A FEW weeks ago I was shopping in a store in the St Mary's Precinct. The store was busy and I was approached by a store security officer who asked if he could help me at all.

I seemed to be the only shopper around and he was willing to assist.

This did not trouble me one bit, but his intervention caused some staff and shoppers to glare over which prompted me to write a letter to the store.

The manager replied with an apology and explained that he had a job to do. However, since my letter of complaint I have found myself the centre of attention, not only by precinct security, but also some of the officers from stores I don't normally shop at.

I am in my early 40s and don't have a criminal record.

So could this have something to do with a complaint made about a colleague, or has the security system come full circle by turning on innocent members of the public?

CONCERNED shopper (name and address supplied).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.