Policy overview
With limited exceptions (partially listed below), eBay does not permit the listing of law enforcement badges or official law enforcement equipment from any public entity, including badges issued by the government of any country.
Under Singapore law, it is an offence to use or wear without authorisation, or supply to any person who is not lawfully authorised, any decoration, insignia or uniform of the police, or anything resembling it. It is also an offence to forge or tamper with, or use or have in his possession, any police or official pass, permit, or licence, etc.
There are a number of other laws in Singapore that prohibit the supply, sale, use or import of police-related items. For more information, please see Additional Information below.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
- Listing cancellation
- Loss of eBay fees
- Limits placed on account privileges
- Account suspension
Some examples
The following contains a partial list of police-related items that may not be listed on eBay:
- Official current or recent-issue police uniforms
- Badges from law enforcement agencies
- Military police badges
- Quasi-law enforcement badges (eg: fire department badges)
- Identification cards
- Credential cases
- Emergency vehicle lighting and sirens
- Badges issued by private security companies
- Traffic light control devices
- Copies or reproductions of police badges. Such badges infringe upon the copyright and trademark rights of the agency that issued the badges.
There are a limited number of police items that may be listed on the site, provided they abide by the following guidelines:
- Police uniforms. Uniforms must be obsolete and in no way resemble current-issue police uniforms. This fact must be clearly stated within the listing description.
- Mini-badges, as long as they don’t resemble any actual police badges currently in use (size approximately 1 inch by 1 inch)
Additional information
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In Singapore, under the Decorations and Uniforms Act (Cap 74), it is an offence to use or wear without authorisation:
- any naval, military or air force decoration, medal, bar, clasp or ribbon;
- any uniform or part of a uniform of the naval, military, air or police forces; and
- anything resembling such decoration, uniform, etc, that is calculated to deceive.
It is also an offence to supply or offer to supply, without lawful authority or excuse, any such insignia, decoration, medal, bar, clasp, ribbon, badge, stripe, emblem or uniform or part of a uniform to any person whom he knows or has good reason to believe, is not authorised to use or wear it.
There are similar restrictions which apply to using or supplying foreign insignia and uniforms. However, these restrictions don’t apply to bona fide theatrical or similar performances.
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Under the Official Secrets Act (Cap 213), it is an offence to:
- use or wear, without lawful authority, any naval, military, air force, police or other official uniform, or any uniform so nearly resembling the same as to be calculated to deceive, or
- forge, alter, tamper, use or have in his possession, any passport or any naval, military, air force, police or official pass, permit, certificate, licence or other document of a similar character.
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Under the Internal Security Act (Cap 143), the Minister responsible for internal security may prohibit the wearing of, in public places or at meetings or gatherings to which the public or any section of the public has access, of any uniform, dress or emblem by members of any organisation if, in the opinion of the Minister, such members are organised or trained or equipped for the purpose of enabling them to be employed in usurping the functions of the police or of the Singapore Armed Forces.
The Minister may, if he considers it in the national interest to do so, by order prohibit the manufacture, sale, use, wearing, display or possession of any flag, banner, badge, emblem, device, uniform or distinctive dress or any part thereof.
For example, the manufacture, sale, use, display or possession of any emblem or device in the form of a 5-pointed red star or a hammer and sickle in circumstances which may lead to the reasonable presumption that the emblem or device was intended, or was likely to be used, in a manner prejudicial to the interests of Singapore, or to promote or foster a purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare or good order in Singapore, is prohibited.
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Under the Police (Special Constabulary) Regulations, 2004, it is an offence for a member of the Singapore Police Force to sell or make away with any police uniform, equipment or other Government property.
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In addition, it is also an offence under the Penal Code (Cap 224) - opens in new window or tab, for any person to wear any clothing or carry any token used by a member of the Singapore Armed Forces or the Singapore Police Force.
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Under the Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations, it is an offence to import, export or tranship any bullet-proof vests or handcuffs without a licence.
Why does eBay have this policy?
eBay has put in place such a policy to cooperate with the government in preventing any unauthorised use of police-related items for any illegal activities or to the detriment of public interest. eBay urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of certain police-related items is prohibited by law, regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers may not list them on eBay.
