The remarks came after police opened an investigation into a report that two undercover security guards had forcibly restrained a customer by the neck and dragged her back into the store
Industry experts and a lawmaker have raised concerns about the use of excessive force by privately hired security guards, following a recent incident where guards at a Mannings pharmacy allegedly grabbed a customer by the neck after accusing her of shoplifting. The case has sparked public debate over the appropriate level of force security personnel are allowed to use when apprehending suspects.
Yuen Sze-tung, a former council member of the Hong Kong Buildings Management and Security Workers General Union, emphasized that security guards are only empowered to use minimal force and must hand over suspects to the police for further investigation. “The point of apprehension is to hand them over to the police. There is no need to hold the person in a [neck] lock. Telling them not to leave, using language to achieve this goal, would already do the job,” Yuen said during a radio interview.
The remarks came after police opened an investigation into a report that two undercover security guards had forcibly restrained a customer by the neck and dragged her back into the store. The customer had been accused of shoplifting. In response, Mannings issued a statement saying it had dismissed the security guards involved and terminated its contract with the security firm that had supplied them.
Peter Shiu Ka-fai, a lawmaker representing the retail sector, pointed out that the use of plain-clothes security guards is uncommon in the industry. However, some retailers have opted for undercover guards due to the rise of self-service checkouts, where customers do not interact with staff before leaving the store. Shiu highlighted that theft remains a concern for retailers, with police data showing a 12% increase in shoplifting cases in the first half of the year, reaching 4,415 cases.
Security guards in Hong Kong are required to hold a valid license and must be familiar with the laws regarding a civilian’s right to arrest, actions that constitute theft, and procedures for conducting searches and recording video. According to the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person has the right to arrest someone they reasonably suspect of committing an arrestable offense, though Yuen clarified that security guards must give a warning and use only the “lowest level of force” when making an apprehension.
Yuen also noted that while security guards are not legally empowered to conduct searches, they may inspect a customer’s bag if the shopper consents. This reinforces the importance of handling such situations with care and respecting the legal boundaries of their role.
The incident has raised questions about the training and conduct of security personnel, with calls for clearer guidelines to ensure that guards exercise appropriate restraint when dealing with suspects.
