Sheriff’s Officers – Tattoo Direction – June 2018 (PDF version)

Update on the NSW Sheriff’s direction to cover visible tattoos.

The Tattoo Direction is:

• Halted until the Uniform Committee makes a decision based on PSA’s submission.
• The PSA has until 5 July 2018 to provide a submission based on members’ feedback.

A bulletin was sent to members on 29 March 2018 about the direction to cover visible tattoos on their arms by either wearing a long sleeve shirt, or a skin coloured stocking. That bulletin can be found HERE. We requested members to complete a survey about the direction to cover visible tattoos. We thank the many members who responded to that survey. That survey found the vast majority of affected members have been Sheriff’s Officers for more than 10 years. Also members who became Sheriff’s Officers in the last two years would not have joined if they knew about the directive.

The PSA raised with the NSW Sheriff the lack of consultation with your union about the tattoo direction in the Dress Manual. At the Joint Consultative Committee on Thursday 7 June 2018 the NSW Sheriff stated that the Tattoo Direction is halted until the Uniform Committee makes a decision based on a submission to be provided by the PSA. The NSW Sheriff gave us until 21 June 2018 to provide the submission, but subsequently extended that to 5 July 2018.

How does the Tattoo Direction affect you?

The PSA is seeking members affected by the Tattoo Direction to provide their comments.

The requirements of the direction is in paragraph 3.22 of the Dress Manual, Office of the Sheriff of NSW, Version 1.0 November 2017 found on Page 2 of Bulletin dated 23 March 2018 found HERE.

We need your comments by Monday, 2 July 2018. We will put your comments, the results of your survey, and how other Tattoo policies apply like the NSW Police Force policy into our submission.

Please email your comments to: with the Subject – Comments on the Tattoo Direction.

Further updates

Your union will continue to update members on matters affecting Sheriff’s Officers by visiting workplaces.

If you would like to arrange a meeting at your workplace please email Kirra Jackson .

As always the PSA welcomes member’s feedback. Should you have any questions or comments please contact your delegate firstly and if required the PSA.

Your PSA/SOVBAG Delegates are:

Eddie Lia – Campbelltown Court

Daniel De La Paz – Penrith Court

Stephen Hancock – Burwood Court

Tony Morawsky – Mt Druitt

Andrew Pierce – Parramatta

Glen Elliot-Rudder – Wagga Wagga

Jason Woollett – Liverpool Court

Your PSA staff:

Andrew Boulton – PSA Industrial Officer

Kirra Jackson – PSA Organiser

What can you do?

• Give a copy of this bulletin to your colleagues.
• Print this bulletin and put it up on your notice board.
• Ask a colleague to join the PSA.
• Get involved as your Area Contact