Primark - security rights and powers help?

[Kelsbells64]

My nephew and his friend(both ten year old boys) were in primark looking to replace the friends trousers. They were carrying on when using the escalator.

When they left the store a security officer from Primark followed them past two stores and then stopped them and told them they were acting suspicious and he believed they may have been shop lifting. He demanded to search boys boys bags on the spot. Both boys gave their bags over to be searched. They were not shoplifting so he found nothing. Returned their bags and told tHem they could go.

I apologise if this has been asked before. I looked on the search function.

I thought they would be asked to return to the store and that a police officer would need to be present to check the bags? I wasn’t sure that they would be allowed to search a child’s belongings. Especially in an open space. There was one security officer. I witness to the search which I don’t believe was the correct procedure but I don’t know so asking for advice.

This was in a busy shopping centre(Scotland) and the boys were really embarrassed and scared. Am just looking for advice before I call the store or check about the security officers SIA etc.

any help would be really welcome.

[echat11]

Hi Kelsbells64

The store will have a policy in place. They should be taken back into the store, store manager should be present and then searched. I doubt that they would call the police until it was known that a alleged theft took place (it would be a waste of police time as nothing was found). Most 10 year old's are 'random' most of the time, shooting off in different directions, so naturally look suspicious. So you should complain, but do it in writing.

https://www.inbrief.co.uk/employees/...ecurity-guard/

[Kelsbells64]

Thank you very much for your response.