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AP 3392 Vol 5 leaflet 123 :

ROYAL AIR FORCE POLICY ON THE WEARING OF TATTOOS

Introduction

1. Tattoos are a popular fashion decoration and female personnel and are generally a personal matter. However, the RAF, as a disciplined Service, requires higher standards of appearance and bearing than might be acceptable in other walks of life. Self-respect is an important part of the core values and standards of the Service; it indicates dignity, integrity and professionalism. The nature and position of an individual’s tattoos cannot therefore be ignored when forming a judgement of that person’s character. Likewise, the impact of tattoos on other personnel, if they are offensive, is an important consideration in deciding whether or not a tattoo is acceptable. The policy applies to those individuals with pre-existing tattoos seeking to joint the Service and those personnel who acquire tattoos whilst in the RAF; therefore, when reading the policy, where reference is made to commanders, it should also be interpreted as applying to recruiting and selection officers.

Policy

2. The RAF policy on tattoos is enshrined in QR 211 and applies to all regular and reserve personnel. It prohibits any tattoos that are obscene or offensive or that are visible above the neck collar, below the sleeve cuff or below the trouser cuff.

a. Obscene or Offensive. Personnel are not permitted to have any permanent or temporary tattoos, whether ordinarily visible or not, which are obscene or offensive (eg racist, anti-religion or belief, crude, overtly sexist, homophobic, drugs related or of an extreme political nature).

b. Visible Tattoos. Personnel are not permitted to have any tattoos that are that are above the neck collar, on the hands and wrists or on the ankles in such a manner as to be visible in No 1 HD.

3. It is impractical to set down precise guidelines as to what comprises ‘obscene’ or ‘offensive’ tattooing; this is at the discretion of commanders. However, commanders should attempt to take a broad view taking into account the RAF’s Equality and Diversity Policy, the Core Values and Standards and the likely impact on the wider RAF community, taking Cmd(1) or legal advice as appropriate. The position of the tattoos is an important part of the consideration; however, an offensive or obscene tattoo, wherever it is on the body, is not acceptable. Regardless of the fact that clothing normally covers such a tattoo, there could be occasions, albeit infrequent, when other personnel might see it.

Action to be Taken in Cases of Contravention of QR 211

4. Verification. When commanders become aware that an individual may have contravened the tattoo policy, the first step, if possible, is to verify the nature and position of the tattoos. If the tattoos are normally visible in working dress, this is to be done by the chain of command. If the tattoos are not normally visible in working dress, visual verification may not be possible, in which case a verbal description of the tattoo(s) should be used. Commanders or line managers are not permitted to inspect personally any tattoos that are not normally visible in working dress. Likewise, unless there is a clinical indication, doctors have no right to examine such an individual. Any action taken will, therefore, need to be judged on whatever evidence is available. The nature and position of the tattoos is to be recorded on the proforma at Annex A.

5. Action During Recruitment. Candidates with obscene/offensive tattoos, or with any tattoos that are deemed visible in accordance with para 2b (above), are to be rejected.

6. Action Once in Service. The Station Commander should consider disciplinary, administrative or informal action as appropriate.

a. Disciplinary Action. Given the permanency of tattoos, disciplinary action is unlikely to be effective and should not normally be taken unless the nature of the tattoo is itself unlawful; advice on this point should be taken from Cmd/legal staff before proceeding. In cases where disciplinary action is taken, Cmd/legal advice should also be sought with a view to administrative discharge action.

b. Administrative Action. The presumption is that an individual in contravention of the tattoo policy will be discharged. A report recommending administrative discharge from the Service should therefore be raised under QR 529 or QR 1021 ; however, given the subjective and emotive nature of this issue, Cmd/legal advice should be sought wherever discharge is being contemplated. If an individual on whom action is commenced has the tattoos removed, discharge action would not then normally be appropriate, although less severe administrative action may still be considered.

c. Informal Action. Where a tattoo is deemed to be inappropriate in the particular working environment(2) in which the individual is employed, but does not of itself warrant disciplinary or administrative action, the chain of command may require the individual to cover the tattoo so it is not visible. Personnel may be required to wear long sleeve shirts or cover the tattoo with plasters/bandages and, in the case of female personnel, to wear trousers, including on parade. Cmd/legal advice should be sought if there is any doubt.

It is strongly emphasised that on no account is an individual to be ordered or encouraged to have tattoos removed, or advised that removal is the only option to discharge; in such a case they may feel that they have been pressured into an expensive and potentially dangerous medical procedure.

7. Where an individual asks whether removal of a tattoo would allow selection processing or lift the threat of discharge, they should be advised that each case is considered on its merits and that removal of the tattoo would not necessarily prevent appropriate action being taken against them. Where the only reason discharge submission is the existence of the tattoo, they may be told that this is the case. An obscene or offensive tattoo, however, may indicate that an individual is unsuited to service in the RAF and thus its removal may not be sufficient to prevent the discharge submission. Where an individual is considering having their tattoo removed, they should be advised to consult the SMO(3) with regard to the treatment involved.

Overseas

8. What is inoffensive in the UK might be offensive to other cultures; however, the potential individual to serve overseas should not necessarily be the basis or administrative action if this is the only concern about the tattoo. In such cases, commanders in theatre will need to consider the potential offence and, if necessary, the individual may be required to ensure the tattoo is appropriately covered when dealing with the local community or coalition partners in line with the paragraph on Informal Action (above).

Temporary Tattoos

9. Temporary tattoos or body decoration, in henna, are covered by the policy; the same standards are to be applied in judging whether or not a temporary tattoo is appropriate, and the impact of an offensive decoration will not be mitigated by its impermanence. Given their temporary nature, however, disciplinary action, or lesser administrative action, may be more appropriate in these cases. Legal or Cmd advice is to be sought.

Ethnic, Tribal or Religious Markings

10. Care must be taken to ensure that ethnic, tribal or religious markings are not confused with fashion tattoos. Such markings will not necessarily be a barrier to Service in the RAF; each case must be judged on its own merits. If in doubt, commanders should take Cmd and legal advice as appropriate before considering what action, if any, to take.

Useful Information

11. Tattoos often have hidden meanings; where commanders have concerns that a tattoo may have a hidden meaning that could contravene the tattoo policy, they should seek advice from the RAFP or P&SS.

Notes

1. In the case of AFCOs and OASC, this is done through the appropriate HQ P2 orP3 Processing Officer

2. This may include, but is not limited to: parades; recruiting duties; instructor duties; overseas employment including detachments; working in multinational headquarters.

3. In the case of recruitment, applicants or candidates should be advised to speak to their medical paractinioner.

(AL28, Nov 04)