To help prevent impersonation, we don’t allow certain police or emergency service-related items to be listed for sale.
What is the policy?
The following items can’t be listed for sale on eBay:
- Law enforcement and other government-issued uniforms, badges, or accessories, such as hats, jackets, or shirts,or replicas of these items
- Official emergency lighting systems or sirens, including lenses or LEDs for these systems
- 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
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
Additional information
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, the sale of any item marked with the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal emblems is prohibited on the eBay site.
For guidance within the UK, please contact the British Red Cross International Law Department, at info@redcross.org.uk or visit the British Red Cross - opens in new window or tab website.
For guidance in Ireland, please contact the Irish Red Cross - opens in new window or tab.
Tip
Visit Seller Help - opens in new window or tab to find details of any policy issues with your account or listings, and get the information you need to quickly resolve them.
Why does eBay have this policy?
It is illegal to impersonate a law enforcement official so our policy helps us to maintain a law-abiding marketplace by ensuring important government regulations are followed.