Bremen bans religious symbols and visible tattoos in police service

No cross, no headscarf and no yarmulke either: new rules apply to police officers in the state of Bremen in the field. “If a policewoman rings the doorbell, then the uniform counts,” said Bremen’s Interior Senator Eva Högl (SPD). “It stands for a state that does not favor anyone.” The regulation is scheduled to come into force in mid-October.

What police officers have to consider

Religious jewelry and clothing will in future be taboo for police officers when they come into contact with citizens, as the regulation shows. In the office, officers are still allowed to show their religious affiliation.

There will soon also be requirements for tattoos: they must be covered on the face, neck and legs. Tattoos may be visible on the arms, as well as on the inside of the fingers and hands. Tattooed rings are also permitted.

How a turban sparked heated debates

The new regulation caused intense debate. The trigger was a police officer who, as a member of the Sikh religious community, wears a turban. He refused to take off his turban and therefore had to complete his practical phase in the office.

The man protested - and was proven right by the Bremen administrative court in an expedited procedure: such a ban requires a legal basis, which is now created with the new regulation.