Vehicle search

[Foxyfoxyfoxy]

Hi guys I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

I've been a delivery driver for 20 years now. Give a security person a hi-viz and he has a power trip!
I've started delivering to a very well known store chain warehouse who I'm pretty sure the security are trying to search the cab of my van illegally, in particular the GLOVE BOX!

Didn't want to search my bag or the door cards, just the tiny glove box.

After a short stand off with him and last delivery of the day I just flicked it open for like 0.25 of a second.. he didn't even look, nor would he have seen anything, but he was then satisfied and allowed me to leave after he lifted the barrier.

Now I don't have a problem opening the rear door to look in or him looking through the windows.
My understanding is that only police and VOSA have any powers to search in the cab. However looking on the internet I can't find anything official to back this up to show them as proof.

Can anyone point out where I can get any info please,
Many thanks.

[anonymous-user]

I think this is very simple.

If you are on private property serving a private company, it’s their rules whilst you are there.

If they want to search you or your van whilst you enter or leave their property, then they will do.

If you don’t want your person or vehicle searched, then don’t go onto their property or don’t deliver to them.

[Drumroll]

A lot of the places that I used to visit made it a condition of entry that you and your vehicle could be subject to a search. How far they could legally push it would be interesting though.

[Bigends]

I'd have thought that thered be a sign posted stating that vehicles on the premises are liable to search .

[denzilpc]

i work in the warehousing industry and any person or car/van entering or leaving our site is subject to a search be it bags or interior of cars vans ect

[Bigends]

denzilpc said:

i work in the warehousing industry and any person or car/van entering or leaving our site is subject to a search be it bags or interior of cars vans ect

How would visitors know that? Are there signs up or are they told on entry. I assume its a condition of service for employees.

Edited by Bigends on Monday 1st April 23:00

[Davie_GLA]

Sooooo........

What’s in the box????

[caziques]

Lord Marylebone said:

I think this is very simple.

If you are on private property serving a private company, it’s their rules whilst you are there.

If they want to search you or your van whilst you enter or leave their property, then they will do.

If you don’t want your person or vehicle searched, then don’t go onto their property or don’t deliver to them.

A private person has no rights to search anything, even the police would have to have "reasonable suspicion" or a search warrant. The law doesn't change just because it's private property.

I would refuse any request for a search - just say no. You also can't be detained, that would be illegal.

[dacouch]

caziques said:

A private person has no rights to search anything, even the police would have to have "reasonable suspicion" or a search warrant. The law doesn't change just because it's private property.

I would refuse any request for a search - just say no. You also can't be detained, that would be illegal.

Companies who operate such a system will generally ban you from coming back to that premises and / or all their premises if you do this. With some employers this may cause you problems as you won't be able to perform your job, in addition some employers may take a dim view of your damaging their reputation with their customer

[Foxyfoxyfoxy]

Thanks for the replies.
I asked why he didn't look in my bag and said they are not allowed to search a person or personal property! If I owned the van... that would be personal property.
I asked if he suspected me of steeling anything and he said 'no'. That doesn't give even the police grounds for a search.

I just want to point out that I have nothing to hide but I am just dead against the kind of people who try to exorcise powers they don't have.

If it comes to it I'll tell them I want an independent witness... i.e. police present so they can witness nothing being found.

[HantsRat]

It'll be the same as a nightclub. A condition of entry is a search which you consent to. If you don't consent simply don't go there and go elsewhere.

[Pothole]

Relax. He'll soon get bored. Or have some fun with it: get hold of one of those air horns on a compressed air can. Sound it all the time the glove box is open.

[loafer123]

Davie_GLA said:

Sooooo........

What’s in the box????

[berlintaxi]

Foxyfoxyfoxy said:

I just want to point out that I have nothing to hide but I am just dead against the kind of people who try to exorcise powers they don't have.

Have you a crucifix in the glove box?

[Pothole]

berlintaxi said:

Foxyfoxyfoxy said:

I just want to point out that I have nothing to hide but I am just dead against the kind of people who try to exorcise powers they don't have.

Have you a crucifix in the glove box?

Pot pourri? (it's an aural joke)

[Foxyfoxyfoxy]

loafer123 said:

Davie_GLA said:

Sooooo........

What’s in the box????

Haha that's just the point... f#@* all he needs to know about!

As I said before.. in sheer frustration I opened it for 0.25 of a second and snapped it closed again. He didn't even look in or see what was in there (Just paperwork) and he was happy to let me go. I also have another storage box on top of the dashboard and the door pockets, but he just seemed to have a weird fetish about looking in my glove box.... jobsworth
weirdo!

[Byker28i]

loafer123 said:

Davie_GLA said:

Sooooo........

What’s in the box????

It's a cat, the real question is, is it alive or dead.

I work at a datacenter, our cars get searched regularly

[Foxyfoxyfoxy]

Byker28i said:

loafer123 said:

Davie_GLA said:

Sooooo........

What’s in the box????

It's a cat, the real question is, is it alive or dead.

I work at a datacenter, our cars get searched regularly

I could accept it if I worked for the company as I would be contractually obliged to be searched. But as a visiting delivery driver and not recalling seeing any signs saying in-depth vehicle searches take place, I don't see what right they have.

[anonymous-user]

caziques said:

Lord Marylebone said:

I think this is very simple.

If you are on private property serving a private company, it’s their rules whilst you are there.

If they want to search you or your van whilst you enter or leave their property, then they will do.

If you don’t want your person or vehicle searched, then don’t go onto their property or don’t deliver to them.

A private person has no rights to search anything, even the police would have to have "reasonable suspicion" or a search warrant. The law doesn't change just because it's private property.

I would refuse any request for a search - just say no. You also can't be detained, that would be illegal.

I know the law doesn’t change because it’s private property, but if the company rules are that every person and vehicle is searched once you enter their property, then you only really have 2 choices:

a) Don’t go onto their private property, and therefore don’t engage in any business with them.

b) Consent to a search and then go about your business.

My dad’s business used to serve a ‘sensitive’ company site, and the rules were very strict. Every delivery van or contractors vehicle that entered or left the side was thoroughly searched by extremely officious and slightly aggressive security guards who all dressed like fake policemen.

You just had to put up with it, as it was a small price to pay for doing business with them.

If we didn’t want our staff and vans searched then we could have just refused to do any work for them, but that would have been really silly.

[andy_s]

Foxyfoxyfoxy said:

loafer123 said:

Davie_GLA said:

Sooooo........

What’s in the box????

Haha that's just the point... f#@* all he needs to know about!

As I said before.. in sheer frustration I opened it for 0.25 of a second and snapped it closed again. He didn't even look in or see what was in there (Just paperwork) and he was happy to let me go. I also have another storage box on top of the dashboard and the door pockets, but he just seemed to have a weird fetish about looking in my glove box.... jobsworth
weirdo!

Perhaps they've had some theft, perhaps his boss has instructed him to do something particular for a particular reason, did that ever cross your mind?

He has no right to search you, but does have the right to not admit you. You chose to be searched by default and then moan at someone doing it and now that they're not doing it well enough...

There are types that are over officious, just as there are people that make their life overly difficult. A bit of empathy goes a long way on both sides.

Edited by andy_s on Tuesday 2nd April 09:58