More than 800 potential army recruits were unable to join due to tattoos – despite the recruitment crisis

MORE than 800 potential army recruits were unable to take part because of their tattoos – despite a staffing crisis.

Another 400 were excluded from boot camp because of their body piercings – and together these numbers would have been enough to fill the ranks of a brigade.

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The army relaxed the rules to make this possible tattoos on the neck and hands ten years ago, but head and face ink is “unacceptable”.

Tattoos with images of “sex acts, violence or illegal drugs' are also banned, along with piercings that 'change the way you look'.

The army has been facing a shortage of 12,000 recruits since 2018.

However, 126,000 were rejected in the same period.

Figures released under freedom of information laws show that the main reason recruits were not selected was medical, with around 70,000 rejected.

A further 23,000 Commonwealth candidates were told there were “no vacancies”, despite warnings that all three services in the armed forces were losing staff faster than they can replace them.

Former Armed Forces Minister Mark François fumed: “We are bleeding personnel. In a few years the consequences will be an operational failure.”

The boss of recruitment company Capita has begged the army to relax strict medical rules that prevent people from participating.

He said the current limits on Body Mass Index measurements would block most of England rugby team, which would be considered “obesebased on the old fashioned system.

Richard Holroyd told MPs: “The current England rugby team would struggle to join the army. We continually challenge the military to take a fresh look at their policies and processes.”

An Army spokesperson said: “To ensure we remain the highly effective fighting force the nation expects and deserves, we demand that our people are able to meet and sustain each other. [our very high] standards throughout their careers.

“Unfortunately, not everyone who aspires to a career in the military will be suitable.

“That's why applicants can be rejected for a number of reasons, including employment and medical history, prior convictions and suitability standards.”