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Consumer gall at 'thief branding'

I can understand Charles Mogale's indignation (Flipside, February 26) at being searched on leaving a shop, implicitly branding him a thief.

I can understand Charles Mogale's indignation (Flipside, February 26) at being searched on leaving a shop, implicitly branding him a thief.

Why do shops and businesses think they can do this? I thought it was only the police who had the power to search, and then only with reason.

It might be cold comfort to Mogale to learn that it's not only "black" shopping malls and shops where this happens. A well-known "discount" chain does it all the time.

Many companies also assume the right to search.

Try leaving Kruger Park without opening the boot of your car, or perhaps the CSIR - all think they have the right to intrude on our space and implicitly assume we are thieves.

I suppose the only good thing is that the - usually contracted - security guards are colour blind.

What makes the guards' intrusion more irritating is their lack of ability. More often than not the search of the car's boot ignores anything on the back seat.

It's about time that we started to refuse to be searched when we leave shops and companies. How about a campaign?

Bob Brunt

Lombardy East

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