Please don’t confuse poor judgment with racism

While I understand Amanda Lobo’s indignation at been falsely accused of shoplifting, please do not turn this into a racist issue. A couple of years ago I had a similar experience after leaving a Warehouse store.

I was stopped by security in the middle of my local mall, my bag taken off me and searched in full view of other customers. My crime? I didn’t stop when the security guard asked me to when he followed me across the mall.

My defence is that I have a significant hearing loss and do not hear any noise or speech unless I can see the person addressing me.

I too was at first confused, embarrassed and indignant.

Even after I explained to the security person why I did not stop he was sceptical, and even after a bag search was clear, no apology was offered.

So please Amanda Lobo, this is not a case of a “perfect example of institutional racism that’s alive . . . in New Zealand today“.

It is a case of mistaken identity, and perhaps poor judgment, by persons undertaking to do a very difficult task of apprehending real shoplifters.