Petty Theft - Help

[JBW1366]

I work in a care home as an member of the management team - and we are having a spate of petty theft from our kitchens (not residents), and I wonder how we stand about searching staff bags - can we? We have never before, do we need a sign / notice to say random bag check may be carried or similar words?

We have to leave the kitchen open so that residents can be given there supper, or snacks throughout the night but the items going missing are more than what is usually used during these times.

Suggestions and where do we stand legally - any help gratefully appreciated.

[curlygirlies]

Make your staff aware of the thefts and say extra security precautions will be put in place. This might nip it in the bud if someone thinks they might get caught.

[Smowball]

Are you allowed to put hidden cameras up?? Legally I mean.

[curlygirlies]

you can put fake cameras up anywhere as a deterrent.

[pixie374]

I'm not sure about "hidden" cameras, but we had one suspected theft from a residential kitchen, and a camera with a notice was put up. No further problems, anyway.

[Smowball]

Good point. Could always put fake ones up and tell staff they are real??

[Buenchico]

Start here for general info
https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-work-workers-rights
but contact the Acas Helpline for specific advice. (Several members of this site have reported that there can be quite a long wait to get through on their lines but that it's worth the wait in order to receive excellent advice on all employment matters): 0300 123 1190.

[Peter Pedant]

unhidden cameras - yes because they are to be used solely in the detection and prevention of crime

office of the ICO will tell you whats what - you hae to put up notices saying who to contract if they wish to download viddie of THEMSELVES

bag searches no- unless you have already put it in the employment contract which they signed

a lot of this is common sense really - in the UK consent is one sided and you know and have consented to videography

( hence all the ya-ya about recording someone else conversations which you arent at. )

[Peter Pedant]

One GP 'left' a tape recorder on in a room ( a la Good Wife) and recorded - "the other side" yakking and he retrieved the tape later. He had it transcribed and circulated to "his side". And one of his side later waved it in the employers face and said 'ya ya, you're lying'

and there was a lot of ya-ya in court, employment court, and GMC, complaints dept, you've been famed and so on and on