Security Guard Following me

Is it always the same security guard?

Id say something to the security guard. Even in a friendly manner, ask how they're day is going and mention that they might have you confused with someone else if the security guard is gesturing at other guards to follow you.

I have caught him signalling to other security guards to watch out for me.

HTF did you deduce this?

What skin colour is the OCS employee?

Are you female?

All security should have their ID displayed with their Private Security Authority (PSA) registration number. Next time you are there go to the help desk and ask for the manager and ask him to get the security guard(s) registration number(s) or ask someone to go with you and ask the security guard yourself. If they refuse you can add that to a complaint to the PSA. They run ad on the radio and from those it seems in your case Tesco is ultimately responsible for their security even if it is outsourced.

You can also make a Data Access Request to Tesco for any data including CCTV or other data eg notes or images they have about you, you may need to give them a time and date for the CCTV. They legally should only keep CCTV for a month. Write a letter FAO The Data Protection Officer, Tesco (Tesco are the data controller and the security company the data processor, as such Tesco is responsible for all the data collected and processed) and give it to the manager, and then follow up with an email to their Irish HQ in Dun Laoghaire and cc their UK HQ, tell them you feel intimidated. I have seen where the Irish branch doesn't take their GDPR requirements seriously, but once the UK branch is contacted the one here soon gets to work on their legal obligations. If you are not happy contact the Data Protection Commissions Office.

You may also want to contact your local FLAC office, they might be able to give you legal advice.

You could also contact your local radio station or Lunchtime Live on Newstalk or Liveline on RTE.

You are paying for these through your taxes so you may as well make use of them when needed.

https://www.psa-gov.ie/contact-us/

http://www.dataprotection.ie/en/individuals

https://www.flac.ie/

For multiple reasons not a good idea.

Just shop elsewhere. Why pay good money to a store which believes you to be a thief?

I had this in Boots one time, when I got to the till I was informed to use a basket and I had filled up a keep bag. Lesson learned.

Dont think filming and posting on youtube is the answer, but theres no law prohibiting filming on private property.

Approach him and ask for his name and registration number. Tell him that he's being acting creepy. If he says hes a security guard, tell him you've already spoken to the Store Manager who's confirmed that he has no contract with OCS for security services.

A few suggestions given here will quickly see you get barred from that particular shop. Yes, it can and does happen.

If you think you are being sexually harassed, or ethnically targeted, then tell that to the Store Manager: S/he is responsible for the customer experience in-store.

But I'd guess it's more likely that you either looks like a known problem "customer", or are behaving in ways that attract suspicion.

Do you use a trolley, and put your bag in it? (Do use the trolley. Don't put the bag in. Don't put anything into own-bags until the other side of the checkout.)

Nah. I'd just ask them if they want a piggy back or something.

I've experienced this a few times. I must look dodgy to some security guys (based on their experience) because I am brown (Indian) and they might have had bad experiences with people who look like me or have same skin colour. It is racial profiling, no two ways about it.

One time it was when I had my parents with me in Dunnes Stores, and my mother was wearing a beautiful elegant south Indian sari garment, and this security guy was like he's following an armed terrorist and about to tackle us all. My dad is a highly decorated ex-army officer, and his pension in India alone is many times higher than that of the security guy's average income, never mind my own higher income, but none of that matters when you have a xenophobic guy with a hammer seeing nails everywhere.

I just don't go to that shop anymore.