OPEN LETTER TO THE ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY FROM POLICE FEDERATION OF ENGLAND & WALES, SCOTTISH POLICE FEDERATION AND POLICE FEDERATION FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

Dear Advertising Standards Authority,

We write to you as the leaders of the UK Police Federations representing over 140,000 rank and file police officers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, to register our complaint about the latest advertising campaign by Lush.  The advertising campaign accuses police officers of spying on the public and being ‘paid to lie’.

We have been contacted directly by hundreds of police officers from the four countries of the United Kingdom who, like us, find the campaign distasteful, offensive and consider it deliberately provokes an anti-police sentiment.

According to the Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5794785/Cosmetics-chain-Lush-fire-bizarre-advertising-campaign.html#ixzz5HAit9Gc0), 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!’

In another tweet, Lush said: ‘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.’

It is clear and we consider the campaign to be anti-police. We also consider it to be ill-judged, offensive and inflammatory. It suggests that police officers deliberately lie and seek to cause harm to the public. It deliberately creates a distrust of police officers and is grossly offensive to over 140,000 men and women who do their utmost to deliver the very best service they can to the public in incredibly difficult circumstances.

We had hoped that the initial reaction via social media, and then the national media coverage, would have resulted in Lush accepting they have made a mistake and that they would have issued an apology; however, that has not yet happened.

We request that you register our complaint and take action.

Your sincerely,

Calum Macleod

Chair, Police Federation of England and Wales

Andrea MacDonald

Chair, Scottish Police Federation

Mark Lindsay

Chair, Police Federation for Northern Ireland

**UPDATE: ASA have advised us that this complaint falls outwith their remit. We don’t yet know why and will continue making representations to appropriate regulators.

SPF Media Release on Police Stabbings

In line with GDPR, we have updated our privacy policies which can be viewed on our website.

In April 2018, we were contacted by the HMRC Sector Compliance Manager for the Police sector updating us on how members should contact HMRC and explaining that HMRC had made improvements to simplify the process of claiming expenses, including professional subscriptions, through the digital channel.

Members can read about claiming tax relief, check for job expenses and check if they can claim before completing a claim form online.

Claim tax relief for your job expenses – GOV.UK

Subscriptions to the SPF may be eligible back 4 years and in our case there are:

From April 2014 to March 2015 – £134.16
From April 2015 to March 2016 – £134.16
From April 2016 to March 2017 – £134.16
From April 2017 to March 2018 – £134.16

You will note that £134.16 is less than the amount you pay in members subscriptions £208.68 per annum. The reason for this is that £74.52 of that amount is paid to the Legal Advice and Assistance Scheme and does not attract tax relief.

IMPORTANT NOTE RE INSURANCE PAYMENTS: Some members have been advised that they can claim tax relief on elements of the Group Insurance Scheme – according to our tax accountants and insurance broker THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

Claims for tax relief can be made on 0300 200 3300, or through the link above.

If for any reason you require to write to HMRC, the new central address is:

Pay As You Earn and Self-Assessment
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1AS
United Kingdom

Members of the Group Insurance Scheme should ensure they update their Emergency Contact Numbers in their phones. They are listed above under the Assistance Numbers tab.

You may also wish to download or print this card of Insurance numbers.

A tax charge, known as the ‘High Income Child Benefit Charge’, may be payable if you have an individual income over £50,000. The following link provides a clear indication of the position:

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge