Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A former Dorset Police officer who tackled a shoplifter outside a Bournemouth Nike store has just been charged with grievous bodily harm.
The public reaction has been overwhelmingly supportive of Lorne Castle. "Good on him." "Finally, someone doing something." But the Crown Prosecution Service sees it differently — and after 23 years working in professional security, so do I.
In this video I break down exactly why citizen's arrest is one of the most legally dangerous things you can do, why self-defence and defence of property are not the safety net most people think they are, and why those of us who worked the door learned very quickly to keep our hands off anyone unless we had no other choice.
I cover:
The legal framework Castle is being judged against (Section 24A PACE, Section 3 Criminal Law Act)
Why self-defence is reactive — and citizen's arrest is the opposite
The "restrain without arresting" trap that puts well-meaning people in the dock
Why we let people walk away in the security industry — even when we knew they'd committed an offence
The licensing pressure that quietly shapes how venues handle these situations
What this case really means for any member of the public thinking of stepping in
The law doesn't care how much you wanted to do the right thing. It cares whether what you did was lawful, necessary, and proportionate.
If you've worked in security, policing, or had to make a call like this yourself — share it in the comments. This case is going to set a tone.
This is not legal advice. It is just a discussion on issues which relate to legal matters. Please seek professional advice should you require it.
#LorneCastle #CitizensArrest #UKLaw #SelfDefence #GBH #SecurityIndustry #ExPolice #ShopliftingUK #DorsetPolice #UseOfForce #DoorSupervisor #KnowYourRights #UKPolicing #CrimeUK #LegalCommentary
A former Dorset Police officer who tackled a shoplifter outside a Bournemouth Nike store has just been charged with grievous bodily harm.
The public reaction has been overwhelmingly supportive of Lorne Castle. "Good on him." "Finally, someone doing something." But the Crown Prosecution Service sees it differently — and after 23 years working in professional security, so do I.
In this video I break down exactly why citizen's arrest is one of the most legally dangerous things you can do, why self-defence and defence of property are not the safety net most people think they are, and why those of us who worked the door learned very quickly to keep our hands off anyone unless we had no other choice.
I cover:
The legal framework Castle is being judged against (Section 24A PACE, Section 3 Criminal Law Act)
Why self-defence is reactive — and citizen's arrest is the opposite
The "restrain without arresting" trap that puts well-meaning people in the dock
Why we let people walk away in the security industry — even when we knew they'd committed an offence
The licensing pressure that quietly shapes how venues handle these situations
What this case really means for any member of the public thinking of stepping in
The law doesn't care how much you wanted to do the right thing. It cares whether what you did was lawful, necessary, and proportionate.
If you've worked in security, policing, or had to make a call like this yourself — share it in the comments. This case is going to set a tone.
This is not legal advice. It is just a discussion on issues which relate to legal matters. Please seek professional advice should you require it.
#LorneCastle #CitizensArrest #UKLaw #SelfDefence #GBH #SecurityIndustry #ExPolice #ShopliftingUK #DorsetPolice #UseOfForce #DoorSupervisor #KnowYourRights #UKPolicing #CrimeUK #LegalCommentary
