What's your opinion of tattooed police offices?

[sp1814]

Never given it any thought before, but the head of the Met 'frowns' upon it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...gland-london-19974694

Do you view policemen with visible tattoos differently?

[daffy654]

Not really.

[anotheoldgit]

I thought they had closed them all down.

[furrypusscat]

My personal opinion is that I don't believe any uniformed personnell should be allowed to have tattooes showing anywhere on their uncovered body, ie neck, forearms etc.

[2sp_]

Wouldn't bother me, unless he/she had a swastika on his/her forehead.

Don't see how a tattoo would affect their ability to be a good officer.

[anotheoldgit]

Although I myself dislike tattoos, I can't see anything wrong with tattoos on arms, but obviously if they were on the neck or face, or the words 'HATE' and 'LOVE' tattooed on their fingers, i think that that would be taking things a little too far.

if every employer was to sack a person because they had tattoos, there would be many more on the dole.

[Booldawg]

bit backwards in thinking, especially in today non-ist society.

[furrypusscat]

Whilst it may not affect their ability to be good officers, any proffessional uniformed organisation has strict guidelines on what is/is not allowed. I think it does lower the tone, they have to earn respect from the general public whom they deal with daily which is very difficult these days anyway and I totally agree with the head of the Met on this one.

[Baldric]

I think having "ACAB" across the knuckles might be a Tattoo too far!

[furrypusscat]

The Police is not just any job. When you join, you know the rules and regulations that go with it. You cannot compare it with any other non uniformed organisation. Along with the other services there are strict laid down policies which you have to accept.

[ludwig]

// Do you view policemen with visible tattoos differently? //

Yes. I'd think they were a ****** pleb.

But seriously, I don't like tats. I think they look horrible, even if they're well done. That's probably an age thing though. When I was younger they were associated with yobs and criminals, and I'm finding it hard to break that association, so I don't like seeing them on anyone let alone police.

[andy-hughes]

This shows evidence of a cultural shift in society.

Years ago, tattoos were the strict property of armed forces personel, who had usually obtained them while drunk, or criminals, who got some done in prison, and often added to them afterwards. Thus, tattoos were generally seen as a mark of the more 'rough and ready' members of society, although i stress that I am talking entirely in generalisation terms here, and would not wish for a moment to appear to subscribe to such basic sterotyping.

Within the last generation, tattoos have become far more popular, and as such, are well on the way to losing their implied status as badges of potential bad behaviour.

In order to fully embrace such a change, we need to accept that a tattoo these days does not (and indeed never did) evidence a propensity towards anti-social behaviour - and therefore their appearnece on people such as police officers should not infer anything other than a personal preference for body art.

During the current 'crossover' phase, which will last about 10 - 20 years, some people will object, but eventually tattoos on police will be as accepted as pierced ears on stockbrokers.

[Snafu03]

i think they should be looking for alot less desirable qualities to root out within their ranks than than if they have tattoos or not.

alot of people have tattoos done when they are young are impressionable - something they later regret. why should this restrict them on career choice later on in life when theyve done a bit of growing up?

[furrypusscat]

'This day and age thing' should not be an excuse to allow uniformed personnell to become shabby looking, their uniform itself these days does that. No wonder they receive no respect.

[sp1814]

As I thought - there's quite a wide range of opinions on this.

Personally I think my reaction would depend on the type of tattoo. There are some very 'arty' ones which say one thing, and then there are the rubbishy 'blue ink' ones which say something else (ie. I once got drunk in Cardiff on a stag weekend and this is the result).

[ludwig]

// I once got drunk in Cardiff on a stag weekend and this is the result //

Sp - I know someone with a tattoo that actually says those actual words.

[jd_1984]

Nope not at all.
Forces do however have personal, hygene and uniform standards of which officers must abide. This may include visible tattoos. But for me if the officer is proffessional it matters no morer than if they choose to have croped hair or a big moustache!!

[ludwig]

..his bride was furious. It would have been ok if it wasn't on his forehead. As it is they've never been able to look at the wedding photos.

[Bluestone]

Do you view policemen with visible tattoos differently?

Yep! I automatically think "hottie" ;-)

They're not allowed to have anything on show which may cause offence, though. Therefore, I don't see the problem.

[shoota]

When I joined (the Met) back in '80 you would be politely rejected if you had tatt's visible outside a buttoned long sleeved shirt.
The trouble started when they approved short sleeved shirts for uniform wear and found they had a good percentage of the workforce with visible tatts......

[ludwig]

I'd be interested to know what percentage of the population has a tattoo. Last time I went on a beach holiday I thought I might be the only person left in the world that didn't have one.