Border Force staff will be forced to cover up tattoos even if that means wearing long-sleeved shirts while working in extreme heat

• Australian Border Force staff are forced to cover tattoos in new policy change
• They will be required to wear long sleeves, even when working in extreme heat
• The union hit back at the proposed policy, saying it's 'ridiculous and dangerous'
• The ABF says that the only exemptions made will be for religious beliefs

Staff members of the Australian Border Force (ABF) will be required to cover their tattoos under new proposed policy, even if they're working in extreme heat or at sea.

In a memo to staff, the ABF announced that all officers on duty with tattoos will have to wear long-sleeve shirts to cover their tattoos, regardless of weather conditions.

Staff have until next week to comply with the change, and order their new uniforms.

But the Community and Public Sector Union have attacked the proposal, telling The Australian it is 'frankly ridiculous'.

Lisa Newman, the deputy president for the union, says that members feel 'extremely disrespected' at the prospect of having to remove or cover their tattoos.

For a lot of the staff, this includes tattoos of their daughters' names and religious symbols like crucifixes. 

There are concerns that wearing long-sleeve shirts in scorching temperatures could increase the risk of heat stroke for ABF staff.

Ms Newman also said that the policy is more extreme than any implemented by other government agencies like the Australian Federal Police.

Under the AFP's uniform and presentation guidelines, staff are allowed to have visible tattoos as long as they aren't deemed 'offensive'.

This excludes facial tattoos, which are only allowed if the owner can prove they have them for religious beliefs, the same policy that the Border Force currently employs.

An ABF spokesman confirmed the proposed policy change to Daily Mail Australia, saying: 'To ensure a consistent law enforcement approach across the Home Affairs Portfolio, the ABF is currently consulting staff on an update to its tattoo policy.

Under the proposed policy, tattoos would have to be covered when officers are in uniform. If a uniformed ABF officer is unable to comply with this requirement for religious, cultural or medical reasons, they can seek an exemption.

All staff are being given an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed tattoo policy.'