Tattoos, Piercings
and Appearance
Whether tattoos, piercings, beards or the way you look can stop you joining the police in England and Wales: the one national test, how forces apply it, real examples of force wording, and what to do if you are unsure. Sourced from the College of Policing, the conduct regulations and force recruitment pages.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 1 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Yes, usually. There is no national ban in England and Wales. College of Policing guidance says visible tattoos are unacceptable only if they could reasonably be seen as discriminatory or offensive, or show views inconsistent with police ethics and standards. Each force adds its own policy, often stricter on face, neck and hand tattoos, and may ask for photos. Check with the force before applying.
Appearance is one of the few areas of police recruitment where the national rule is short and the detail is almost entirely left to forces. The legal qualifications for appointment in regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003 say nothing about tattoos, piercings, hair or beards. What exists nationally is one sentence of College of Policing guidance, the wording on the national recruitment site, and the standards every officer must meet once appointed. Everything else is force policy, which we show through real examples, dated, rather than guessing at a rule for all 43 forces.
The answer that counts is the one in your force's own policy. Our free police force finder links to every force's recruitment page, and the 60-second eligibility check flags the other requirements worth checking before you apply. Neither tool can assess a tattoo for you.
The national test: one sentence of College guidance
The College of Policing pre-employment guidance for police constables (April 2024) is the national guidance forces use for recruitment. Its section on tattoos is a single sentence. It says visible tattoos are unacceptable if they "could reasonably be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive", and/or indicate attitudes or views that are inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and the standards of professional behaviour.
Three things follow from that wording:
- It is about visible tattoos. The sentence is framed around tattoos that can be seen.
- It is about content and meaning, not tattoos as such. Nothing in it bars tattoos in general, large tattoos, or tattoos in a particular place.
- The test is objective. "Could reasonably be interpreted" asks how a reasonable person would read the tattoo, not what it means to you, which is why forces ask you to explain a tattoo's meaning.
The national recruitment site, joiningthepolice.co.uk, puts it more informally in its eligibility check. It tells applicants to check their local force's tattoo policy, says that in most cases tattoos are acceptable if they are not particularly prominent, offensive or intimidating, and warns you may be asked to send photos so the force can check them. Its page on the application form lists tattoos among the things the form will typically ask about.
The guidance is dated April 2024. The two 2026 changes to regulation 10 (the four national recruitment stages from 17 March 2026, and automatic disqualification and vetting clearance from 13 July 2026) do not deal with tattoos or appearance, so the College sentence is still the national position as far as we could find.
Note the word "prominent" in the national site's summary: that is not in the College sentence, and it is the space in which force policies on face, neck and hand tattoos sit.
Where the standards come from: Code of Ethics and the conduct regulations
The College test points to two things, and it helps to know what they actually say.
The Code of Ethics (2024). The College says the 2024 Code of Ethics has two parts, ethical policing principles and guidance on ethical and professional behaviour, and that both are non-statutory. It says the Code does not set the standards against which conduct is assessed; for officers those are set by the conduct regulations. The behaviour guidance, first published on 24 January 2024, says people in policing "maintain a professional appearance" and promote a positive professional image of the police service at all times. It also says behaviour and language must not be discriminatory, abusive or oppressive.
The standards of professional behaviour. These are in Schedule 2 to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 and bind serving officers. The ones most relevant to appearance are:
- Equality and diversity: officers act with fairness and impartiality and do not discriminate unlawfully or unfairly. A tattoo expressing hostility to a group is hard to reconcile with this.
- Orders and instructions: "Police officers abide by police regulations, force policies and lawful orders." A force's appearance or tattoo policy is a force policy.
- Discreditable conduct: officers behave in a way that does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence in it, on or off duty.
The College guidance borrows these standards to judge candidates, who are not yet bound by them. That is why the question forces ask about a tattoo is, in effect, whether it would be compatible with you serving under those standards.
National guidance versus what each force decides
| Question | National position | Left to the force |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a legal tattoo rule? | No. Regulation 10 contains no tattoo or appearance requirement | Not applicable |
| Which tattoo content is unacceptable? | Visible tattoos that could reasonably be seen as discriminatory or offensive, or that show views inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and the standards (College, April 2024) | Lists of examples and how strictly they are applied |
| Face, neck and hand tattoos | Not mentioned in the College sentence; the national site refers to prominence | Whether location alone can lead to rejection, and any exceptions |
| Photos and declaration | You may be asked for photos (national site); the form typically asks about tattoos | Which tattoos to declare, how many photos, how to send them |
| Piercings and body modification | No national rule found | Whether acceptable, and rules on jewellery on duty |
| Hair, beards, nails, make-up | No national rule found; Code of Ethics guidance expects a professional appearance | Force dress and uniform policy |
| Religious dress and religious beards | Equality Act 2010 applies to recruitment and to constables | Uniform options, within the Equality Act |
| Tattoos after joining | Officers abide by force policies and avoid discreditable conduct (Conduct Regulations, Schedule 2) | The force's appearance or tattoo policy for serving officers |
How four forces word their tattoo rules
These are examples of what individual forces published, on the date or document version shown. They are not national rules, they may have changed since, and a force not listed here may take a different line. We read them to show the range, not to tell you what your force will decide.
| Force and document | What it says (summarised) | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Kent Police, police constable "Who we are looking for" page (read 1 October 2026) | Assessed individually on size, nature, prominence and military context or references. Tattoos failing the College test always unacceptable. Visible tattoos of weapons, controlled drugs, violence, suffering or death (simple skulls usually excepted), political support, or sexually explicit images or nudity are unlikely to be acceptable; some Day of the Dead style images likewise. Hands, face and neck approved only by exception. A higher tolerance threshold for tattoos not visible in standard uniform, though tattoos incompatible with force values are still not acceptable. | A brief, accurate description and two colour photos of each tattoo (one from a distance showing where it is, one close-up), each no more than 1MB, emailed to the recruitment team |
| Surrey Police, guide to becoming a police officer, version 20 (February 2024) | Eligibility: must not have tattoos that could cause offence. Having tattoos will not necessarily stop you. Tattoos on the face, or perceived as aggressive, offensive or not representative of the force's values, may make the application unsuccessful. | Declare visible tattoos on the head, neck, hands or arms in the eligibility section and attach two pictures of each (distance and close-up); judged individually on content and coverage |
| Avon and Somerset Police, "Is a career in policing right for me?" (read 1 October 2026) | Lists having tattoos that could cause offence among the reasons you cannot apply. Its PCSO and special constable recruitment pages use similar wording. | Not described on the pages we read |
| Leicestershire Police, recruitment application guidance slides (dated January 2020) | An older document. It tells applicants to have ready, if applicable, photos of tattoos on the hands, forearms, face and neck. | Photos gathered before starting the form; check the current process with the force |
The pattern across these examples is consistent with the national test: offensive or discriminatory content is a bar everywhere, and location (especially the face) is where forces differ most. Kent's guidance is the most detailed we found, and it is the only one of the four that explicitly mentions military context, which matters for veterans with regimental or service tattoos.
Illustrative examples: which part of the policy each tattoo engages
These are illustrative examples, not real cases, and they are not predictions. They show which part of the national test, and of one force's published policy (Kent's, as read on 1 October 2026), a given kind of tattoo would be looked at under. Only the force you apply to can decide.
| Illustrative tattoo | National test (College) | What Kent's published policy points to |
|---|---|---|
| Small flower on the inside of the wrist | Nothing discriminatory or offensive in the content | Assessed on size, nature and prominence; not in any of its "unlikely to be acceptable" categories |
| Regimental badge on the forearm | Depends on content and how it could reasonably be read | Military context or references are a named factor, so explain it |
| Cannabis leaf on the forearm | May be read as inconsistent with policing standards | Visible tattoos depicting controlled drugs are listed as unlikely to be acceptable |
| Name in script on the side of the neck | Content unlikely to be an issue | Neck tattoos approved only by exception, so location is the question |
| Political slogan on the upper arm, visible in short sleeves | May indicate views inconsistent with impartiality | Visible tattoos indicating political support are listed as unlikely to be acceptable |
| Large back piece, not visible in uniform | The College sentence is framed around visible tattoos | Higher tolerance for tattoos not visible in standard uniform, but content incompatible with force values is still not acceptable; declare it if the form asks |
Any tattoo containing a symbol, slogan or image associated with hostility to a group of people fails the national test regardless of where it is or whether it is covered. If you are unsure what a symbol is taken to mean, that is a reason to ask the force, not a reason to leave it off the form.
Volunteer, PCSO and staff roles, and officers who are already serving
The College sentence is in guidance for police constable recruitment, but forces apply tattoo rules to other roles too, and the wording can differ within the same force:
- Avon and Somerset Police's PCSO and special constable recruitment pages both say you must not have tattoos that would cause offence.
- Kent Police's page for community policing volunteers is stricter on its face than its constable page: it says visible tattoos, for example on the neck, face or hands, are deemed unacceptable, alongside discriminatory, offensive or inconsistent content. Its constable page says hands, face and neck are approved only by exception.
So read the page for the exact role you are applying for. Our guides to special constables and becoming a PCSO cover the other eligibility rules for those roles.
Once you are serving, appearance is governed by your force's policies and the standards of professional behaviour. Schedule 2 to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 says officers abide by police regulations, force policies and lawful orders. The College's 2024 behaviour guidance says people in policing abide by the instructions, policies and procedures set by the police service where they are reasonably expected to know them. In practice that means checking the current appearance policy before a new tattoo, piercing or significant change, and asking your line manager or Federation representative if the policy is unclear.
Face, neck and hand tattoos
This is the question most people are really asking. The honest answer is that the national College text does not mention location at all, so there is no national ban on visible tattoos in any particular place. But forces can and do treat prominent tattoos more cautiously:
- Kent Police says tattoos on the hands, face and neck will only be approved by exception.
- Surrey Police's 2024 guide says tattoos on the face may make an application unsuccessful, and asks for declarations and photos of visible tattoos on the head, neck, hands or arms.
- The national recruitment site's own summary refers to tattoos that are not particularly prominent being fine in most cases.
So a small, inoffensive tattoo on a hand or finger might be accepted by one force and need an exception in another, and a face tattoo is the hardest case in every policy we read. Because the decision is discretionary and visual, the only reliable way to know is to send the force photos and ask before you apply. Our application considerations checklist is a useful place to note the answer alongside the other things to check.
Piercings and body modification
We found no national rule on piercings in the College guidance, the national recruitment site or the regulations. It is a force matter. Kent Police's constable page is one example: it says that if you have a body piercing or other body modification you may be considered eligible to apply, and that the force will check it does not breach the standards of professional behaviour for serving officers or constitute a risk to health and safety.
We could not verify a national health and safety rule on piercings, and we did not find a published force policy setting out which piercings or jewellery may be worn on duty. Those are uniform and dress questions for the force. If you have a piercing you cannot or would rather not remove, ask the recruitment team what its dress policy says before you apply rather than assuming either way.
Hair, beards, nails and religious dress
None of these is an entry requirement in regulation 10, and we could not find a national rule on beards, hair colour or style, nail varnish or make-up for police recruits or officers. The College Code of Ethics guidance expects people in policing to maintain a professional appearance, and the detail sits in each force's dress or uniform policy, which applies once you are appointed. We did not read a force dress policy covering these points, so we will not guess at one.
The Equality Act 2010 is relevant here, without deciding any particular case:
- Religion or belief, and race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), are protected characteristics (sections 4, 9 and 10).
- An employer must not discriminate in the arrangements it makes for deciding who to offer employment to, or by not offering employment (section 39). For these purposes holding the office of constable is treated as employment by the chief officer (section 42).
- A rule applied to everyone is indirect discrimination if it puts people who share a protected characteristic at a particular disadvantage and the employer cannot show it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim (section 19).
In plain terms: a force can have appearance rules, but a rule that disadvantages, for example, people who wear a beard or head covering for religious reasons, or people of a particular ethnic origin because of their hair, has to be justified. Whether any given rule is justified depends on the facts and, ultimately, on a tribunal. If you are concerned, ask the force what its uniform policy allows, and seek independent legal advice if you think you have been treated unfairly.
Step by step: what to do if you have tattoos or piercings
- List every tattoo. Where it is, its size, what it shows, any words or symbols and what they mean, and whether it would show in a short-sleeved uniform.
- Read the policy of the force you want to join. Use the force finder to reach its recruitment page. Note any location rules and the photo process.
- Take the photos the force asks for. Kent, for example, asks for one distance photo showing where the tattoo is and one close-up of the image, per tattoo.
- If anything is borderline, contact the recruitment team before applying. Send the photos and a short, factual explanation of what the tattoo means. Ask for the answer in writing.
- Declare tattoos fully on the application form. The national recruitment site says the form typically asks about tattoos. Answer exactly as asked; do not leave one out because it is usually covered.
- Be ready to explain context. Kent's policy names military context as a factor, and the College test is about how a tattoo could reasonably be interpreted.
- Before any new tattoo or piercing, check the policy again, whether you are mid-application or already serving.
If a force says no to a tattoo
A tattoo decision is made by the force under its own policy. We found no national appeal route specific to tattoo decisions, so the options are practical rather than procedural:
- Ask for the reason. Which part of the policy did the tattoo fall under: content, location, size, or prominence? The answer tells you whether anything could change.
- Check whether you gave the full context. If the meaning was misunderstood, a short factual explanation (for example of a service or memorial tattoo) may be worth sending, once, with the force's agreement.
- Look at other forces. Policies differ, especially on location. The College pre-employment guidance says applicants may apply to more than one force, though the national sift and online assessment can only be taken with one force at a time within a three-month period, and no more than twice in 12 months.
- Reapplying. The College guidance says previous applicants can reapply three months after their rejection letter unless the force says otherwise. Reapplying with the same tattoo to the same force is unlikely to change the outcome unless something material has changed.
If you think the refusal was really about your race, religion or another protected characteristic, the Equality Act points above apply and independent legal advice is the right next step. Our guide to reapplying after a rejected police application covers the wider process.
Covering tattoos, and tattoo removal
Covering. Covering a tattoo for an interview or assessment does not change what you must declare on the application form, and you should never try to keep a tattoo out of view of the force to get through the process. Kent's policy shows how forces may treat covered areas: it applies a higher tolerance threshold to tattoos that are not visible in standard uniform, but still rejects tattoos it considers incompatible with its values. Whether a force lets officers cover a visible tattoo on duty is a question for its dress policy; we could not verify a national position.
Removal. We do not give advice on tattoo removal, which is a personal, medical and cosmetic decision. If you are considering it because of a police application, ask the force first whether the tattoo would actually be a problem, and how it would assess a tattoo that is partly removed or in the middle of treatment. Do not assume removal is needed.
For what to wear on the day of an interview or assessment, see our police interview dress code guide.
What to ask, and who to contact
Questions for the force recruitment team:
- Here are photos of my tattoo on [location], with what it means. Would it be acceptable under your policy?
- Do you treat tattoos on the hands, neck or face differently, and is there an exception process?
- Which tattoos must I declare, and how should I send photos?
- What does your dress policy say about piercings and jewellery on duty?
- What does your uniform policy allow for religious dress, head coverings or beards?
- Is your tattoo policy the same for police officers, PCSOs and special constables?
Who can help:
- The force recruitment team: the only body that can tell you whether a tattoo is acceptable to that force.
- After you join, your Police Federation representative or staff association: questions about appearance policies and any conduct issue.
- A solicitor or other independent adviser: if you believe a rule has been applied in a discriminatory way.
Common myths about police tattoos and appearance
- "Police officers can't have tattoos." There is no national ban. The College test is about content, and the national site says most tattoos are fine.
- "Any visible tattoo will get you rejected." The College sentence targets discriminatory, offensive or inconsistent content, not visibility alone. Location rules vary by force.
- "Hand and neck tattoos are banned nationally." They are not mentioned in the national guidance. Some forces, such as Kent, approve them only by exception.
- "If it's covered by a sleeve you don't need to mention it." Declare what the form asks for. Forces may treat non-visible tattoos more leniently, but they still assess them.
- "Tattoo rules are in the law." Regulation 10 contains no appearance rule. The standard is College guidance plus force policy, and, for serving officers, the duty to follow force policies.
- "Beards and piercings are banned." We found no national rule on either. They are force dress and uniform matters, subject to the Equality Act.
- "The Code of Ethics is the legal standard." The College says the 2024 Code is non-statutory; officers' standards are in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020.
What we could not verify
- Every force's tattoo policy. We read four forces' published wording; there are 43 territorial forces in England and Wales. Your force may be stricter or more lenient.
- Earlier national guidance on tattoos. Other sites, including our own eligibility check, refer to College tattoo guidance from 2017 that mentioned size, nature and prominence. We could not read it from a primary source; the College guidance we read (April 2024) contains only the one-sentence test.
- A national rule, or any force dress policy we could read, on beards, hair colour, nail varnish, make-up or jewellery on duty.
- A national health and safety rule on piercings. Kent refers to health and safety as a factor; we found no national text.
- Whether forces allow serving officers to cover visible tattoos on duty.
- Whether the Surrey guide (February 2024) and the Leicestershire slides (January 2020) are still current; check with those forces.
For everything else you need to join, see our full guide to police entry requirements, the application form guide and the nationality and residency rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can police officers have tattoos in the UK?
Yes. There is no national ban on tattoos for police officers in England and Wales. The College of Policing pre-employment guidance says visible tattoos are unacceptable if they could reasonably be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive, or indicate views inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and the standards of professional behaviour. Each force applies its own tattoo policy on top.
Will tattoos stop me joining the police?
Usually not. The national recruitment site says that in most cases tattoos are fine if they are not particularly prominent, offensive or intimidating, and that you may be asked for photographs. A tattoo that is discriminatory or offensive will stop an application under every force policy we read. Location matters too in some forces.
Can you join the police with a face tattoo?
It is difficult. The current national College text does not mention location, but forces do. Kent Police says tattoos on the hands, face and neck will only be approved by exception, and Surrey Police's 2024 guide says tattoos on the face may cause an application to be unsuccessful. Send photos to the force before applying.
Can police officers have neck or hand tattoos?
Sometimes. There is no national rule on location. Kent Police approves hand, face and neck tattoos only by exception; Surrey Police asks applicants to declare and photograph visible tattoos on the head, neck, hands or arms and judges them on content and coverage. Other forces may differ, so check yours.
Do I have to send photos of my tattoos to the police?
Often, yes. The national recruitment site says you may be asked for photos. Kent Police asks for two colour photos of each tattoo, one from a distance showing where it is and one close-up, with a brief description. Surrey Police's 2024 guide asks for two pictures of each visible tattoo on the head, neck, hands or arms.
What tattoos are not allowed in the police?
Nationally, visible tattoos that could reasonably be seen as discriminatory or offensive, or that show views inconsistent with the Code of Ethics and the standards of professional behaviour. Kent Police adds that visible tattoos of weapons, controlled drugs, violence, political support, or sexually explicit images are unlikely to be acceptable. Other forces word it differently.
Can police officers have piercings?
We found no national rule on piercings. Kent Police says applicants with a body piercing or modification may be eligible, and checks that it does not breach the standards of professional behaviour or create a health and safety risk. Rules on wearing jewellery on duty are set locally, so ask the force.
Can police officers have beards?
We found no national rule banning beards for police officers or recruits. Appearance on duty is a matter for force dress and uniform policy, and the Equality Act 2010 protects religion or belief, so any rule that disadvantages people who wear a beard for religious reasons would need to be justified. Ask the force for its policy.
Can police officers have dyed hair or nail varnish?
We could not find a national rule. The College Code of Ethics guidance expects people in policing to maintain a professional appearance, and detailed rules on hair, nails, make-up and jewellery sit in each force's dress or uniform policy. They are not entry requirements in regulation 10.
Can I wear religious dress, such as a turban or hijab, as a police officer?
Religion or belief is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, which applies to recruitment and treats constables as employed by the chief officer. A uniform rule that puts people of a religion at a disadvantage is indirect discrimination unless it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. Ask the force about its uniform options.
Can I get a tattoo after joining the police?
Check your force's policy first. Schedule 2 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 says officers abide by police regulations, force policies and lawful orders, and that they behave in a way that does not discredit the police service. A new tattoo that breaches force policy could therefore become a conduct matter.
Do tattoo rules apply to PCSOs and special constables?
Forces set them too. The College guidance quoted here is for police constables, but forces apply tattoo rules to other roles: Avon and Somerset Police's PCSO and special constable pages both say you must not have tattoos that would cause offence. Read the page for the role you are applying for.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 1 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- College of Policing: Police constable pre-employment guidance (April 2024), guidance on tattoos — the national test for visible tattoos (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Joining the Police (national recruitment site): Am I eligible to apply? — check local tattoo policy; prominence, offensiveness, intimidation; photos may be requested (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Joining the Police: What's involved in the application form? — the application form typically asks about tattoos (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/4), Schedule 2: standards of professional behaviour (legislation.gov.uk) — equality and diversity; orders and instructions (force policies); discreditable conduct (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Code of Ethics (2024) — non-statutory; standards themselves are set by the Conduct Regulations (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Guidance for ethical and professional behaviour in policing (first published 24 January 2024) — maintain a professional appearance; promote a positive professional image (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Equality Act 2010, sections 4, 9, 10, 19, 39 and 42 (legislation.gov.uk) — protected characteristics including race and religion or belief; indirect discrimination; recruitment; constables treated as employed (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/527), regulation 10 (legislation.gov.uk) — the legal qualifications for appointment contain no tattoo or appearance rule (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Kent Police: Police constable, who we are looking for (tattoos and piercings section) — example of one force's tattoo and piercing policy for constable applicants, read 1 October 2026 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Kent Police: Community policing volunteer, tattoos and piercings — the same force's stricter wording for a volunteer role, read 1 October 2026 (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Surrey Police: Guide to becoming a police officer (version 20, February 2024, PDF) — example of one force's tattoo declaration process; dated document (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Avon and Somerset Police: Is a career in policing right for me? — example of one force's eligibility wording on tattoos, read 1 October 2026; its PCSO and special constable pages use similar wording (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Leicestershire Police: Recruitment application guidance (slides dated January 2020, PDF) — older example: prepare photos of tattoos on hands, forearms, face and neck (accessed 1 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the College of Policing, the Home Office or any police force, and it does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Recruitment standards, assessment formats and vetting decisions are set by the College of Policing and each force and change from time to time: check the force you are applying to before relying on anything here. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 1 October 2026.