ANGRY shoppers claim a York store is mocking violations of human rights in an effort to attract customers to its sale.

But the shop's owner says no complaints have been made to staff about the adverts.

Sarah Coggles, in Low Petergate, has a series of pictures placed in its window showing demonstrations. One has protesters being sprayed by a water cannon. Another shows them being attacked by riot police.

They carry banners proclaiming: "We support the Coggles sale," "What do we want? Sale. When do we want it? Now," and "Start war on prices."

In the centre is a picture of a man holding up a sign saying: "**** my human rights, I want Duffer sale."

Duffer is a brand of clothing.

A complaint made to the Evening Press by Emilie Smeaton and Fiona Mitchell, who both work at the University of York, said: "Once again Coggles have managed to come up with an advertising slogan which manages to be offensive, insensitive and lacking in intelligence, creativity or wit.

"The accompanying photographs show people in apparent forms of protest, with the suggestion being that they are fighting for the right to attend the Coggles' sale.

"It makes a mockery of those who have fought for human rights, risking arrest, imprisonment, torture, violence and death in their quest."

Another complaint has been made by York resident Sarah Ellison.

"It's so clever to think of getting publicity for a clothes sale by taking an issue that most people would regard as very serious and important, and just trashing it," she said.

"I mean, how important is respect for human rights, compared to making lots of money and a name for yourself?"

Ms Smeaton reported store owner Victoria Bage to the Advertising Standards Agency in 1999 after she used the slogan "abuse me" to promote a sale.

The agency ruled it was "unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence or undue distress".

Ms Bage said customers have had a positive response to the latest adverts and there had not been a single complaint to shop staff.

She said: "How sad that people should think that.

"I'm surprised, our customers love it."

A spokesman for human rights campaigners Amnesty International said the group's business network manager would be consulted.

But he said: "There is a certain poetic licence allowed, and it doesn't sound like the company is really breaching any regulations."

Updated: 10:30 Monday, January 21, 2002