Met Police Relaxes No-Tattoo Policy In Bid To Attract 2,000 New Officers

26 September 2018, 13:28 | Updated: 26 September 2018, 13:30

The Met Police is relaxing its no-tattoo policy as part of a drive to attract 2,000 new officers over the next year.

Commissioner Cressida Dick told Nick Ferrari about 10 per cent of potential recruits were immediately ruled out last year just because they had tattoos.

She says that policy has now been relaxed and hopes it will show the Met is a “modern service”.

New recruits will also no longer have to pay £1,000 up front as part of their mandatory training.

Commissioner Cressida Dick announced the no-tattoo relaxation said
Commissioner Cressida Dick announced the no-tattoo relaxation said. Picture: LBC

But, Commissioner Dick added those with tattoos, including full-arm sleeves, would be asked to cover them up at times.

She told LBC “An extraordinary number of people, about 10 per cent last year, were immediately ruled out - people who wanted to join us but had tattoos and we had a very, very strict policy.

“So we’ve relaxed it a bit. What it does mean is that there may be, for example, if you had a small tattoo on the back of your neck, if you had a tattoo on your forearm we would allow that but there may be times where we ask you to cover it up.”

The starting salary for a new police constable in the Met is £27,105 plus allowances.

Commissioner Dick hopes the new recruitment campaign will see the number of police officers rise to 30,750.

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari and caller Kevin don't see eye to eye in benefits debate

Nick Ferrari and caller Kevin don't see eye to eye in benefits debate

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

‘Preposterous’: LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

Nick Ferrari

‘Lessons haven’t been learned’ following 7/7 London bombings

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

Nigel Farage takes your calls

Nigel Farage takes your calls with Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Mark says the government has ‘destroyed’ the Labour Party

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

Nick Ferrari callers debate

Nick Ferrari callers go head-to-head over pro-Palestine protests

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Martyn says the UK needs a ‘Trump-style figure’ in power

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed a vote on 'progressive' welfare reforms will take place on Tuesday.

Nick Ferrari struggles to keep a lid on the conversation with caller Craig about benefit claimants

Call the Commissioner

Call The Commissioner with Sir Mark Rowley

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve go back and forth over the Middle East conflict

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of PIP benefit cuts

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of disability benefit cuts

'Iran has a democratic candidate, unlike Iraq...'

Iraqi caller explains why Iran-Iraq comparisons fall short