Cosmetics retailer Lush has been shrouded in controversy after releasing window displays described by many on social media as “anti-police”.
According to Lush the window displays are aimed at the undercover policing scandal and at highlighting the “current lack of progress of the Undercover Policing Inquiry and the granting of anonymity to key police witnesses”. Lush claimed it was not “an anti-police” campaign.
Many people on social media including high ranking police officers disagree however, with one widow of a police officer murdered on duty saying she was “appalled at the campaign”.
As the widow of a police officer murdered on duty I am appalled at the campaign by @LushLtd the police service should be supported and respected. Who do Lush call when they have a shoplifter, their staff are abused or their stores broken into? Hang your heads in shame.
— Christine Fulton (@CFMBE) June 1, 2018
I completely support any investigation into extreme police undercover tactics. I don’t support @LushLtd in their spread of hatred for the ENTIRE police force, the majority of which are honourable people of integrity, doing a difficult job. Terrible campaign. #Lush
— Nicky Scott (@Nicky_Future) June 1, 2018
Quite shocked at the new #Lush @LushLtd seemingly anti-police campaign 'Paid to Lie'.
99% of the police officers I've worked with, photographed, talked to or been around are absolute heroes, and should be celebrated as such.
— Benjamin Wareing (@BenjaminWareing) June 1, 2018
The thing is if @LushLtd did call on me or my colleagues to help them or any member of their teams/ PR department/ customers, at a time of crisis, we would ABSOLUTELY be there to help because – despite what they claim, we are paid to serve; not ‘to lie’. #ProudToProtect #Lush
— PC Mark Walsh (@HantsPCMark) June 1, 2018
Others have come out in support of the campaign saying that they were “glad that Lush has chosen to support the women who were victims of #SpyCops”.
i literally don't care what you think of the police *in general*, Lush's campaign revolves around the line 'Police have crossed a line' with regards to #SpyCops and just THINK ABOUT IT before you claim they haven't!!!
— Bert (@bethanyrutter) June 1, 2018
Sorry, let's point our criticism in the right direction (as @LushLtd are). Just one #spycops story: The Metropolitan police are being sued by a man who discovered that the father who abandoned him as a child assigned to spy on his mother. https://t.co/1cZhyHvdu7
— Keith Taylor MEP (@GreenKeithMEP) June 1, 2018
I'm so glad that Lush has chosen to support the women who were victims of #SpyCops this outrageous scandal hasn't had nearly enough coverage, and it's telling that the people angry at Lush don't even know what the police did.
— T. S. Knight (@theshiteknight) June 1, 2018
So lush is running a campaign to help the victims of undercover cops' sexual violence and over 20.5K people on FB have given them a 1 star rating bc they're"not supporting the police", in case you needed more proof that humanity is trash
— Deanna (@fragments_lxght) June 1, 2018
One store in Southampton has reportedly refused to display images and posters relating to the campaign.
Thanks to the Southampton #Lush store who have declined to take part in the anti police campaign being run by their Head Office. Good to see local management teams doing the right thing. #WellDone
— John Apter (@Hantsfedchair) June 1, 2018
Mark Constantine founder of Lush said: “Confidence in the police will never be restored until this public inquiry does its job.”
While the vice-chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Che Donald said the campaign was “very poorly thought out” adding that “the overwhelmingly large majority of police” had “nothing to do with this undercover enquiry”.
