Public backing for police over Lush campaign

4 June 2018

Public support for the police in the aftermath of a high street chain’s campaign against the force has been ‘overwhelming’ says the Police Federation of England and Wales.

Cosmetics company Lush has run an online and instore offensive against undercover policing under a ‘Spy Cops’ and ‘Paid to Lie’ banner.

It says it’s aiming to highlight the undercover policing enquiry into the London-based Special Demonstration Squad - the special branch unit tasked with infiltrating political groups between 1968 and 2008.

The controversial campaign has been widely condemned in the media and has been criticised by Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

The public too have shown their support for the police according to PFEW Chairman Calum Macleod, who said he was disappointed that the store was still pushing out anti-police messages.

“We are disappointed that Lush has not seen fit to withdraw their campaign or amend the messaging that appears in shop windows,” he said.

“The public support for officers has been overwhelming and shows just how badly Lush has got it wrong.

“It must be awful for staff having to work there and we are pleased that some stores have taken down the materials from their displays.

“For all those members of the public who have supported us – and continue to support the work officers do – we thank you and are proud to serve your communities.”

“Let us be clear, wherever there is wrong doing it should of course be properly investigated and any victims should be supported.”

Calum added that using uniformed officers in the campaign imagery and not fully explaining it in store windows had sent out the ‘wrong message’ about policing and had tarred every officer with the same brush.

He said; “Lush says it wants to ‘pressure the government’ and make it ‘more effective at uncovering the truth into this human rights scandal.’

“It could have done so in a much better way instead of attacking those who ultimately protect people in a free society, who are crown servants and not political pawns.

“We are additionally disappointed to learn that the Advertising Standards Authority is not going to pursue the matter because they say it is not in their remit and are asking them for a rationale behind this,” he added.