THE police service needs to be representative of society by allowing potential recruits to have tattoos.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Neil Bowles said that because an increasing number of people now have body art, the force \u201cneeds to have tattooed officers\u201d.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He told the Police Federation\u2019s Police magazine: He says: \u201cI thought long and hard about what tattoo I wanted but didn\u2019t concern myself with what my employer might say. The policy states it can\u2019t be offensive, and this isn\u2019t \u2013 it has always been on show and I have had plenty of compliments but never anything negative.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless you have a grudge against 16th century Japanese history what is there to complain about? For me it\u2019s not body art, it\u2019s actual art.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAny force that is considering not employing someone who has a tattoo \u2013 if it is not offensive or distasteful \u2013 is out of step with the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I go into a burning building is anybody going to say, don\u2019t pull that person to safety because you have a tattoo on your hand? No. Is anyone going to say they don\u2019t want an officer with a tattoo to search for their missing child? No.\u201d<\/p>\n