Complaints against officers

[Fedster + 1,307]

'Unfair' rule, which does not apply to neighbouring force, means officers can have hand and neck tattoos on show - but not arms.

Police officers should be allowed to display their tattoos to be in line with neighbouring forces, a regional police federation says.

Currently officers in West Yorkshire can display “small, inoffensive and non-prominent” tattoos on their necks and hands, but officers with tattooed arms must keep them covered up, even in hot weather.

Offices are calling the policy unfair as colleagues in next-door North Yorkshire do not have these restrictions.

In a recent survey on the matter - conducted by West Yorkshire Police Federation - officers said the policy was outdated and did not represent the diverse communities they serve.

In total 1,182 officers completed the survey with 55 per cent saying they had a tattoo.

The majority (81 per cent) said they felt colleagues should be allowed to display inoffensive tattoos on their arms while 75 per cent said they felt the policy of covering up visible arm tattoos was wrong.

And 80 per cent said the current policy fails to represent the communities they serve.

West Yorkshire Police Federation Equalities Lead and Deputy Secretary Guy King has been pushing for a change in the policy.

“Our members have been asking about this for such a long time and they want to know why they are been treated differently to officers just over the border.

“The policy of allowing hand and neck tattoos but not visible arm tattoos is bizarre and officers are telling us that the policy is unfair and not representative of who they serve.”

He added: “We’ve approached the Chief Officer Team about this and they asked for more information and more stats, which they’ve got now thanks to the survey.

“Some senior officers are worried I think about how visibly tattooed officers might be seen by citizens, but the bigger picture is that having a visible tattoo is actually more representative as this and other surveys have showed.”

A national survey revealed 81 per cent of respondents would not have less confidence in an officer if they had a visible tattoo.

College of Policing Guidelines state visible ink artwork is unacceptable only if it could be deemed “discriminatory, offensive or  does not comply with its Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour.”

Mr King added: “I’m presenting the figures to the Head of Professional Standards and hopefully we can start getting some influence for change because the force’s view at the moment is out of step with officer and public thinking.”

A spokesman from West Yorkshire Police said: “We are aware of officers’ views in relation to this after the survey and we welcome the feedback. We are working with the Police Federation, unions and other staff associations on the issue."

View On Police Oracle

Date - 4th July 2018

[Sir Penguin 648]

The idea of allowing neck and hand tattoo’s to be visible but not on the arms is completely bizarre.

I think tattoo policies in the police are massively outdated and need reviewing.

[mike88 + 257]

They say they want officers to reflect communities but don't allow tattoos to be showed in some forces, it does not make sense at all.

[sierragolf95 + 55]

I would say that tattoos on the arms, legs and body are completely acceptable in todays world and should not cause an issue. Tattoos on the hands, neck and face on the other hand, we'll that's a whole new ball game in my opinion!

[Zulu 22 + 4,571]

Tattoo's should be banned full stop. They say too much about a persons insecurity and mentallity. If you need tattoo's to make some form of statement then your whole being is sadly lacking.

[Fedster + 1,307]

9 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

Tattoo's should be banned full stop. They say too much about a persons insecurity and mentallity. If you need tattoo's to make some form of statement then your whole being is sadly lacking.

I do love a different point of view however your sweeping generalisations of everyone who has a tattoo is astounding. 

Is it fair to say Zulu that you prescribe to the school of thought that people who have tattoos are thugs and look unprofessional?

[Beaker 817]

Tattoo's should be banned full stop. They say too much about a persons insecurity and mentallity. If you need tattoo's to make some form of statement then your whole being is sadly lacking.

What an absolute load of rubbish.

[Mac7 808]

For an organisation that bends over backwards to show they are open, value diversity and inclusiveness the current tattoo policy is bizarre. Some people have tattoos that have religious significance. Would a force be telling those persons they cannot display their tattoos and express their religion??

Officers should not have facial tattoos but in my opinion neck and hand tattoo are fine. Officers should not have to cover up and should be able to show them off. It could make them more approachable and more human to members of the public. Attitudes to tattoo and tattoo themselves have changed. It’s time the polices’ attitude towards them changed as well.

[Growley + 2,436]

Moaning that it's unfair because another force is more permissive?

Sure, tattoo policies are outdated, but where is the resilience?

[Zulu 22 + 4,571]

13 minutes ago, Beaker said:

34 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

Tattoo's should be banned full stop. They say too much about a persons insecurity and mentallity. If you need tattoo's to make some form of statement then your whole being is sadly lacking.

What an absolute load of rubbish.

It is my opinion which is no more rubbish that yours. As far as I am aware it is not unlawful to have an opinion. As far as I am concerned it is all about standards and respect. Many members of the public, especially the older ones, would not be comfortable with an officer with tattoo's.

[Beaker 817]

It is my opinion which is no more rubbish that yours. As far as I am aware it is not unlawful to have an opinion. As far as I am concerned it is all about standards and respect. Many members of the public, especially the older ones, would not be comfortable with an officer with tattoo's.

You are entitled to your opinion, even when it is wrong.

Can we take a quick poll of officers about who has been asked to get an officer without visible tattoos?

[andi + 1,262]

Ours has changed recently and we are allowed uncovered tattooed arms. About time really, it's been unofficially accepted for ages.

[ParochialYokal 1,119]

I personally think tattoos are garish, but that doesn’t mean that in modern society they are unacceptable to be on display for police officers.

 

In all honesty, the modern messy beard makes many officers look more unprofessional than those sporting tattoos.

 

There are ‘modern tattoos’ often sported by those with a gym body, which perhaps show that the individual looks after themselves. And there are the ‘older style tattoos’ that many may associate with undesirable characters but the reality is that they are synonymous with white, working class males.

 

The issue of tattoos in modern society is more to do with class snobbery but I do accept that when I see someone with older style tattoos I think that they look a bit rough. To that end, I acknowledge my own implicit prejudice but I wouldn’t treat someone differently because of them.

 

There needs to be a common sense national approach.

 

[Tempo + 69]

2 hours ago, Zulu 22 said:

Tattoo's should be banned full stop. They say too much about a persons insecurity and mentallity. If you need tattoo's to make some form of statement then your whole being is sadly lacking.

I am a serving officer, not once have I been pulled up on my tattoos, some of which are visible when wearing my standard uniform, or have had any comments from individuals I have dealt with in regards to my tattoos.

As to the comment about needing tattoos to form a statement? absolute tosh, I personally have them because I want to have them. It could be viewed that somebody saying  outlandish statements like this is more of a insight of somebody 'lacking being'

[Sir Penguin 648]

Tattoo's should be banned full stop. They say too much about a persons insecurity and mentallity. If you need tattoo's to make some form of statement then your whole being is sadly lacking.

Interesting. I have a tattoo on my ankle.. am I insecure?