Selfridges has scraped the pro-Palestinian stickers off its skateboards, and “taken steps to address the issues” of a staff member wearing a pro-Palestinian slogan while serving customers in the store.

The upmarket department store, Selfridges, has responded to UKLFI’s letter regarding the pro-Palestinian stickers on its skateboards and slogan on a staff member’s clothing.

Selfridges has admitted that a staff member at its skateboarding facility was in breach of company policy when she wore a jumper emblazoned with the phrase “Freedom 4 Palestine” while serving customers.

A spokesperson for Selfridges wrote: “As you will appreciate, we have employees, staff and customers from all different backgrounds and with different points of view on current affairs. We are especially aware of the sensitivities around the current tension and issues in the Middle East.

We have, inevitably, had to have conversations and issue guidance to store team members and managers; we tell our team members that they are expected to wear only their Selfridges name badge and no other badges. We also tell our team members that clothing with slogans or symbols that could cause offence are prohibited.

In line with the above, we would not expect the skateboards we offer customers for use in the Skate Bowl to have stickers affixed to them of the sort you describe. We have taken steps to address all of these issues since receiving your letter, so thank you for bringing these matters to our attention.”

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We are pleased that Selfridges has taken swift action to remove the stickers. We hope that its staff will no longer be plastering their political beliefs over  their clothing during worktime, which caused offence to customers who did not share their point of view.”