Wrongly accused by Superdrug...

[2Grumpy]

I wonder if they watched the recordings from when only staff were in the shop. I thought that much lifting was done by employees.

 

Maybe they should look round the shop in case the items in question have been moved to a different area for a promotion ...

[sdv2712]

It's a relatively small store and there isn't anywhere but the makeup aisle to display that amount of items.

 

I have just this minute got off the phone from my friend and she remembered an incident of a cleaner stealing from the same store. Apparently, the CCTV was turned off at night and put back on at opening time enabling the cleaner to make off with goods.

 

I do wish that stores would have much better security systems in place to avoid situations like this. The loss they must suffer each year must be phenomenal, no wonder the price of some items are ridiculous. Perhaps I should become a security consultant.

[caledfwlch]

Hi Caledfwlch,

 

In all fairness the officer isn't at fault about me being the only person being pulled in as Superdrug only sent my images, my details and CCTV footage containing my 40 minutes to him so their sucurity is at fault.S

 

Sorry, but that doesn't fly. The Officer is absolutely at fault. He is required to investigate, not to be drip fed one item by a member of the public, and focus on that. A decent officer competent to be in the role would have upon his first viewing immediately contacted Superdrug for the entire days footage. Even a Probationer could see the footage of you was clearly evidence of nothing (have you an invisible accomplice perhaps? )

 

I bet you, once he approached his senior Officer, the guy took 5 seconds to say wtf? had he been daft enough to send it to the CPS the officer would be a laughing stock.

[sdv2712]

Having seen the footage I can only agree with you. I am thoroughly put out that he had to know every detail about me but didn't have much to go on from the store. I thought an investigation would be a two way street.

 

He did intimate, on the day he showed me the footage, that it was of such unclear quality that he doubted it would go any further. Having said that he also gave the impression he was going to try his best to ensure it did.

 

One question...how did you know about my invisible friend?

[caledfwlch]

Having seen the footage I can only agree with you. I am thoroughly put out that he had to know every detail about me but didn't have much to go on from the store. I thought an investigation would be a two way street.

 

He did intimate, on the day he showed me the footage, that it was of such unclear quality that he doubted it would go any further. Having said that he also gave the impression he was going to try his best to ensure it did.

 

One question...how did you know about my invisible friend?

 

So, put in a formal complaint to the stations superintendent, and point out that you will be going to the IPCC. IMO Superdrug have committed defamation here, as the "proof" they have of you committing an offence is non existent and you were forced to waste time in a police station, that should give you some negotiating ground when speaking to their complaints with regards to how much they are going to financially compensate you, and we don't mean in store vouchers

[sdv2712]

Oh good lord I don't want any money from them, Caled! I just want my name cleared and not to be humiliated with a ban if I walk in the store...if....

 

I have sent a basic account of what happened and how it has affected me to the MD. I didn't use any threats or anything heavy as I want to give them a fair chance to set things straight...which is more than I got. Should I not get an email back by Thursday I will post on Facebook, Twitter and send an account of what happened to every tabloid that I can. More than likely they won't be interested but I will still do it.

 

Should anyone be insulting enough to try and placate me with anything but what I want then I will send it back...via the media.

 

As for the policeman...I'm a great believer in karma. What goes around comes around.

[caledfwlch]

Oh good lord I don't want any money from them, Caled! I just want my name cleared and not to be humiliated with a ban if I walk in the store...if....

 

I have sent a basic account of what happened and how it has affected me to the MD. I didn't use any threats or anything heavy as I want to give them a fair chance to set things straight...which is more than I got. Should I not get an email back by Thursday I will post on Facebook, Twitter and send an account of what happened to every tabloid that I can. More than likely they won't be interested but I will still do it.

 

Should anyone be insulting enough to try and placate me with anything but what I want then I will send it back...via the media.

 

As for the policeman...I'm a great believer in karma. What goes around comes around.

 

If compo can be gained, then gain it! This is not a compo culture gone mad issue, you have genuinely been wronged, and suffered distress.

 

Also, given how the Officer was, and what he said, do not be surprised if your Criminal Record file and/or the PNC has now been marked as "suspected shoplifter"

 

Certainly, if you are ever accused again, this incident will be brought up, and used as pressure against you, it is now sitting on various systems.

 

This is not to worry you, just pointing out that this business has had a major effect on you, you have been defamed/libelled, and now your name etc is sitting on a Police System, where it may not have existed before, unless you have been pulled in for an offence in the past.

 

My own clean record was blighted in January this year by thugs making false accusations after attempting to break into my flat and stab me. Sadly for them the whole thing is on CCTV, and the CPS as soon as they (finally) got round to viewing it, cleared me and are treating me as a victim of violence. I am in Court next week to give evidence, and am still considering what action to take against the thugs, and the Police. Certainly I will be getting my DNA etc removed.

[sdv2712]

How awful for you to go through something as harrowing as that. I can't even begin to imagine how you feel and wish you all the best of luck for next week.

 

I appreciate what you are saying about compensation but it doesn't sit well with me. Superdrug shareholders have lost enough money with people stealing from them without me trying to get money for nothing. The 'nothing' being that fact that I have incurred no expense at all and no amount of money will wipe away the last week or exonerate me. All it would mark me as is a greedy opportunist, wanting something for nothing. Or maybe no one else would see me like that but that is how I would feel about myself.

 

The police can mark me with what they like (what is the PNC?), they wouldn't have acted without the security personnel at Superdrug zoning in on me because (I suspect) they are too bone idle to check the rest of the CCTV footage and are too untrained to be able to see if someone if filling up a handbag or not. All on the grounds that I 'seemed most likely because of the length of time I was in there'!

[jackieandwayne]

Well, SDV we ought to pair up - a murderer and a tealeaf! The PNC is the police national computer. What caledflwch is trying to make you aware of is, if you were to apply for a job or voluntary position that required an enhanced CRB (criminal records bureau) check, its a possibility that this might be on your record when the check is done.

 

Its why I've kicked up such a stink with IPCC - I did not threaten to murder anyone and I won't rest until this is off my record. You haven't stolen anything and there should be in existence a huge tape which will show this as well as show who did pinch the stuff most likely, if only someone would bother to watch it fully. If the police had listened to the taped telephone conversation between myself and Unison they wouldn't have bothered even visiting me. Unison destroyed the tape very quickly.

 

You might not have incurred any expense, but they sure have put you through the wringer. At the very least I would expect a sincere written apology, an extremely large bouquet, and a voucher or a cash offer. They don't have any other way of putting it right, they can't undo what damage has been done to you, this is all they can do really. So don;t be feeling guilty at taking any compensation on offer, think how this has made you feel.

 

One other thought, do your local shops operate a "ringmaster" scheme? The police/shops should be able to tell you. This is where the shops/cops all work together to catch the light fingered and other genuine criminals in the shopping area. If so, you should be looking for confirmation that you haven't ended up on that as well.

[sdv2712]

Hi Jackie/Wayne

 

I do see your (and Caleds) point but I would be more than satisfied with an apology.

 

I haven't a clue about the ringmaster scheme but I am not bothered about it. If the rest of the shops want to keep an eye on me shopping then that is fine...it stops any further mistakes from taking place.

 

Your situation is much worse than mine and I feel terrible for you. I sincerely hope that you get your name cleared and get to put the whole nasty experience behind you.

[2Grumpy]

I would be wanting more than an apology and the apology would need to be in writing in case I needed an enhanced CRB check for a job so that I could point to the false accusation.

 

The PC admitted that there was nothing on the CCTV so his conduct was poor.

 

The store acted atrociously and will get away with that unless you make a complaint.

 

The only way that a complaint is taken seriously and escalated - which this needs - is if there is compensation involved. For the sake of other innocent customers, make the complaint. The next victim might be a vulnerable person who might admit to something they haven't done just to get out of there - it does happen. It might also give you closure on the event

[sdv2712]

Grumpy, I have emailed the MD with my complaint. If he doesn't answer me back by Thursday then I will go further. I state again that I do not want compensation, I want an apology, nothing more, nothing less. I will escalate it if I don't get a response.

 

I am allowing them 2 days to look through the day and a half of CCTV footage and then giving them another day to put together my letter of apology. But all things considered, it took a week for the police to get to my door with the information given to them by Superdrug HQ security. At the most it should have been 2 or 3 days. So I don't expect a lot from them.

[caledfwlch]

Hi Jackie/Wayne

 

I do see your (and Caleds) point but I would be more than satisfied with an apology.

 

I haven't a clue about the ringmaster scheme but I am not bothered about it. If the rest of the shops want to keep an eye on me shopping then that is fine...it stops any further mistakes from taking place.

 

Your situation is much worse than mine and I feel terrible for you. I sincerely hope that you get your name cleared and get to put the whole nasty experience behind you.

 

Please don't feel sorry for the Shareholders, they are not making a loss, or losing any revenues, the "cost" of shoplifting is included in the price of every single item you can buy in Superdrug, it is why the Oxford RLP trial was a win for the (guilty!) shoplifters, the Judge ruled the cost is already covered, and RLP had no case.

 

Also, the poor shareholders, will mostly be wealthy business people who pay very little tax in the UK, using every loophole they can.

[sdv2712]

So it's D-day. I said that I would give it 'til today before telling my tale of woe to anyone who would listen (or read as the case may be) if I didn't hear back from Superdrug's MD. I got an email today! From MRS Joey Wat. Oops...that will teach me not to Google. She is passing my case on to her Customer Service Team and the reason she didn't answer sooner is because her and her family have been on holiday. Shame on me for sending a second email today warning that I was going to talk to someone who WOULD listen. In fact I am half way through an email to the Daily Mail.

 

I have emailed her back to say I would hold off a bit longer to see what her CST come up with. Probably nothing positive now that I have inadvertently upset the boss lady. I feel a complete idiot for not checking up on her first, especially as I don't hesitate to check up on youth workers and alike.

 

Oh well, I guess I will have to wait a little longer to hear their verdict but at least I know that something is being done...fingers crossed it is the result I would most like.

[honeybee13]

So you're saying the company can't function whilst someone senior like the MD is on holiday?

 

HB

[sdv2712]

Oops...messed up this post

Edited September 6, 2012 by sdv2712

[sdv2712]

Lol no Honey,

 

I sent emails to Mrs Wat, not a department. She is MD. She is passing me on to Robert Dean who is Head of Stores Operations. Mrs W says 'Rob, my colleague is very experienced and he will follow up.'

 

 

 

[stargazerlily]

Good luck sdv. I will be watching out for you in the Daily Mail!

[sdv2712]

Thank you Lily.

 

I am seriously hoping it doesn't go as far as a mud slinging match.

 

Rob Dean has been in his job a long time so I'm hoping he knows what's what.

[sdv2712]

Good morning all!

 

Firstly I would like to thank all of you for your advice, help and kind words. Without this wonderful forum I wouldn't have got the result I wanted...yes, Superdrug apologised. They held a thorough investigation and have now put down the whole sordid debacle down to over vigilance of the store manager. I was offered a £30.00 gift card but have refused it as I got what I wanted with the all clear and apology.

 

None of this would have been possible without you guys, so thank you so much! I will keep popping in regularly and who knows...maybe I can help someone in turn.

[stargazerlily]

£30 for what you went through, what an insult! I hope you are feeling a bit better now sdv, and I'm sure your experience will help others in the future. Take care!

[sdv2712]

£30 for what you went through, what an insult! I hope you are feeling a bit better now sdv, and I'm sure your experience will help others in the future. Take care!

 

Thank you lily,

 

I did ask for the gift card to be sent to a charity of their choice, so some good will come out of it.

 

I feel like a weight has been lifted, even though I know I didn't do it, having other people think I did is worse I think.

 

Never mind...all done now and I can heave a sigh of relief lol.

[Lucifa42]

Once the machine was recording the officer read me my rights and informed me I wasn't under arrest and could leave at any time and asked me if I wanted a solicitor, which I declined as I figured I hadn't done anything wrong so wasn't necessary.

I just want to quickly chime in with something, please avail yourself of the legal aid system should you ever be the same situation again, that is being interviewed by the police whether you have committed a crime or not. Too many innocent people find themselves at the wrong end of a criminal charge after they have been interviewed by the police and then inadvertently incriminated themselves. Sadly people think that getting a solicitor involved is somehow an admission of guilt, but it really isn't!

[sdv2712]

I just want to quickly chime in with something, please avail yourself of the legal aid system should you ever be the same situation again, that is being interviewed by the police whether you have committed a crime or not. Too many innocent people find themselves at the wrong end of a criminal charge after they have been interviewed by the police and then inadvertently incriminated themselves. Sadly people think that getting a solicitor involved is somehow an admission of guilt, but it really isn't!

 

Yes, you are absolutely right. I think it is a common misconception that to not bother with a solicitor in the vain hope the the police will assume you are innocent. The old adage 'innocent until proven guilty' only counts in court. In the police station it is the other way round, except they aren't so keen for you to prove you are innocent. Should things have escalated and I had been charged then I would have had a solicitor there in a flash.

 

According to Miss xxxx (Superdrug) the police officer and the shop manager were not acting in accordance with company policy. The police officer shouldn't have come to me before seeing the CCTV. I suspect he was fresh out of college as I'm pretty sure he was a community officer before.

Edited September 22, 2012 by honeybee13
Removing name for privacy reasons.