PEOPLE who wish to join the police in West Mercia have to send in photos of their tattoos to ensure they fit regulations.
West Mercia Police confirmed it followed a similar dress policy to South Yorkshire police, after the issue hit the news recently.
The force’s dress policy says that visible tattoos on the arms are allowed if they are deemed appropriate and not offensive while historic visible tattoos must be approved by the individual’s line manager.
Tattoos on the face and the neck, above the collar, are banned.
Discreet tattoos on the side of the hand are allowed but tattoos on the tops of the hand, the palms and the fingers will not be permitted.
However, in all cases, applicants for jobs who have visible arm tattoos must provide photographic evidence of their tattoos so a decision can be made on if they meet standards.
A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "In line with what national police guidance says, and having conducted our own research locally, our Dress Policy has been amended to reflect the views of the wider community and our workforce specifically with regard to visible tattoos."
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