The Metropolitan police will allow new officers to have visible tattoos for the first time in a bid to boost recruitment, just six years after they were said to damage the image of the force.

Unveiling a drive for more than 2,000 new officers in the next year, the U-turn is designed to appeal to young people, who will be employed in the fight against violent crime.

Speaking at the launch today, the Met’s Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “Many young people are ruling themselves out of joining us because of their tattoos.”

She added that the new policy “brings the Met into line with other services".

“We hope this will show we are a modern service. A huge number of young people carry tattoos and we want to get the best of London in.”

There is no nationwide police policy on tattoos, and there is variation across the country as to what is permissible.