German court upholds rejection of police applicant over tattoo

The Higher Administrative Court in Münster has upheld a decision by the North Rhine-Westphalia police to reject a candidate for a police trainee position due to a controversial tattoo.

The tattoo on the applicant's upper arm depicted two cartridges with the words ‘trust’ and ‘no one’, conveying the message ‘trust no one’. The court ruled that the imagery and text raised legitimate doubts regarding the individual's character and suitability for police work.

In its reasoning, the court stated that the tattoo suggested a lack of willingness for non-violent conflict resolution and a lack of trust in interpersonal relationships. The court noted that trust is vital for teamwork and survival within police operations. Although the applicant claimed the tattoo was purely aesthetic and had since covered it with a new design, the court found his explanation unconvincing and confirmed the rejection.