Strange security measures at Thorpe..

[Crazycoaster]

So yesterday I ventured down to Thorpe park with about 6 people for the day. It was quite busy for opening, and as we went in the security guards picked out three people I was with and made them go through their security check.

I'd never seen this before at Thorpe but had at other parks in america, and thought nothing of it, that was until I noticed just how thorough the staff were being. Not only were they patting everyone down like potential terror suspects they were actually getting everyones wallets (I'd say purses too, but they seemed to single out men here) out and proceeded to check through EVERY compartment in them!

I can understand as to why they would subject people to security checks, but looking through peoples wallets like that? What's that about? I've never seen it happen like that at any other park or even airport, what could they possibly find in someone's wallet?

Even stranger they made each of my friends sign a waver form to let them search them like this, either that or be escorted from the park.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know why Thorpe feel that this level of privacy breach is necessary?

 

[Ian]

I can understand as to why they would subject people to security checks, but looking through peoples wallets like that? What's that about? I've never seen it happen like that at any other park or even airport, what could they possibly find in someone's wallet?

Drugs. Most big nightclubs will carry out a similar search. I'd imagine they've had complaints about people smoking weed in the park or something so are clamping down. Unfortunately, it will be late teens/early 20's males that will smoke pot so you will be singled out. That is purely speculation though, but seems to be the only reason why such an intrusive search would be necessary.

Tbh, if it keeps the riff-raff out and they do things by the book, then I have no complaints.

 

[Nemesis Inferno]

Good call Ian...

I've smelt people smoking weed at Towers before, so it's probably even more likely at Thorpe...

 

[furie]

I've smelt people smoking weed at Towers before, so it's probably even more likely at Thorpe...

<whistles>

I think it's more than likely the case, but who keeps their dope in their wallet?

Stafford police do (random) checks outside clubs. They have a device that can detect traces of all drugs on your hands. You can either take the test and be let in (or arrested if they find traces) - or you can bugger off. It doesn't test if you're taking drugs, just if you've handled them recently.

The test takes half a minute, so it doesn't slow down the queues by much at all. Everyone in the club has been tested, so you know there are no drugs there that night (yeah, right).

I don't think the trial has been rolled out everywhere, but it's the kind of thing Thorpe (and other parks) should maybe be looking at if they know they have a drug problem on park.

It's odd, getting searched at Blackpool always makes me feel like a criminal, but at Thorpe, it's exactly what I do want to see, as the yobs often make me feel a little uneasy (though my first experience of Thorpe at the Live in 2005 where the French lad got his nose broken in front of us probably caused me to have a poor outlook towards the clientèle).

 

[marc]

Big John at GF the other year was sent through the security thing. I just remember hm being angry about it as they wanted him to take his wedding ring off.

 

[Ian]

furie's post reminds me of my recent trip to Blackpool where the security guard did search my wallet and he joked "in case you've got dope on you."

Again, before this gets out of context nobody is suggesting that there is a drug problem at Thorpe Park, it's just from experience, these intrusive searches (in wallets and purses) are for drugs.

 

[Snoo]

The way they search at parks always seems to be a reflection of the area in which it sits. For instance, Cedar Point has almost no security at all.. besides 3-4 security guards at the front gate.. standing around doing nothing. Of course, this part of the Midwest isn't exactly Terrortown USA. It is always funny when I do go to CP with people not from the area and the first thing they ask is "Why aren't we getting searched???"

While, on the other hand, almost every Six Flags I've been to near a major metropolitan area has rigorous searches.. to the bone. Of course, weed and drugs aren't TOO much of a problem compared to the threat from 'terror' as the government would say. Of course, I'm not scared at all.. lol.

 

[Martyn B]

I was annoyed at being searched at Thorpe a few years back, mainly because it was going to be a busy day, so I go there early to get in before the big crowds, but then got stuck with security for ages!

They searched my wallet and took the battery out of my phone and camera! I thought that was a bit extreme.

 

[ciallkennett]

I don't mind targeted searching at Thorpe, especially at chavs. Thankfully, I have never been searched at Thorpe, but I have visited people in prison many times and it seems like you're describing similar things to what happens there.

Makes me feel safer, so I don't mind, and if I were to be searched, I wouldn't mind as there is nothing that I have to hide.

 

[RCF]

Over Texas is just the simple "walk through the metal detector" type thing. They don't really search you. Just lazily pass you on through.

 

[Ben]

Ugh, they searched through my wallet last September too, coins out, thumbed through every card, ticket or receipt I had, and then stood their gazing at a condom for about five minutes. Stupid really.

I just don't think THAT'S necessary. If they're having drug problems surely there's a better way to go about it than intrusive and imposing searches on mainly innocent people which still don't cover much of the overall amount of guests there.

 

[Xpress]

If they tried to do that here I'd gladly leave and file a complaint against the park.

 

[furie]

If they tried to do that here I'd gladly leave and file a complaint against the park.

You can if you want, but you're only allowed onto their property with their permission. You can either accept the terms of their invite, or leave. It's not your "right" to be allowed to wander onto somebody else's property just because "you're offering them money". They have the right to refuse to let you enter if you refuse to abide by their rules.

At least that's how it is over here - which is sensible. So it's probably different over there... Like they get to shoot you if you go into their park without an invite

 

[CMonster]

Wow, at Busch Gardens, I'm pretty sure they don't even have a metal detector, just a (quick and not very thorough) bag search, most people just walk in and scan their tickets.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Good.

What is the point of security checks if they aren't thorough?

I went to a gallery once with my scalpel blade accidentally in my pencil case. I was told to unzip the pencil case and it was STARING at the security guy but he didn't even see it.

I'm glad I got to keep it and everything, but It pisses me off at how much they waste your time with this ****.

It's odd, getting searched at Blackpool always makes me feel like a criminal, but at Thorpe, it's exactly what I do want to see, as the yobs often make me feel a little uneasy (though my first experience of Thorpe at the Live in 2005 where the French lad got his nose broken in front of us probably caused me to have a poor outlook towards the clientèle).

Thorpe's clientel doesn't make me uncomfortable, Blackpool's do. Likley because you're used to Northern scumbags and I'm used to Southern ones.

I've had people at Blackpool say something directed at me several times that I've not experienced elsewhere.

I have NEVER felt as uncomfortable at a park as I did at Kennywood though. What a **** hole. Everyone there looks like they'd kill you, if they were smart enough to, which they probably aren't. I swear, every single person looks the same... In a bad way. And they stare at you because you don't look the same and aren't drowning in Steelers merchandise.

It was very, very much like Blackpool... only crap, because I like Blackpool. Just swap the Noah's Ark around. Cuz Kennywood's was <3333!!

 

[Danzibarr]

I was annoyed at being searched at Thorpe a few years back, mainly because it was going to be a busy day, so I go there early to get in before the big crowds, but then got stuck with security for ages!

This. Happened to our group last year, it really frustrated me cos we'd been in the queue for 45 minutes before opening! It would make more sense for the security blokes to be wandering the queue before opening, they could do any necessary patting down then and if anyone looks particularly 'bad' then they could pull them aside to do some metal detecting or whatever they need to do.
Obviously once the park is open and people start coming in after opening time they can be stopped properly, cos they clearly weren't determined enough to get there on time anyway

 

[Kebab]

I had to go through that last year; it was no big deal. It made me laugh how stereotypical the guards were, picking out the chavs and the rough looking visitors, I felt quite offended when I was picked and my other mate wasn't, all we had to do is walk through a metal detector and have a quick search through, no massive deal really. But like Ian mentioned, it's mainly for drugs and stuff like knives which could be a threat, it is Thorpe Park after all... I'm sure they did/do this at Pleasure Beach? Or something on the same lines as that anyway. :?

 

[Anonymous]

Do you guys that get stopped for these thorough searches have bags with you and stuff? I've never been searched getting into a park anywhere in the world unless I have a bag (Equally I probably don't go as much as some of you guys on here) but that whole thought of getting caught up in searches puts me off going to TP in a couple of weeks. You see, I'm meant to be going with some work colleagues and whereas I have no problem with usually getting up early and being first in line I can see us getting there around mid morning thus getting caught up with security if it's going to be that rigourous.

I don't goto parks to cause trouble but when you hear security ask random people to sign a waiver before they enter it all seems a little too extreme :?

 

[xkirstyx]

just shows you what the world is turning into i went to thorpe park yestaurday as soon as i arrived there was someone was getting arrested

 

[Xpress]

If they tried to do that here I'd gladly leave and file a complaint against the park.

You can if you want, but you're only allowed onto their property with their permission. You can either accept the terms of their invite, or leave. It's not your "right" to be allowed to wander onto somebody else's property just because "you're offering them money". They have the right to refuse to let you enter if you refuse to abide by their rules.

At least that's how it is over here - which is sensible. So it's probably different over there... Like they get to shoot you if you go into their park without an invite

We have invasion of personal property laws here, so I can infact file a complaint against the park if they try to search me using anything but a metal detector.