The Berlin Greens want to relax significantly the city’s strict tattoo rules for police officers and public order officials, including allowing visible tattoos on the head, neck, hands and calves.
In a motion to the state parliament, the Greens argue that current regulations are outdated and “stuck in the last century”.
They propose permitting tattoos in previously banned areas, provided they are not “offensive or extremist” in content.
The party told newspaper Tagesspiegel the change would help modernise the police force and make it more attractive to younger recruits in a diverse city like Berlin.
Current Berlin police guidelines strictly prohibit openly visible tattoos, particularly on the head, neck, hands and lower arms.
This means they can not roll up their sleeves over the tattooed arm in the heat.
Tattoos that are directed against the democratic constitutional order or have obscene, discriminatory or violence-glorifying motifs are generally prohibited.
Courts have repeatedly upheld these rules, but recently there appears to be a shift happening.
The Berlin Administrative Court reversed the police’s decision to reject a 33-year-old applicant in March of last year because she had roses with her children’s names tattooed on the backs of both hands.
Diverse tattoos, especially of flowers, plants and personal data, are widespread nowadays, the court ruled.
Since 2018, the Administrative Court had ruled that even large visible tattoos should not be an obstacle to applying to the capital police.
The Greens’ proposal would represent a major shift, aligning Berlin more closely with more liberal approaches in some other German states.
The initiative has drawn criticism from conservative parties and police unions, who argue that police officers should maintain a neutral and professional appearance to command public respect and authority.
Opponents say visible head and neck tattoos could undermine the image of impartiality that law enforcement requires.
The proposal comes amid ongoing debates about modernisation and diversity in German police forces.
Proponents claim that overly restrictive rules make it harder to recruit qualified candidates in a competitive labour market, while critics worry it prioritises appearance trends over traditional standards of authority.
Germany’s Greens Party has come up with a detailed plan to make life easier and more attractive for Muslims in Germany.https://t.co/q4DJ2T0zN1
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 18, 2026
