Tattoos should be allowed to be on display, says Federation

POLICE officers should be free to have their tattoos on display as long as they are not offensive, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.

The Federation has been in discussion with the force for some time around its tattoo policy and recent discussions have been fruitful, with Chief Constable Stephen Watson conceding that in the hotter weather, officers can wear short sleeved shirts.

Steve Kent, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “The chief and I have had some positive discussions about tattoos. Our position is still that we think that tattoos, as long as they’re not offensive, should be on display.

“In principle we have reached an agreement where in the summer months officers will be allowed to wear short sleeved shirts and have their tattoos on display, from a health and safety point of view and also from a working environment point of view.”

Steve said he was grateful for the Chief’s agreement on the issue.

South Yorkshire Police has recently asked potential new recruits to send photos of their tattoos along with their applications, according to the Sheffield Star newspaper.

The paper reported that tattoos would “not necessarily” prevent someone from being successful from joining the force, but there were guidelines around what is and is not acceptable. Potentially offensive tattoos, or anything on the face, are not allowed. Neither are tattoos on the neck, head, or hands, or facial or tongue piercings.

Some forces prevent all people with tattoos from joining the service, but the Police Federation of England and Wales has said this ban needs to be lifted to allow the police to better reflect modern Britain.