Police can search the retail surveillance network that recorded a shopping incident involving former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, even when no complaint has been made.

Ghahraman was stopped and questioned by store security at Royal Oak's Pak’nSave in the weeks before her High Court case in early October.

Foodstuffs says it did not complain to police.

Surveillance network Auror is used by retailers - including Foodstuffs - and confirms police can access the information those clients record.

CEO Phil Thompson says the system lets all the parties work closely together.

"Retailers are capturing information on crimes and attempted crimes that happen in their stores and making that visible to their own head office - and also to police."

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