What are the rules on tattoos within the institution?

From year to year, the ink gains space on the skin in the blue house. A circular dated January 12, 2018, signed by the director general of the national police, admits: “much more than a fashion, the wearing of tattoos has become a cultural and social phenomenon”. And has therefore become inevitable within the police force itself, after years of prohibition. But are all tattoos compatible with the uniform?

Tuesday, during the demonstration against the pension reform, the photographer Louise Bihan photographed two policemen, whose short sleeves revealed tattoos of “valknut”, also called “knot of occi”, a figure composed of three intertwined triangles. Behind this Viking-inspired symbol, there is a political takeover by the entire white supremacist movement, which did not fail to challenge the photographer.

A fascist or Viking symbol?

Having become aware of the facts, the regional councilor Sarah Kerrich contacted the IGPN, as provided for in the circular of January 12, 2018 on tattoos which would be “likely to constitute a breach of an ethical obligation”. What does the tattoo police say about allowed designs? “Tattoos, whether permanent or temporary, cannot be accepted if they constitute a clear sign of belonging to a political, trade union, denominational or associative organization or if they undermine the fundamental values ​​of the Nation. “, indicates the circular.

In theory, no hammer and sickle or Catholic cross. The valknut, which “is part of the logo of the UNIP (Unité des Nationalistes, Identitaires et Patriotes) neo-Nazi movement created in 2016” and “leads to believe the existence of a Western white “race”, falls into this category. for Sarah Kerrich. “The investigation will determine whether it is a fascist or Viking acronym,” said Laurent Lehembre, union official for the North for the Alliance union, to 20 minutes. “With us, when someone displays fascist ideas, he is put aside,” he says.

Assume at the medical visit

In addition, tattoos that are visible but which are not “a manifest sign of belonging” must not, however, “distort or compromise the relationship of the police officer with the users”, insists the circular, which recommends that the tattoo be then “masked”. . In other words, there is no clear list of forbidden tattoos within the police, nor any part of the body on which they are particularly taboo, but the general instruction tends to make them invisible. But they can be eliminatory from entry if they contravene the circular quoted above.

On the Frequently Asked Questions on the site devenirpolicier.fr, a peacekeeper also indicates to a candidate who hesitates to hide a tattoo on his hand not to “hide it during the oral or the medical visit”, since the doctor will ask the question. He even advises, in the event of a question from the jury, “to explain its meaning” and “to assume”, while recalling the prohibitions. “It’s quite rare” that the hierarchy then asks to hide the tattoo, according to him. But despite recent tolerance, they remain “closely watched”, insists Laurent Lehembre.


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