World - Africa
Updated: May 11, 2023

Namibian Prison Authorities Ban Tattoos On Prison Officers

By Rasheed Olajide Awoniyi
May 11, 2023
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Namibian prison authorities have banned recruitment of persons with visible tattoos as part of efforts to protect prisons' image, a local newspaper reports.

According to the Namibian Sun, this action is being taken to protect the reputation of the jails due to worries that some tattoos worn by prison guards may be associated with criminal organizations.

Visible tattoos, according to Raphael Hamunyela, commissioner-general of Namibia Correctional Services (NCS), do not represent the organization well.

He declared that the nation's recruitment guidelines and code of conduct would be changed to ensure that going forward, no one with obvious tattoos will be hired for the NCS.

"New tattoos constitute a disciplinary offence," Mr Hamunyela was quoted as adding.

Following that, the names of correctional officers with tattoos will also be collected for record-keeping.