What are my legal rights if I am wrongfully detained by private security or store staff?

Private individuals, including security staff, generally only have very limited powers to detain someone, and wrongfully confining or restraining a person without proper legal justification can amount to wrongful confinement or restraint, both civil wrongs and potentially criminal offences, exposing them (and potentially their employer) to liability.

You can pursue a civil claim for damages for the wrongful detention, particularly if it caused you humiliation, distress, or other harm, and depending on the specific conduct involved (such as if physical force was used), you may also be able to file a criminal complaint against the individuals responsible.

It helps to have some evidence of what happened — CCTV footage (which the store may be required to produce if requested formally), witness accounts, and a clear record of exactly what was said and done during the incident. If you believe the treatment you received was excessive or clearly unjustified given the actual circumstances, it would be worth consulting a lawyer to assess the strength of a potential claim.