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My son, aged 15, was stopped in Sainsbury's for shoplifting. On Monday he had been caught on camera shoplifting (a magazine and can of coke) but was not stopped. The guard followed him round the store on Tuesday and saw him pocket a packet of batteries. He stopped him in the store and the police were called. Police called his school to tell them of the arrest. They also called my husband.
Son was told he had two choices - 1) go to court and face imprisonment. 2) repay the amount he had stolen, be banned from the store and allow the police to go to his school. At the school they would speak to his class about shoplifting and he would be expected to tell his classmates about the experience. Son was terrified of imprisonment, husband was very angry and felt humiliation would do the trick so they chose number 2. Husband was told the local police would hold details of the theft, but it would be wiped at 18. Son would not have to tell uni's, employers or visa applications about the arrest. Son and husband were not provided with copies of the paperwork. They were not provided with the opportunity to speak to a solicitor or even time to think about what they were signing.
I was at work so heard about this when husband called me. I was not happy about the class humiliation aspect. The school called husband to discuss what had happened and said they would not allow the class visit. Husband has just had a call from a PCSO asking why we are breaking the agreement and warning son could be charged and face imprisonment if we do not follow the criteria. Husband explained our concerns and PCSO offered to amend the punishment to son writing an account of his experience which would be anonymously read out in assembly by the PCSO. I am still not comfortable with the humiliation aspect and I do not trust the police to keep it anonymous. Husband thinks we should agree as he is worried about case going to court.
Son has been punished by us. He has been punished by the school, as he was in uniform so brought the school into disrepute. He is banned from the store. He was mortified by the whole experience to such an extent he has had nightmares every night since getting caught. He has had to pay the shop for the goods. Am I wrong in thinking the school visit aspect is taking things too far? Does anyone have suggestions as to how we should handle the situation? Does anyone know what this scheme is called and whether it really will get wiped at 18? How do I get copies of the paperwork from the police?
We have also received a letter from the local retail watch group. They say the police have notified them of the arrest and they have informed their members. After a meeting it was decided to issue my son with a formal warning and some stores may decide to ban him. Does my son have any right to confidentiality?
Son was told he had two choices - 1) go to court and face imprisonment. 2) repay the amount he had stolen, be banned from the store and allow the police to go to his school. At the school they would speak to his class about shoplifting and he would be expected to tell his classmates about the experience. Son was terrified of imprisonment, husband was very angry and felt humiliation would do the trick so they chose number 2. Husband was told the local police would hold details of the theft, but it would be wiped at 18. Son would not have to tell uni's, employers or visa applications about the arrest. Son and husband were not provided with copies of the paperwork. They were not provided with the opportunity to speak to a solicitor or even time to think about what they were signing.
I was at work so heard about this when husband called me. I was not happy about the class humiliation aspect. The school called husband to discuss what had happened and said they would not allow the class visit. Husband has just had a call from a PCSO asking why we are breaking the agreement and warning son could be charged and face imprisonment if we do not follow the criteria. Husband explained our concerns and PCSO offered to amend the punishment to son writing an account of his experience which would be anonymously read out in assembly by the PCSO. I am still not comfortable with the humiliation aspect and I do not trust the police to keep it anonymous. Husband thinks we should agree as he is worried about case going to court.
Son has been punished by us. He has been punished by the school, as he was in uniform so brought the school into disrepute. He is banned from the store. He was mortified by the whole experience to such an extent he has had nightmares every night since getting caught. He has had to pay the shop for the goods. Am I wrong in thinking the school visit aspect is taking things too far? Does anyone have suggestions as to how we should handle the situation? Does anyone know what this scheme is called and whether it really will get wiped at 18? How do I get copies of the paperwork from the police?
We have also received a letter from the local retail watch group. They say the police have notified them of the arrest and they have informed their members. After a meeting it was decided to issue my son with a formal warning and some stores may decide to ban him. Does my son have any right to confidentiality?
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