Many thanks Joel

Yes, I am aware of the procedures of major companies. And you are right, I will not change my views. As far as I, and it seems many others are concerned, the security at Thorpe Park is a far from professional set-up. In the unlikely event you are management at the park I invite you to contact me directly – I offer my services as a ‘mystery shopper’, give me the opportunity to prove to you the shortcomings of the security department.

To describe many of the post here as far-fetched and fabrications is somewhat naive. Ask one simple question – why exactly would anyone here have made comments, and taken the time to voice their concerns unless they were genuine? The people who have posted here to the best of my knowledge ARE genuine (at the very least the vast majority are), and I have had personal conversations with a number them outside this blog, via real names, real email addresses, and about real experiences.

The one phrase that stands out from your comment is;

“I see comments like these as ‘jumping on the band wagon’ of haters against security and other law enforcement agencies.”

Two points on this….

1. Virtually all comment are specific to the lack of professionalism shown by Thorpe Park security staff, nobody has complained about the Police or anyone else.

…and most importantly (which is what mine and many of these other comments focus on)

2. ‘security and other law enforcement ages’ – an interesting comment, in which you compare Thorpe Park staff with law enforcement agencies. Security at the park (even if they do wear pseudo Police uniforms) is NOT a law enforcement agency in any way shape or form. Many of the comments here are about how delusional the Thorpe Park staff are in thinking they are, and have a tendency to be far to cocky in that fantasy.

Remove my blog from the Internet? Haven’t laughed so loud in ages. Who exactly (in your anonymity) the f**k do you think you are?

Whilst I have your attention – would you care to give us an update on this case? http://voice-online.co.uk/article/man%E2%80%99s-nightmare-day-thorpe-park

My mystery shopper offer still stands….

We went there about 9:30 or so, got the tickets and started to queue to get through the main gates…

After 15 minutes or so we got to the gates and I was pulled by my t-shirt by a sercuity guard and told that I have to go through the Metal Detectors or I wouldn’t be able to get in and no refund will be given… So I went through…

Now this is the shitty bit. While I was emptying my pockets and putting me stuff into the plastic box, the sercuity guard started going through my wallet.

At this point I was pissed off because they didn’t smile or ask anything, and pulled me by my top, so I said to him what do you think your doing? He just looked at me and put my wallet down.

I got through the metal detector and before I picked my stuff up from the plastic box, he started asking me questions which are follows:

- Where you from? I replied and said Sheerness in Kent
- Wheres your mum and dad from? I said Kent
- So your not from another country then? I said no, why?

He started saying stupid things like oh its cos you got olive skin and have dark brown hair and eyes… At this point I was pissed off and freaked out.

I said what is it to you anyway? which he didn’t answer apart from “sercuity reason”. So I went mental and said, if i wanted my life examined by you, then I would fucking ask. at this point the sercuity guard said stop being a smart ass and go into the park. My partner noticed what was happening and he asked for the sercuity guards name and ID number. The sercuity guard was kinda shock and decided to give it…

We then went to the customer service desk and complained like hell to them about the rest of time (about 15 minutes) and the racism (which I am fully English, but cos of the colour of my skin) that the sercuity guard had done. the member of staff didn’t know what to do, so we got the P.R. officer and spoke to them. They said that they would investigate it and let us know what has happened and offered us a refund, food vouchers and fast track tickets as a way of saying sorry.

2 or 3 days later I got a phone call of thorpe park explaining what happened and they said the sercuity guard has denied all the things, but cos this is thr 4th (Yes FORTH) time someone has complained about the sercuity guard has been fired and all files have been passed on to Surrey Police about racism and homophobia and abuse. They offered more tickets to re-visit the park but we decided to turn it down as it wasn’t really Thorpe Park’s fault the sercuity guard was a cunt!

I later found out from someone that works at Thorpe Park that Surrey Police dropped the case within a few days of recieving the files, but they have banned him from a sercuity guard for 2 years.

I speak for myself, and possibly others here when I say that I NEVER had an issue with security being there. I agree it is absolutely necessary. Yes, I know originally I’d questioned whether the ‘random’ searches were racist. I asked the question as on the day it went it certainly appeared so to both myself and the friend with me. They may be, they may be not.

What they certainly were was unprofessional, bullying and had a serious attitude. Perhaps they have problems finding the right staff – have you read the article about the numpty elsewhere on this site who thought it would be cool to change his name by deed-pole to ‘Animal’. Not a good indicator of the calibre of people they employ!

I made the point that (way back when!) when I worked the doors it was possible to provide security professionally, have a bit of friendly banter with the punters, and to some level entertain. The big point being that Thorpe Parke is in the business of providing entertainment. In the entertainment business they should be aiming to entertain from first contact until you guy home – instead you are greeted by a bad attitude and ‘don’t mess with us we’re hard’ body language. The day I visited (which has been and will be my last) they pissed me off from the very first instance… it was downhill from thereon when I dared to voice my concerns.

Whilst waiting for my friends to be searched I was approached by a male security guard and asked to move along it quite a rude tone of voice. I thought to myself he must have no friends if that is how he speaks to people. I was polite to the security guy and told him I was only waiting for my friends and causing no harm and was not in anyone’s way. He went to push me away but I warned him if he touched me I would have him arrested for assault. He said I had no grounds to do that and it was not until I showed him my police warrant card he walked off and let me where I was.

I understand security are there for the safety of the people at the park however their whole body language is so wrong. They walk around speak to you like you can’t touch them. If I was to act like they did when I’m out on shift then I’m going to bring myself unwanted trouble.

On a good note about the security:

Whilst enjoying our day at Thorpe Park we were on one of the rides where security were called to some guy who had just stood up on the ride and jumped off it and over the fence. His friends were taken to one side after they had exit the ride and were removed from the park after other security had managed to find the original person.

Whilst at Fright Nights in 2009 I was waiting outside Tidal Wave for my friends when we noticed a large group of youths start to gather, security and police were paroling the site and saw this large group, when they got to the area a fight broke out between some of the youths, security were quick to react and several people were handcuffed by the police and security. This was before I was a police officer and by having the main offenders in handcuffs it made everyone feel a little more safer.

So the security in my eyes are doing an ok job however need to chill out a bit in the secuirty checks. I think they give off the wrong signs and it could cause several people not wanting to visit Thorpe Park again.

(I made a slight edit on your comment as your comment about your name might have given a small clue – just in case)