00:00 High Court Judge Frank Cipesad declares the tattoo policy of the Trinidad and Tobago Police
00:05 Service unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
00:09 He was presiding over an application for redress made by Dillon Ramraj who claimed his constitutional
00:15 rights were violated as of to being recruited to the TDPS.
00:20 He was disqualified because he had a tattoo of a ninja star on his left hand.
00:25 In his judgement, Cipesad says "The tattoo policy in its current form stands as an archaic
00:32 artificial administrative barrier which occasions significant prejudice.
00:37 Its existence and implementation are unreasonable and cannot be justified in a modern democratic
00:43 state."
00:44 The TDPS's 2011 regulations say trainees shall not engage in tattooing and body piercing.
00:52 This was updated in 2020, restricting the placement of tattoos prohibited areas being
00:58 anything visible beyond the fastened collar or the sleeve cuff of the grey suit.
01:05 It additionally prohibited body art prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale, which
01:11 may bring discredit to the TTPS.
01:15 In his application, Ramraj said he was given no reasonable explanation for the policy and
01:21 pointed out that senior police officers proudly display their tattoos, including senior superintendent
01:28 Roger Alexander described as the national spokesperson for the TTPS as co-host of the
01:34 popular TV show Beyond the Tape on TV6.
01:38 The TTPS says its policy came into play in 2010 and that was after Alexander enlisted
01:44 in the service.
01:45 In his judgement, Sibesad notes that tattoos are a form of expression and democratic society
01:52 should adopt a cautious approach when dealing with one's right to express oneself.
01:58 The judge says, "It is difficult to comprehend why the visibility of a tattoo simpliciter
02:03 serves to disqualify a citizen who wishes to protect and serve."
02:08 Sibesad says it is "pernicious, puerile and pointless to use skin camouflage during recruitment
02:15 when there is no such provision or requirement post-recruitment."
02:21 He says, "In a society such as this where citizens clamour in fear because they are under
02:26 siege and plagued by rampant criminal conduct, it is difficult to comprehend why the recruitment
02:32 process is concerned about the visibility of tattoos and its attention is not focused
02:38 upon the character, integrity and ability of potential recruits."
02:43 Sibesad referenced government's intent, as expressed in its 2023 budget, to triple the
02:49 number of TTPS recruits, saying removing pointless recruitment obstacles should be prioritized.
02:56 He says, "The tattoo policy in its current manifestation is discriminatory and ill-advised."
03:04 Sibesad says, "Ramraj's right to freedom of expression, rights to equality of treatment
03:10 from a public authority, rights to equality before the law and the protection of the law
03:15 were all violated.
03:17 Ramraj was granted damages for breach of his constitutional rights still to be determined
03:23 and his legal costs."
03:24 Arvishi Tiwari, Rupnairine, TV6 News.
03:27 Thank you.
03:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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