Tattoos and the Gardai

Because, some types of discrimination is illegal, most are not, we all discriminate at times, so saying everyone should mind their own business and ignore appearance is impractical.

But you would make a judgement on them at first glance based on their appearance.

We all do, that's just human nature.

And because tattoos have a stigma around them (and don't say they don't), people are going to make negative judgements on Gardai with visible tattoos.

Like any other forum thread anywhere else in the world so.

Their policies aren’t outdated. It’s pretty standard in most police forces that they have policies regarding tattoos, and it’s certainly not any indication as to why AGS are having difficulty recruiting people.

Their policies on tattoos is publicly available information, same as the policy for the Met police in the UK is publicly available information -

https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/policies/dress-code-policy-september2022.pdf

It even makes this clear in the article in your opening post -

“An Garda Siochana Uniform and Dress Code is published on the Garda website and details provided in the Recruitment Candidate Information Booklet.”

The booklet says: “Tattoos and body art on the face, or visible above the collar, are not permitted.

“In order to retain a professional image, all other tattoos and body art must be covered while on duty.”

Sources also stressed that none of the officers had been sacked – or had resigned, as of last night.

Personally, I don’t care one way or another about tattoos, but I understand the reasons why the police or AGS in this instance or any employer would have an issue with tattoos, particularly in roles where they are expected to be engaged with the general public.

It’s not as though there’s a shortage of people who don’t have tattoos that anyone has to lower their standards to facilitate people with tattoos which don’t adhere to their policies.

Believe it or not, I don’t judge people on their appearances. I’ve no reason to judge someone without even voicing a word to them.

Some tattoos have stigmas, it’s a big if a generalisation to say it’s going to have a negative effect. How would you know?

Ahh it's their body, their choice :)

Yeah .Black looks good . Colour fades and the tats look tatty in time and illegible .

I think its unnecessary asking people to remove them.

As long as they are tidy and professional otherwise .

There are nurses and doctors with beards ( yes ;) ) and tattoos and piercings . Only allowed plain studs in ears and remove nose rings etc when at work .

Some of the loveliest, most professional people I have worked with .

Some of the comments here are wild, tattoos looking wrong on women, professionals shouldn't have tattoos or they wont be taken seriously, are people so stuck in the past that can't see beyond their blinkers?

I will address the bit about professionals having tattoos firstly, some of the best care i have had in hospital was from doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and porters who had tattoos, something i could discuss and build a relationship with them. A optician i attend has tattoos, very professional and fun at the same time.

As for tattoos on women, there are a lot of women with tattoos and they look great on them. And like with some fellas there are certain tattoos i think look rubbish but i don't judge them based on what they have, its just a personal taste thing. As example i don't like tattoos on hands or above collar, yet i can still talk and get along with folks who have those tattoos. Also some of the most stunning tattoos i have seen on women are cover ups for mastectomy scars, such as corset tattoo.

There are bikers who look gruff and unapproachable with tattoos and some of them are the nicest folks you could meet, some of them come from professions you would not associate them being in, such as doctors, guards, nurses, vets etc.

I would be less concerned with a guard, doctor, soldier, even a politician with having tattoos than how they perform and carry out their roles and engage with people.

I don’t care if you believe me or not 😘

I’m not making any claim of being special or different, I am perfectly able to live my life without applying judgment to anyone.

Nothing special, just living my own life.

Create a straw man and tear him down, amazing.

I do apply to everything that is within a person's choice, included clothes, hair etc. So do you my friend, whether you are conscious of it or not.

I can see where it's coming from. I had a tattoo when I joined, but when I was getting it I knew not to have it below the cuff of a t-shirt, so it wouldn't show with the short sleeve shirt. Now, when I did that, I wasn't a Garda, but it was a thought I had in general that if it's showing below a tshirt some people may make assertations based on it (and considering it was far more blue than intended, people used to think I had a power ranger tattooed on my arm (I have Noob Saibot there).

So it really would depend on the tattoo. Some most certainly need to be covered up, but who makes that call? So just make it one rule for everyone. Simple to follow. Tbh, they shouldn't have gotten that far before it was said to them. When I joined the lad saw mine was not showing below the tshirt so all good, but he said that if it's below it they probably woulnd't get in. They're also not fired or anything, they are free to return once sorted. Sounds like they realised it should have been said before they were sent to Templemore.

Poster asked me if I think Angolans are stupid and then without reply tells me they are far from stupid, I don't think I have discussed Angolan's at all, baring that it was the random African nationality I picked for the one hypothetical example I used to highlight how first impressions, such as tattoos can change the outcome of an interaction. I picked this example because for me it's a perfectly legitimate interaction that might well occur and because it highlights how people's preconceptions and fears can be triggered or just enhanced by a tattoo. Is this a misrepresented proposition?(i.e. strawman?) You don't think this situation could occur? You think it's inconceivable that a police officer for a state that is notoriously tough on migrants, with a tattoo of some ancient warrior on his arm, could make a migrant feel distrustful? Do you think the tattoo makes the officer more or less approachable?

Just to be clear I purposely engineered the the hypothetical to suit my argument, of course I did, I am trying to highlight it. It's a legitimate tool for discussion.