Tattooed officers mean force represents society

THE police service needs to be representative of society by allowing potential recruits to have tattoos.

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Neil Bowles said that because an increasing number of people now have body art, the force “needs to have tattooed officers”.

One of his officers, Barnsley-based Insp Richie Batty, has a tattoo on the whole of his right arm depicting a 16th century Japanese battle scene.

He told the Police Federation’s Police magazine: He says: “I thought long and hard about what tattoo I wanted but didn’t concern myself with what my employer might say. The policy states it can’t be offensive, and this isn’t – it has always been on show and I have had plenty of compliments but never anything negative.

“Unless you have a grudge against 16th century Japanese history what is there to complain about? For me it’s not body art, it’s actual art.”

He added: “Any force that is considering not employing someone who has a tattoo – if it is not offensive or distasteful – is out of step with the public.

“If I go into a burning building is anybody going to say, don’t pull that person to safety because you have a tattoo on your hand? No. Is anyone going to say they don’t want an officer with a tattoo to search for their missing child? No.”