This photo shows how my local independent bottle shop tackles shoplifting. There is no beating around the bush here.
One newsagent was recently told by the police to take down a photo they had of someone stealing. When the police did say it was okay it was too late.
Since the shop where I took the photo is opposite a police station I suspect they were advised it was okay.
The rules vary state by state. I am not endorsing newsagents do not – rather, noting how one bottle shop confronts the situation.
I have certainly put up photos, identifying the shopper of the week and seeking their details so I can give them their prize. While I didn’t find them it at least made me feel like I was doing something practical.
Mark, coppers are the last source/bastion of legal advice, you’d rely on, it’s whatever suits themselves at the time.. or what the Sergeant stipulates.
State’s laws don’t matter either. You can show whatever damn poster/photo you like of browsers, who enter your rented space.
Coppers, dislike you ‘evidence gathering’ on their behalf. That’s all.
It’s like the car park in Glenelg, that has many large signs saying, “When you park here, you are entering a contract”. Try that in a retail environment, because that car park got tested in the courts, hence the signage.
Coppers trying to interpret a ‘Privacy Act’ that doesn’t really exist… It’s arse covering. What they don’t want, is you uncovering an act of theft, in process, that they can then be, held to account for the follow up, and not really make a successful arrest. It’s all a numbers game to them.