goods and left it over to the security guard because he was busy.

I would love to write an apology letter to boots. For the manager NOT the security guard I would love to state how he treated me and that he was on a massive power trip. Would anyone recommend doing this? I feel I want to apologise.

[Charley123]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

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.

Hello thank you for your reply. Yes I mean the PCSO. He basically said to me if I didn't answer the phone to them they would hunt me down. Come to my address, my work ect. He also said to me "I have seen you around town and thought you was dodgy" :/ the letter from RLP basically says they will contact me to pay a fine. If I don't it will proceed into civil action. I very much so think this guy was on an ego trip there was a member of staff in the room who didn't say a word, she didn't even look at me. He said to me he didn't like my attitude. I said to him "your talking to me like a piece of crap on your shoe" he said the the staff member "don't you think I'm right " and the staff member said "umm". This is my first ever offence he made me feel like I was someone who does this all the time! I was upset I didn't cry though. It's like he wanted me to cry and get down and beg for forgiveness. I said sorry countless of times. The manager was pretty reasonable actually. He didn't want to go any further with it. He just told me to pay for the goods and left it over to the security guard because he was busy.

[Charley123]

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 !

No I chucked it in the bu. And he asked me where it was the had me on CCTV

[Openlaw15]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

Did you see post #136?

(where did I put my flamin' coat......)

I did, very witty :P

[Amethyst]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

While #136 is obviously hilarious I think you mean #133 ... and no I didn't

[charitynjw]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

Did you see post #136?

(where did I put my flamin' coat......)

[Openlaw15]

Re: Letter from RLP after caught shoplifting from Boots

Can you give me the citation for the Oxford case please, i'd be interested (not interesting, hmm) in reading its ratio.

Oxford makes interesting reading. In this young girls case the claimant is only interested in the loss of goods. As Bluebottle correctly pointed out however the party had taken back the stolen goods so justice has been restored. Theft in criminal law anyway requires permanent deprivation, so no grounds for theft really anyway, and in tort, ie to claim damages it's only ever for actual losses. I concur, Oxford whilst not binding is still persuasive authority for Boots as have difficulty to pursue a claim in the county courts. Especially as their security personal may have carried out their own torts against the young girl, ie false arrest, potentially false imprisonment (held in a room against her will for an unreasonable time), and trespass against her person. Yep, open and shut case i think.