BOOKIES JUST HELD ME HOSTAGE IN SHOP!!!

Get one of them no win no fee lawyers and do the bookie for illegal detention. And make sure you don't lose your compensation in the same bookie!

I might just do that.
I had previously been told I was not allowed in though.

If you were forcibly held against your will you may well have a case. Bookies CCTV will act as a witness. Of course it depends on exactly what happened.

I entered the shop and picked up a few footy coupons from right by the door. The cashier shouted "excuse me" a few times before someone pointed out she was talking to me. She then said I was not allowed in and I needed to put down the coupons. I just tried to open the door and it was locked. I said "Have you locked me in?" to which she replied "you need to return the coupons". It wasn't until I put the coupons on the counter that she unlocked the door and then told me to leave.

Doesnt sound forcibly enough to make it worth pursuing then. Still disconcerting that someone can lock you in!

Seems fair enough to me, sounds like someone is being a little precious

Someone being a jobsworth.
What difference does it make to the cashier if I take a few coupons or not?

None, the point is you were banned so you shouldn't complain, you should laugh at being in such a ridiculous situation.

I found it quite amusing but its probably illegal.

Fool, you just caved in and let her win.  You should have sat outside and asked the next customer to get you a coupon.

Thanks for sharing this funny story

imv she was performing a citizen's arrest as it was probably illegal to enter the premises and take a coupon when you knew you were barred

Wouldnt be illegal possibly unlawful massive difference, bookie broke the law punter may have acted unlawfully, need to get the forum brief on it. . .

Trespassing would fall into the illegal not unlawful category.

Black’s Law Dictionary defines unlawful as not authorized by law, illegal. Illegal is defined as forbidden by law, unlawful. Semantically, there is a slight difference. It seems that something illegal is expressly proscribed by statute, and something unlawful is just not expressly authorized.

I got the coupons 10mins later in a different shop.

According to the guy at the gambling commission I am not breaking any laws by entering the shop.

Trespassing would be illegal but although a bookies would be private property it has implied rights of access, it depends who "banned"him why and how, even if the staff followed all their "rules" it would still be a grey area whereas the staff just plain broke the law. . .

Thinly-veiled "I'm a slow counter" thread

"I got the coupons 10mins later in a different shop."

She still thinks she won though.

Arbers are very sensitive and could easily be upset by such an experience.  I'm surprised he's not looking for compo for the trauma and emotional distress caused by his unlawful incarceration.

I might yet Pillock !!

"Arbers are very sensitive......". Does the same apply to Barbers ?

how do you know you are barred?

why are you banned?

Strange interpretation from Mr Ed - there was never any incarceration - simple instructions were given as to how to get out of the shop for the barred customer.
An unwillingness to follow instructions to get out does not constitute imprisonment - getting out of hotels is more complex and noone accuses them of being jailers.

Which bookmaker was this? She broke the law and contravened fire regulations by doing this.

The bookmaker was hills.

I was never given a reason for the ban, just handed a letter saying I was banned.
I have never caused any trouble or had any disputes - it is simply as I have been winning.

This thread reminds me of something that happened me in a Ladbrokes shop in the early 90s in London. It was lunchtime and I was at the counter reviewing the latest prices and chating with the manager. Suddenly, a guy comes up beside me, takes a gun out of a bag, points it at the manager, and tells him to give him the cash. Manager puts the cash in the bag and gives it back to gunman who then demands shop door keys. He immediately leaves the shop locking the door behind him. The whole operation took about 3 minutes but we were locked in the shop for over 20.

What was most remarkable was the fact that of the 8 or so other customers in the shop, not one of them noticed that the shop was being robbed. The gunman was nerveless.

Mr Ed, for what it's worth and given the info you have provided in this thread, I think the shop staff behaved reasonably.

Cheers Reb.

Good story

Which town?

Any shop or store which locks doors while customers are inside is contravening fire safety regulations. You should contact the local council of the town the shop is in and make a complaint. They issue licences for the bookmaker to run that store, and they will withdraw their licence on that basis.

Say if a fire had started at the same time and the member of staff had got distracted by that, and forgot to unlock the door?

Mr Ed,  was it you who posted once about a bookie having a picture of you on a computer screen behind the counter?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) 2005..

In terms of fire safety, the final exits on an escape route in a public building are known as fire exits. They may or may not be located on the usual route of traffic when the premises are operating under normal circumstances.  The final exit doors should open easily, immediately and, wherever practicable, “in the direction of escape”, i.e. outwards into a place of safety outside the building.

RichWill - yes it was

Thanks srich - I think I will do that

reb




28 Jul 03
| Topic/replies: 412 | Blogger: reb's blog

This thread reminds me of something that happened me in a Ladbrokes shop in the early 90s in London. It was lunchtime and I was at the counter reviewing the latest prices and chating with the manager. Suddenly, a guy comes up beside me, takes a gun out of a bag, points it at the manager, and tells him to give him the cash. Manager puts the cash in the bag and gives it back to gunman who then demands shop door keys. He immediately leaves the shop locking the door behind him. The whole operation took about 3 minutes but we were locked in the shop for over 20.

What was most remarkable was the fact that of the 8 or so other customers in the shop, not one of them noticed that the shop was being robbed. The gunman was nerveless.

..............

You've just reminded me that when I was a bookie manager in 92 my shop was robbed at gunpoint by 3 men (there were 2 punters in the shop, one of whom I can still visualise to this day)  First thing they did was ask for the keys to lock the front door.  I just when straight out the back door when they left.  I recall I was buzzing at the time.  Three times I was robbed in 1 year, once at gunpoint and twice going to the bank, except the 3rd time I wasnt actually going to the bank.  That one was a tad scary.  That was Harlesden for you in the early nineties.  Then the gun crime capital of London.

reb




28 Jul 03
| Topic/replies: 412 | Blogger: reb's blog

This thread reminds me of something that happened me in a Ladbrokes shop in the early 90s in London. It was lunchtime and I was at the counter reviewing the latest prices and chating with the manager. Suddenly, a guy comes up beside me, takes a gun out of a bag, points it at the manager, and tells him to give him the cash. Manager puts the cash in the bag and gives it back to gunman who then demands shop door keys. He immediately leaves the shop locking the door behind him. The whole operation took about 3 minutes but we were locked in the shop for over 20.

What was most remarkable was the fact that of the 8 or so other customers in the shop, not one of them noticed that the shop was being robbed. The gunman was nerveless.

..............

You've just reminded me that when I was a bookie manager in 92 my shop was robbed at gunpoint by 3 men (there were 2 punters in the shop, one of whom I can still visualise to this day)  First thing they did was ask for the keys to lock the front door.  I just when straight out the back door when they left.  I recall I was buzzing at the time.  Three times I was robbed in 1 year, once at gunpoint and twice going to the bank, except the 3rd time I wasnt actually going to the bank.  That one was a tad scary.  That was Harlesden for you in the early nineties.  Then the gun crime capital of London.

Clydebank, interestingly the shop was in Camden Town and the year was, very likely, 91 or 92. What odds the gunman in  Camden-Ladbrokes was also involved in one of your encounters ?

Trespassing and trying to steal football coupons - this is a clear case of burglary.

Possibly reb.  From memory they were two coloured and one white guy.  One stood at the counter, one in the shop and another came behind the counter to grab the cash.  Easier to control the situation for them with only 2 punters in the shop both of whom I'm pretty sure were aware what was going on.  Suspect the guy at the counter was the only guy carrying a gun, but I completely zoned out about the guns at the time it was happening.  All I was thinking was thank fook the safe was open and to give them the cash ASAP.

There was a betting shop manageress shot and killed in Cardiff not long afterwards I vaguely recall

Never play the hero they'll be back tommorow shoving it in the FOBT.

Ed, you shouldn't really have gone in there, but a good form of revenge would be to superglue their locks