Essex Police: Choices and Consequences – Tattoos, Damn Tattoos and Eligibility
Category: Tips and Advice
Publish date: 04/03/2021
Over the past decade tattoos have appeared from the shadows. Tattoos have become very popular with all genders and age ranges.
Independent research conducted by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Police Federation of England and Wales in 2016, found that members of the public are largely accepting of police officers and staff with visible tattoos. The acceptability of tattoos in society has never been greater. Their trendiness continues to be current and the types, while sizes and location don’t cause the offence they once did.
However, certain occupations and/or employers still maintain an acceptability standard and will scrutinise potential employees’ ink; prior to the offer of any contract. This is the case within Essex Police who, like the police service as a whole, maintain the right to examine tattoos for suitability, although each police force may cite differences in specific areas of eligibility.
Essex Police requires the applicant to disclose any tattoos at the initial stages of the process. Where tattoos have been declared, images of the tattoo and their location need to be supplied by the applicant. The images will be adjudicated before a decision on suitability is given.
Typically, tattoos which cause offence, are excessive or considered unprofessional, are likely to result in the applicant’s process being halted.
Where a tattoo is not suitable, options include removal or cover up (with another tattoo).
The police service operates within the Code of Ethics. Honesty and integrity are intrinsic to the code, actions and behaviour of police officers. Therefore, any spurious declarations or non-disclosures will be subject to the Code of Ethics, and may result in the withdrawal of a candidate or dismissal of a serving officer.
Essex Police employ many people with tattoos, and in the majority of occasions these pose no problem to employment.
Your Move - Prior to getting inked, ‘think Choice, think Consequence’. What you opt for and appears suitable and appropriate in that moment, may just be the thing which prevents you from joining the police.
Advice relating to Essex Police policy can be sought be contacting:
[email protected]
Guidance from the College of Policing can be found here (section21 of the document).
Essex Police are recognised by the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme as a Silver award holder, and we’re currently recruiting through the Career Transition Partnership. In order to see our vacancy, head over to the CTP’s online job board, RightJob, where you’ll find our vacancy for a Police Constable with the reference number N342010.