In the 102 years since the first policewomen took to the beat, much has changed in their outward appearance.

Heavy ankle-length skirts have given way to more practical trousers and there is now little to distinguish their uniform from that of male colleagues.

But one surprising area where female officers are setting themselves apart is in the field of body art, with a survey finding that more than half of policewomen now have tattoos.

The Police Federation – which represents rank and file officers – found that 52 per cent of female officers had at least one tattoo, compared to 47 per cent of their male colleagues.