Police reform standards on tattoos, hair to bolster recruitment numbers

SA Police officers will be allowed to have visible tattoos and male officers long hair new under changes aimed at boosting recruitment.

SA Police officers will be allowed to have visible tattoos and male officers long hair under changes aimed at boosting recruitment.

SA Police officers will be allowed to have visible tattoos and male officers long hair under changes aimed at boosting recruitment.

Tattoos must still be “non-offensive”, while hair standards will no longer be “gender-specific”.

Commissioner Grant Stevens has approved the changes.

“SAPOL is aligning its standards to be a reflection of the community it serves,” Mr Stevens said.

“These changes are a major shift in our organisational culture.

“All uniformed employees will be able to have longer hair if they choose; however, the hair must still be worn appropriately at the rear of the head so as to comply with health and safety requirements.”

Tattoos can now be displayed “but they cannot be on the ears, face, head, scalp, front or sides

of the neck,” Mr Stevens said.

“These changes could remove a barrier for some of those applicants who may have not previously considered SAPOL as a career because they wanted to retain their longer hair or were concerned about having to cover up their tattoos.”

Mr Stevens said research had been conducted to ensure the police force and the public would be comfortable with the changes.

“This is not about lowering standards but more so balancing dress standard policies to reflect societal change,” he said

“The professional look of police officers will not be impacted, as this is not a free-for-all approach to hairstyles or tattoos.”

The Advertiser revealed last month that recruiting strategies were being revamped as a resourcing crisis deepened, with attrition now double the number of new officers being employed.

Over the previous seven months, 159 police officers either retired or resigned, but only 79 graduated from the Fort Largs Police Academy – a shortfall of 80 officers.

The recruiting deficit contributed to a total shortfall of 172 full-time officers, meaning some operational service areas were running at 80 per cent capacity.

A new recruiting campaign would likely focus on youth and increasing intake from culturally diverse groups and backgrounds.

A review of the cadet course curriculum and how recruits are tested, along with more literacy support for applicants, were other initiatives.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the dress code change “reflects the shifting community sentiment around tattoos and overall dress standards”.

“We hope it will encourage more people to see policing (as a career option), if the dress standards had previously held them back from applying.”

Last year, more than a dozen traditional police roles were handed to protective security officers to help solve the resourcing crisis.

These included guarding crime scenes, alarms response at schools, traffic cordons, hospital and cell guard duties, event security and welfare checks.