Met to lift ban on officers’ tattoos

BRITAIN’S biggest police force relaxed its ban on recruiting officers with visible tattoos yesterday as it launched a drive to hire 2,000 more officers.

Scotland Yard said candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis, instead of being automatically rejected.

Senior officers say the change reflects modern Britain and the high numbers of young adults who now have tattoos.

Last year one in every ten potential recruits were ruled out because of the ban, brought in by former chief Bernard Hogan-Howe six years ago. The move came in response to concerns from victims of crime who said some young officers appeared ‘thuggish’. Any officer who already had marks on their hands, neck or face had to declare them.