Tats banned at the Met

[Dedworth]

Ink addicts need not apply: Met Police BANS recruits with 'thuggish' visible tattoos and orders existing officers to submit for inspection

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz29YkDTTsl

A good common sense decision

[KeithD]

This has actually been normal practise for decades, the Commissioner is just making clear everyone remembers what is in the job T&C they agreed with when joining.

[RickyR]

Agreed, I do believe that having a very visible tattoo is often a way of making a statement about yourself, setting yourself apart, almost a sort of rebellious action. Unfortunately to be a police officer you need to conform, and be part of the team. That kind of individualism isn't really appropriate in the mentally of the police.
Discrete tattoos have a different meaning, and seem much more personal. I don't have any, so this is just my opinion, and one that I adhere to when involved in recruiting people.

[stevewool]

hang about here lads and lasses, it was not long ago that they encouraged offices to have tattoos, it was ment to be like you are part of the comunity, i am sure a few years back thats what happened, not your full on tattoos i mean

[bigmarco]

Feel a bit sorry for any ex soldier trying to join the Met. Ideal candidates but refused for having Tats

[KeithD]

Well you certainly don't see facial tats on flight attendants, and may other jobs, as image is part of the job as it is with the police.

[lastlid]

Tattoos. Henna ones. Reminds me of the bill we received for replacement bed sheets in Boracay last year after my wife had a henna tattoo applied.

[stevewool]

Tattoos. Henna ones. Reminds me of the bill we received for replacement bed sheets in Boracay last year after my wife had a henna tattoo applied.

nice

[stevewool]

my brothers and sisters have lots of tattoos, i have none, some off them are self made what they have done or got there mates to do, one off my bros has hisdone with his wifes name on it, he was in the falklands after the war helping rebuild it and he was bored he claims, anyway PATRICIA is what it says when hes happy and when hes not its just PAT, funny thing now his wife is called CAZ

[Dedworth]

Tattoos. Henna ones. Reminds me of the bill we received for replacement bed sheets in Boracay last year after my wife had a henna tattoo applied.

Didn't you see warning notices in the hotel ? Bed Linen Salesman must be a good job in Boracay

[lastlid]

Didn't you see warning notices in the hotel ? Bed Linen Salesman must be a good job in Boracay

Yes. But we thought, with care, that we would get away with it. The eagle eyed chamber lads and lasses were very well switched on to it though.

Never again though. One expensive henna tattoo!

[London_Manila]

Bernard Hogan Howe this guy actually agrees with the government on cutting police numbers
A yes man when it comes to the government so no wonder he got the job

Lots of people have tattoos these days so the police force would be more in line with the people they police if a few of their numbers had some tattoos

Really is this day and age this really is small minded and narrow thinking

The days when x cons drug takers and gangstars were the only people who had tattoos are long gone

Yes the police force should reflect the public they serve and where i come from lots of people have tattoos.......................

[RickyR]

The area of a visible tattoo is only really the face, hands and fore arms, so this isn't talking about everyone who has a tattoo.

I still stand, that to have a tattoo in a visible area is a rebellious statement. In my line of work its zero tolerance on tattoos. In many parts of asia tattoos are associated with criminals, particularly Japan.

[Terpe]

.....In many parts of asia tattoos are associated with criminals, particularly Japan......

Used to be the case in Philippines too. But now even TV celebs have visible tattoos.

Having tattoos in Japan is certainly a mark of the 'criminal gang members'. Not so many had visible ones. The rest of their body may have been covered in tattoos
Plenty of youngsters have tattoos now though. (not visible)

I strive to be someone who doesn't make value judgements but, sorry to say, I do when visible tattoos are concerned. Especially facial, head or neck.

[London_Manila]

The area of a visible tattoo is only really the face, hands and fore arms, so this isn't talking about everyone who has a tattoo.

I still stand, that to have a tattoo in a visible area is a rebellious statement. In my line of work its zero tolerance on tattoos. In many parts of asia tattoos are associated with criminals, particularly Japan.

"Rebellios statement" do you see David Beckham as a rebel

Of course there will always be a few clowns that like to have "Chelsea" tattooed on their foreheads

Back to the main point i dont care if a policeman has tattoos or not
Having a tattoo is hardly go to effect how well he does his job

Hogan-Howe should be more worried that the individual is a good police officer and not if he has tattoos or not which some "immigrants" might interpret as racist (real reason for Hogan-Howe doing this)

[Doc Alan]

Tattoos have been around in many cultures for thousands of years ( the Spaniards called Visayans "Pintados" / Painted Ones ). An estimated 1/5 British adults have them, and around a quarter of those may later want them removing.


Modern tattoo pigment is usually carbon-based. It's inserted into the skin with one or more needles, often using an electrical machine. The needles should be "single-use", the equipment and the skin to be tattooed must be sterilised, and strict hygiene is needed.


Possible risks are:-
* allergic reaction
* infection - local
- hepatitis B / C (hence blood donation not allowed for a year afterwards )
* scarring - local "bumps" (granulomas)
- excessive (keloid)
* local swelling / inflammation if MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging) scan required, as some pigments contain trace elements like iron oxide.


Tattoo pigment remains in the skin and doesn't enter the blood stream or directly cause cancer - although it may "mask" a pre-existing skin cancer .



Tattoos can be removed surgically ( with / without grafting ), dermabrasion ( "sandpapering" the skin), or laser, not always with good cosmetic results. If they are surgically removed, the tissue is sent to a pathologist for microscopic confirmation.



It's not known how much the NHS spends on tattoo removal, essentially a cosmetic treatment in most cases. One estimate is 40 million GBP. Primary Care Trust policy is inconsistent . Benefits claimants have been known
"in exceptional circumstances" to use taxpayers' money to pay for tattoo removal if it is "preventing a jobseeker taking up employment" .



Henna tattoos are non-permanent dying or staining of the skin surface, using a paste derived from a plant (Lawsonia Inermis). They are safe, fading in 2-3 weeks, and may only cause an allergic reaction to the individual ( or owner of bed sheets ! ).

[RickyR]

Thanks for the post Alan, good to know the background facts.

[lastlid]

Celebs with tatoos.....

http://www.listal.com/list/celebrities-with-tattoos

[RickyR]

I think celebrities have tattoos for different reasons, all part of the popularity contest and to the mostly childish mentality of most

[lastlid]

I am pleased to say that I do not have a single tattoo. I recall someone on the radio pointing out that it's not like an item of clothing that you can discard at any time or change out of when you want. It is so true. It (they) stay with you regardless.

I think an occasional tattoo can be tasteful and effective. I think Becks has gone a bit OTT.

[bigmarco]

I think the clues in the name Hogan-Howe.
Probably never done a proper days policing in his career. Wouldn't know what it's like to be responding to an emergency call not knowing what awaits you when you arrive.
No he's probably moved from office post to office post all his police career.
A politicians wipe.

[KeithD]

I think the clues in the name Hogan-Howe.
Probably never done a proper days policing in his career. Wouldn't know what it's like to be responding to an emergency call not knowing what awaits you when you arrive.
No he's probably moved from office post to office post all his police career.
A politicians wipe.

A simple bit of research would show you he started on the lowest rung in 1979 and spent all his life working hard to climb up the ladder to the position he is in now. Something the kids of today should be doing, you can't get a better example of improving your lot than the current commissioner.

[bigmarco]

A simple bit of research would show you he started on the lowest rung in 1979 and spent all his life working hard to climb up the ladder to the position he is in now. Something the kids of today should be doing, you can't get a better example of improving your lot than the current commissioner.

Sorry my research didn't mention "Lowest Rung". My research indicated he joined the police in 1979 and quickly realised if he buggered of to university and got an MA he could end up running the show if he kissed the right

[Dedworth]

Sorry my research didn't mention "Lowest Rung". My research indicated he joined the police in 1979 and quickly realised if he buggered of to university and got an MA he could end up running the show if he kissed the right

It will take a lot to knock Ian Blair off his pedestal as King of The Brown Nosers

[KeithD]

Sorry my research didn't mention "Lowest Rung". My research indicated he joined the police in 1979 and quickly realised if he buggered of to university and got an MA he could end up running the show if he kissed the right

In the business world we call that 'Bettering yourself to improve your lot in life" instead of the majority starting on the bottom rung, staying there, and spending every day moaning about it. People who improve themselves deserve everything they get out of a career. If that includes kissing the bosses , so be it, we've all probably done a bit of grovelling, over time, etc to try and make ourselves look better to the management.

[London_Manila]

In the business world we call that 'Bettering yourself to improve your lot in life" instead of the majority starting on the bottom rung, staying there, and spending every day moaning about it. People who improve themselves deserve everything they get out of a career. If that includes kissing the bosses , so be it, we've all probably done a bit of grovelling, over time, etc to try and make ourselves look better to the management.

I happened to hear Hogan-howe on a radio phone in show here in london (LBC)

I was not impressed at all and he will not say anything against the latest cuts in police numbers, this guy actually sounds like any other mp

There were better candidates for this position and i would prefer someone who was going to defend the force and not agree with every government policy

[imagine]

being a little on the rebellious side myself when a little younger

i had tats diy some with a sewing needle, some with a sewing needle atached to a short thin rod placed inside a ballpoint pen tube. then attached to a motor taken from an old electric shaver, worked fine, only had one professional tat to cover 1 of my self inflicted ones, arms,fingers and thumbs, when i got into my 30s, i had the finger /thumb tats removed surgicaly at the nhs expense, it took no more than 1 hour and they did an excellent job, which i am grateful for.
yes i regret having them done at 13 /14 and 15 yrs old,

in a public position such as the police, i don't think visible tats should be allowed,
and i must point out that i do not believe tats are a character reference