Lord Toby Harris, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Authority Lord Harris, the former leader of Haringey Council, wants to open up the force to people who would otherwise be barred from entering. The barriers, identified by the Met's Recruitment Task Force, include a ban on tattoos which are allowed in other police forces. A tattoo on the face clearly could not be accepted nor ones that are rude, lewd, crude, racist, sexist or homophobic.
Nationality is a complex issue.
All UK police forces can accept Commonwealth citizens but we would not be able to accept recruits from Europe without a change in the legislation. Perhaps this issue needs to be reviewed. The Met has recently launched a nationwide recruitment drive and opened a new careers office at New Scotland Yard last week.