A\u00a0BLANKET\u00a0ban on officers displaying tattoos removes any ambiguity around what can and can\u2019t be shown whilst on duty, says South Yorkshire Police Federation.<\/p>\n
Chief Constable Stephen Watson\u2019s office issued the ban in July saying that it recognised the prevalence of body art in society but that it was concerned about the force projecting \u2018a professional image\u2019.<\/p>\n
It went on to say that, in its view, showing off tattoos can \u2018diminish the confidence\u2019 members of the public have in the police.<\/p>\n
A recent PFEW survey of the public unearthed an opposite result but South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Zuleika Payne said the decision had removed any potential complications of ink being on show.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, tattoos with inappropriate and offensive pictures or words are a complete no no. However, tattoos come in all shapes and sizes and therefore what one deems permissible, another may not. By stating that all tattoos have to be covered means there isn\u2019t any ambiguity or poetic licence, it can\u2019t be open to interpretation and line managers have a policy to support them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not going to be any debate on whether this tattoo is okay or this one isn\u2019t \u2013 we are not allowed to show tattoos whilst on duty, so we have real clarity on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika says she can understand the arguments on both sides of the coin which have been further fuelled by there being different tattoo policies among forces across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision has encouraged debate among officers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there are variances in views across the national force which can prompt that debate.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the Chief Constable is very clear on standards, appearance and dress code, and he\u2019s keen on sending out the right message to the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere may be 43 variances in tattoo policy up and down the country, but a decision had to be made.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s made that decision, he\u2019s our boss, so we\u2019ll cover them up.\u201d<\/p>\n