Store security guards who are SIA licenced in the United Kingdom do not have any legal right to search a member of the public. However if that member of the public has committed a criminal offense or has been seen to have shoplifted and met the A.S.C.O.N.E criteria. (Approach, Selection, Concealment, Observation, Non Payment and Exit.) The store security guard can request to search the suspected shoplifter. If they verbally authorise the search the security are permitted to conduct it, however if they refuse then the member of the public can be detained and the Police can be called to perform the search if the suspect refuses to be searched by SIA Licensed private security guards.
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