WANNABE cops were knocked back for a string of bad taste tattoos including one of “sex slave” and one of the word “stab”.
A total of 25 hopefuls were unsuccessful last year due to offensive ink which went against official policy.
The force – which is trying to rebrand itself as non-sexist – revealed full details of the crass images following a freedom of information request by the Scottish Sun.
Among the dodgy daubings were a tattoo of a “nun holding (a) firearm” while another had an image of a “decapitated geisha head gagged with a rope”.
Another piece of offending bodyart showed a “female with blood pouring from eyes and mouth”, while another aspiring officer was knocked back for a tatt depicting the “rear aspect of female in underwear”.
The ban list included further tattoos of “naked images of females”, “images of criminal violence and gun” as well as an “image of drugs”.
Another applicant had “four horsemen of the apocalypse trampling the downtrodden” while one had “images of skulls and grim reaper’ with scythe” inked.
Images of man being hanged and a person on fire also ended the dreams of applicants hoping to serve as bobbies on the beat.
Tattoos also showed “death and violence” as well as a range of weapons, including various guns and blades.
Police Scotland revealed a record number of 25 rejects last year, compared to 13 refusals in 2023 and 23 in 2022.
The force said it had pictures of the offensive images, but refused to disclose them because they might identify applicants.
David Kennedy of the Scottish Police Federation said: “I think they are very liberal with the cast majority of tattoos that they let in.
“But they’ve got a policy in place and certain types of tattoos aren’t allowed. They’ve obviously got standards.
“It might not be suitable for a police officer to be showing certain kinds of tattoos. Some might have to pay for a cover up to get into organisation.”
Rules around tattoos were relaxed in 2015 to attract new recruits.
But officers shouldn’t have any that could cause offence or be considered inflammatory, rude, lewd, crude, racist, sexist, sectarian, homophobic, violent or intimidating.
Uniform and appearance standards say they shouldn’t “undermine the dignity and authority of the office of constable” or indicate “unacceptable attitudes” or links to controversial groups.
Officers are also not permitted to have tattoos on their face.
Applicants have to submit photographs which are then reviewed by recruitment officers and top brass.
Candidates are also given the option to have images “altered” if they are successful in the remainder of the recruitment process.
Campaigner Rick Stevens, former president of the Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union, said: “It comes back to the whole thing of judging art.
“What someone might find offensive, someone else might just find funny.
“Things have changed. But it can be an issue if you’re going to be in public life or a public figure.”
Police Scotland was approached for comment.
