Lush remove 'insensitive' display accusing police of spying from Merry Hill shop window after criticism

Lush, which sells high-end bathing products including ‘bath bombs’, launched a three week campaign in a bid to highlight the ‘intrusive, abusive, political policing in the UK’.

Bosses at the store, which has a branch in Dudley’s Merry Hill Centre, appear to be seeking to expose police officers who have investigated activists in Britain over the years.

In response Merry Hill took to social media to say officials had visited its store and the display had been removed.

Centre officials said: "We are aware of the campaign that Lush is currently running and have spoken to the store about this. They have removed the display. We believe shopping centres should be non-confrontational and politically neutral spaces."

The firm says it wants to ‘pressure the government’ into being ‘more effective at uncovering the truth into this human rights scandal’.

But the campaign has infuriated police bosses, with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson vowing to boycott the store.

“This is a crass and insensitive campaign,” he said.

“Police officers put their lives on the line day in day out. Lush have needlessly waded into a highly complex area.

“This firm relies on the police to do their job tackling shoplifting and other crimes against businesses.

“This is a puerile and immature campaign, clearly written by an inexperienced PR consultant.

“I will certainly be considering where I buy Mrs Jamieson’s bath bombs from in future. Others may do the same.”

The campaign features material showing mocked-up police tape, with slogans that read: ‘Police spies out of lives’ and ‘Spied on for taking a stand’.

It urges customers to tell their friends and family about ‘#spycops’, sign an online petition and attend the launch of a Scottish anti-police campaign.

Defending the campaign, Lush said on Twitter: “These posters are part of the campaign we’re supporting which looks at the ongoing undercover policing scandal, in which some police officers are infiltrating the homes and lives of non-criminals, and the aftermath of these actions!

“We understand that there are many people, including police personnel, who support what these campaigns stand for, we just want to help spread the message.”

Another tweet from the firm added: “To clear this up, this isn’t an anti-police campaign, it’s to highlight the abuse that people face when their lives have been infiltrated by undercover police.”