Police-Related Items Policy
Police-related items policy
With some exceptions, we generally don't allow adverts for law enforcement badges or official law enforcement equipment from any public entity. This includes police badges and official equipment from law enforcement agencies or the fire brigade, ambulance service or other emergency services of the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States or any other country.
Make sure your advert follows our guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed, and your advertising privileges could be
restricted.
Badges and identification
Allowed:
• Fake, novelty, or clearly unofficial badges such as plastic or cartoon badges
• Authorised general souvenir items, such as hats, mugs, pins, pens, buttons, cuff links, t-shirts, money clips that do not resemble
badges, and paperweights that do not contain badges
Restricted:
• Historical badges that meet both of these requirements:
• The advertisement description clearly says that the badge is a historical piece that's at least 75 years old or was issued by an
organisation that no longer exists.
• The item doesn't look like a current-issue law enforcement badge. If we have reason to believe that the item looks like a current-
issue badge, we may remove the advertisement for public safety reasons.
• Empty credential cases or warrant card holders. Credential cases or warrant card holders advertised for with badges are not
allowed.
Not allowed:
• Badges from law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to:
• Interpol
• Military Police (MP)
• UK Border Agency
• HM Revenue & Customs
• Metropolitan Police Service (and all other constabularies)
• Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA)
• Badges issued by foreign governments, including international police badges
• Badges issued by private security companies
• Badge patches or patches in the shape of a badge
• Identification cards or credentials for members of law enforcement
• Movie prop badges
• Police tape
• Private investigator badges
• Quasi-law enforcement badges such as fire brigade badges
• Reproductions of current police badges, including fake badges that look like current issue police badges
Emergency vehicles, lighting and sirens
Allowed:
• Antique emergency lighting or sirens that are over 50 years old
• Aviation beacon lights for aircraft
• Emergency lighting for toys or model cars (no colour restriction)
• Industrial or security system emergency lighting
• Siren speakers
Restricted:
• Actual decommissioned emergency vehicles that don't have current decals or prohibited lighting or sirens.
• Emergency light bars that offer only amber or clear lenses or LEDs
• Decals for toy or model cars, though the advertisement has to include a picture of these items that show scale
Not allowed:
• Fully operational emergency vehicles with lights, sirens etc
• Lighting for emergency vehicles
• Advertisements for emergency lighting systems that have black and white or stock images
• Red, green or blue lenses used for emergency vehicle lights
• Red, green or blue LEDs for emergency vehicles
• Siren controls or amplifiers for emergency vehicles
• Specific law enforcement decals
Uniforms
Allowed:
• Novelty hats or shirts even if they say 'Police', 'Sheriff', or 'SWAT'
• Police uniform accessories that are not department issued items (such as cuff links, name plates, ranks, tie clips, and so on)
• Utility belts or belt accessories
Restricted:
• Obsolete police uniforms that don't look like current-issue police uniforms, although in response to a WantAd advertisement
sellers have to meet the following requirements:
• The information above is clearly stated in the advertisement description.
• Pictures of the item are included in the response offer.
• Official, current or recent-issue police uniforms or components of those uniforms that do not have police markings (such as
trousers, white shirts, boots or helmets with no badge).
Not allowed:
• Official, current or recently issued police uniforms, or components of those uniforms, that have police markings (such as jackets,
hats and helmets with badges).
• Uniforms and equipment for ambulance services, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or fire fighters.
• Military police uniforms or components of those uniforms
• Raid jackets
• UK Border Agency uniforms or components of those uniform, including shoulder patches.
Red Cross and other emblems
The use of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems is restricted under the Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims of 12 August 1949 and their Third Additional Protocol. As a result, advertising for most items marked with Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal emblems is prohibited on WantAd. Limited exceptions are shown in the allowed section below.
Allowed:
• Educational or promotional items issued by the Red Cross or Red Crescent Organisations, such as postcards, jewellery, toys and
decorative pin badges, whether given away or sold
Not allowed:
• Uniforms, military items, clothing, identity cards, decorations, awards or flags, which are not promotional items of Red Cross,
Red Crescent or Red Crystal organisations and which contain the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal emblems.
Other items and devices
Allowed:
• Authorised souvenir items (such as buttons, cuff links, fake badges, hats, money clips, mugs, pens, pins and t-shirts)
• Riot shields
Restricted:
• Thin blue line police items, as long as the advertisement does not indicate that the item grants any type of authority
Not allowed:
• Security firm uniforms
• Traffic light control devices
Additional information
Red Cross and other protected emblems
The Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems are internationally agreed symbols of protection. They are used to safeguard the wounded and sick, and those who seek to help them, in a totally neutral and impartial way, in particular during armed conflicts.
The use of the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems is restricted under the Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims of 12 August 1949. Similar legal restrictions apply to imitations of these emblems and to their related designations (names), e.g. 'Red Cross' or 'Red Crescent', as well as similar wording. The use of the Red Crystal emblem is restricted under Additional Protocol III to the Geneva Conventions. Thus, in principle, advertising for any item marked with the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal emblems is prohibited on the WantAd site.
