New uniform guidelines set to come into force

A NEW national standard for uniform that promises to strike a balance between professional image and freedom of expression has been set up.

The guidance, published this month, addresses the issue of body art after it emerged that some forces had automatic bans on police officers with tattoos.

Hundreds of Police Federation members took part in a survey last year about the inconsistent approach to tattoos across forces, and the wider issue of variable dress codes.

Former Police Federation of England and Wales Interim National Board member Victoria Martin, who led on the work, said: “We need to reflect the communities we serve and the fact that we are a modern police service.

“We had a lot of passionate feedback from our members on this issue, demonstrating that some force dress policies are very out-dated, so we set about gathering the evidence we needed to push for a new national standard.

“One of the biggest issues we faced is the way some forces view officers and potential new recruits with tattoos – some forces will not accept a person with a tattoo that cannot be covered by uniform.

“This approach is significantly restricting the pool of potential talent, as one in five 18-29 year-olds has a tattoo. In 30-39 year-olds it’s one in four, while according to our survey 48% of officers have a tattoo.

“Just as important is the fact that it shouldn’t be mandatory for officers with tattoos to wear long-sleeved tops, particularly during the summer when they have to wear a lot of kit. It is a health and safety issue.”

A spokesman from the College of Policing, which developed the guidance, said: “The national guidance will help forces across England and Wales to take a consistent approach to appearance standards for officers and staff.

“The document aims to provide a clear and comprehensive guidance on appearance to present a professional image, achieve and maintain standards and also allow for a level of self-expression.”