Police recruits who have tattoos should, under a reform which forms part of the transformational strategy of the Police Force, be allowed to join the corps, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said on Monday.

Taking to his Facebook page, Camilleri said that the strategy of transformation for the police force is carrying out more positive changes so that the force can become more modern and inclusive and more representative of society.

He said that as a result, he feels that there is need for a change of mentality and for a change in procedures for the recruitment of people with tattoos.

“The aim is so that no more talent is lost simply because a person chose to have a tattoo.  This should be done with clear guidelines,” he said.

Police members currently cannot have any visible tattoos and must also be clean-shaven in the line of duty.