Apart from using a form of wording whereby you are requesting the "bell-ringer"
to empty their own bag in front of you (rather than offering to do it for
them), I would strongly advise you to discuss this situation with your
governing body, institutional dean, or whoever is in charge of disciplinary
matters. I think you may find that readers ARE expected to empty their bags
for you on request if you are investigating a potential disciplinary
infringement. Even if it is not explicitly permitted in your rules, many
institutions have a rule requiring their members to assist a security officer
or equivalent in the course of his/her investigations. If someone refuses to
open their bag then call a security officer (preferably uniformed - this seems
to help) to repeat the request. Even where there is a weight of circumstantial
evidence, it is often quite difficult to prove that someone has deliberately
tried to steal a book, but if someone refuses to open a bag on request you have
a prima facie case of deliberate obstruction of a security investigation.
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David Summers
Deputy Librarian
Lancaster University Library
Lancaster
LA1 4YH
Tel. 01524 - 592534
Fax 01524 - 65719
email: [log in to unmask]
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