by Nisha Chopra

Kent police should be allowed to show their tattoos on duty.

That is from Ian Pointon, chairman of the Kent Police Federation - the body representing rank and file officers in the county.

Mr Pointon says tattoos can act as an 'icebreaker' when dealing with younger people.

Currently the rules for the policemen and women in England and Wales are that tattoos thought to be lewd, intimidating or offensive have to be covered up.

Those rules could now be extended to cover any tattoo deemed excessive. That could be a whole sleeve of tattoos, to a few stars and butterflies.

Mr Pointon says there should be a proper debate on the matter.

He said: "Frontline officers with tattoos have said to me when they talk to younger people their tattoos can often be a bit of an icebreaker, because they view them as art work."

But Mr Pointon admitted that elderly people may not be so forthcoming to an officer showing off his body art.

He said: "I think what this does show is there's a bit of a generational gap in the attitude towards tattoos."

He added: "We shouldn't stigmatise people with tattoos, very much the response is these people are yobs, criminals, thugs. Actually if we said that about black or gay people...there'd be uproar.

"Twenty seven years as a cop has taught me one thing - never ever judge a book by it's cover."

The eligibility requirements stated on the Metropolitan recruitment website says that officers, "should present a professional image, and be sensitive to the impression you will make on members of the public."

Mr Pointon said: "Whether you like them or not they're a part of society and we've got to deal with that.

"Do we get any complaints about tattoos? The reality is we don't - the current policy is working."

What do you think? Join the debate below.