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Security Accosts Shopper Who Carried Goods To Car In Basket To Avoid 5p Bag Charge

The new carrier bag charge turned ugly this week after security guards accosted a shopper for using a basket to take groceries to her car.

Khalia Smith, 21, was confronted by two Tesco guards as she walked to her vehicle in the supermarket car park.

The singer, from Leytonstone, London, had entered her local branch to get some lunch but decided not to pay for a carrier bag as she had one in her car.

But as she was walking out with her purchased shopping she was chased across the car park by the duo who accused her of stealing.

She filmed the awkward stand-off - including the moment one guard grabbed her basket after accusing her of trying to steal it.

The guards explained the new 5p charge for bags had seen a rise in the number of people using baskets to carry goods to their cars and even home.

Khalia said: “I hadn’t even got to my car when the security guards chased me and then grabbed my basket and wouldn’t let go.

"It was very embarrassing. My banana and my receipt fell out on the floor when he grabbed it.

"I already had bags in my car so I was trying to help by not wasting plastic, but instead I was humiliated in the car park."

In the video taken outside the Tesco Extra in Leyton, east London, on Tuesday, the security guard said: "You can’t take the basket off the premises."

Khalia argued that as she was in the car park, she was still on the premises, but he refused to let go.

The security guard added: "You can’t take the basket because Tesco does not allow baskets to be taken to the car park because we are losing a lot."

Khalia, who was with a pal at the time, said it was the first time she’d gone shopping since the 5p levy was introduced.

The argument lasted about five minutes until another customer came to diffuse the situation and gave Khalia her own 5p plastic bag.

Khalia contacted Tesco’s head office after the incident to make a complaint and they reportedly told her she would receive a £10 voucher as compensation and an explanation as to how they follow up the incident.

She said: "I don’t think that’s really enough. It’s made me not want to go back to Tesco."

Tesco have been approached for a comment.

(Pictures credited to SWNS)