The 2020s have undeniably cemented a certain viewpoint in the public consciousness: “All Cops Are Bastards” (ACAB). Since 2013, with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and its focus on police brutality, even those typically reserved seem ready to express strong anti-police sentiments.
For some individuals, this sentiment goes beyond mere words; it becomes a core part of their identity, so profound that they choose to permanently etch it onto their skin. These “Police Tattoos,” often featuring slogans like ACAB or imagery critical of law enforcement, are not for everyone. While many have witnessed or experienced police brutality both online and offline, not all are inclined to mark their bodies with such charged symbols.
[ 
A person of color gets a tattoo on her arm – anti-racist tattooing Read Next
This Is What Anti-Racist Tattooing Looks Like
](https://www.vice.com/en/article/anti-racist-tattooing-ogechi-nish-rowe/)
While personally, I might opt for a tattoo of my dog’s name, the stories behind ACAB tattoos and similar expressions of anti-police sentiment are undeniably compelling. What is the tipping point that leads someone to get such a permanent and provocative tattoo?
To understand the motivations behind these striking pieces of body art, I spoke with friends and acquaintances who sport anti-police tattoos. All interviewees requested anonymity, using only their first names or nicknames to protect themselves from potential repercussions from authorities or even their families.
Decoding Police Tattoos: Personal Stories Behind the Ink
Daan, 28, Sterilization Technician: The Meat Hook
ACAB tattoos – black ink, illustrative tattoo of four dead bodies in uniform hanging from a meat factory hook – anti police brutality tattoo
VICE: Can you describe your tattoo?
Daan: It depicts dead cops hanging from a meat hook.
Why did you choose this design for your police tattoo?
Recent events in my city heavily influenced my decision. Not long ago, sixteen police officers in Antwerp were convicted of harassment and bullying. It highlighted to me that there are still far too many officers who abuse their power. This tattoo is a stark reminder of that abuse.
Are you ever concerned about regretting such a strong statement later in life?
No, regret isn’t something I worry about with this tattoo. Maybe when I’m older my perspective might shift, but for now, it’s a sentiment I stand by, and ultimately, it’s just ink on my skin.
Do your parents know about your police tattoo?
No, and I don’t plan to tell them. I think they would disown me. My girlfriend isn’t a fan either, to say the least.
Amore Flow, Age and Occupation Undisclosed: Dots and Numbers
ACAB tattoos – left: three dots arranged in a triangle on someone – mort aux vaches tattoo meaning
VICE: What is the meaning behind your police tattoos?
Amore Flow: The three dots arranged in a triangle are a French symbol representing “Mort aux vaches.” Literally, it translates to “Death to cows,” but in slang, it means “Death to pigs,” which is a derogatory term for cops. The “1312” tattooed inside my lip is a numerical code for ACAB, with each number corresponding to the letter’s position in the alphabet.
If you had the power to reform the police force, what changes would you implement?
I would simplify their role drastically. I’d have them wear shorts and only be contacted for genuine domestic emergencies. Their current scope is far too broad.
Beatriz, 25, Programmer: Skin Color and Systemic Issues
ACAB tattoos – small and minimalist police tattoo
VICE: What motivated you to get this tattoo?
Beatriz: As a Portuguese-Angolan woman, my skin color unfortunately predisposes me to negative interactions with the police. My academic background in social and forensic sciences further solidified my views. Studying police psychology revealed disturbing tendencies. It’s not the job that makes them “pigs”; that mentality often precedes their entry into law enforcement. This tattoo represents my lived experience and academic understanding of systemic issues.
Do you feel unsafe around police officers?
Absolutely. In my neighborhood, criminal activity is rampant. Police are constantly patrolling but seem more focused on minor issues like undocumented people than addressing serious crime.
If you could change one thing about policing, what would it be?
It’s concerning that doctors require a decade of rigorous study to hold lives in their hands, yet police officers, also entrusted with our safety, receive comparatively minimal training. I believe comprehensive education in social sciences is crucial for officers to understand the societal structures and privileges inherent in their role.
Toto, 30, Self-Employed: The Pig in Uniform
ACAB tattoos – black ink illustrative tattoo of a pig wearing a police helmet and carrying a baton – pig cop tattoo design
VICE: What are your primary issues with the police?
Toto: The police are a fundamental component of a system that perpetuates oppression. They are there to safeguard the interests of the wealthy and maintain the subjugation of the working class. In my view, they are essentially a racist and violent militia.
Do you feel safer or less safe when police are present?
Knowing the true purpose of the police, as I see it, makes it impossible to feel safe in their presence.
What does your police tattoo symbolize?
I’ve had this pig tattoo for two years. A friend created it as a flash design, and I claimed it immediately. It’s a playful yet pointed reference to the activist tradition of mocking police by calling them “pigs,” which, considering their behavior, often feels accurate.
Matéo, 26, Social Media Editor: Traumatic Encounters and 1312
ACAB tattoos – 1312 tattoo on the underside of someone's arm – acab number tattoo
VICE: What led you to get this “1312” tattoo?
Matéo: I’ve been assaulted by the police numerous times without provocation. The most traumatic incident occurred when a friend and I were exploring an abandoned train station in Brussels. We were taking photos and, about half an hour after we left, a police van approached. Five or six officers emerged, pointing guns and yelling at us to raise our hands. They forced us against a wall. After a tense few minutes, I overheard an officer say, “We have nothing on them; we didn’t catch them in the act.”
That sounds incredibly surreal and frightening.
It could have ended there, but as we traveled back on the train, I felt uneasy. At our stop, known for being somewhat rough, I saw a patrol watching us. We were arrested again, subjected to the exact same questions. They eventually released us, but not without a parting racist remark.
[ 
Instagram account snake___pit collecting unbelievable tattoos Read Next
This Instagram Collects Tattoos You Won’t Believe People Have On Them Forever
](https://www.vice.com/en/article/snake-pit-instagram-nsfw-tattoos/)
Did this experience directly lead to you getting the tattoo?
Yes, very shortly after. I was having a beer with a friend, and we discussed the numerous times we wished justice would extend to the police themselves. This tattoo is a permanent reminder of those experiences and that sentiment.
What is your biggest frustration regarding the police?
I believe the police operate with excessive impunity. Distrusting them has become a necessary defense mechanism, a survival instinct, especially for minorities like myself. If there are truly “good cops” out there, they need to actively challenge the system and prove they are not simply “dogs” of the state.
Bee, 31, Tattoo Artist: The Educated Donkey
ACAB tattoos – red ink drawing of a donkey dressed in 19th century aristocratic clothes and carrying spectacles, looking at an elementary school blackboard with mathematical equations – anti police tattoo for tattoo artist
VICE: What’s the story behind your unique police tattoo?
Bee: It was a flash design I got during a tattoo exchange with another artist. I was immediately drawn to the aesthetic.
Do you feel safe when police are around, especially given your profession?
No, particularly with the current climate in France, where I’m from. French police have been in the news recently for brutal crackdowns on anti-government protests. Beyond that, they’ve personally never been helpful when I’ve needed assistance.
What are your core feelings towards the police institution?
I don’t harbor hatred for individual officers, but rather for the institution itself, with its systemic violence, unequal treatment, inherent racism, and other deep-seated problems.
Antoine, 31, Musician: Subtle Camouflage with Dice
ACAB tattoos – four dice in black ink on someone's arm showing 1312 – dice tattoo meaning acab
VICE: Why did you choose a tattoo of four black dice displaying “1312”?
Antoine: I’m from the South Shore of Quebec City, where the police presence is disproportionately aggressive, even though it’s a relatively peaceful suburban area. As a teenager, I was stopped for random “checks” countless times for no apparent reason. I was never a supporter of the police, but one specific incident completely eroded any trust I might have had.
Could you describe that incident?
Years ago, I worked as a cook at a restaurant with a drive-through. A former colleague, who was visiting and slightly intoxicated, shouted “Damn you dirty pigs!” at a police car in the drive-through line. The officers couldn’t see us initially, but they heard it. I made eye contact with them, and suddenly, I became their target.
They waited outside the restaurant for four hours, threatening to arrest me if I didn’t confess. Being young and unaware of my rights, I regrettably gave them my ex-colleague’s name. He ended up having to apologize over the phone to the local police chief for the insult.
Do you feel safe around police now?
Not really. I constantly feel like situations could escalate rapidly with them. Sometimes I realize it’s almost absurd, as I’m a young white man in a relatively safe city. I can’t imagine the experience for people of color in larger, more heavily policed urban centers.
Why dice as a symbol?
An artist I admired was creating a lot of dice-themed art at the time, and I realized it was perfect camouflage. I doubt the artist even knew the hidden meaning behind the numbers I chose for the tattoo.
Björg, 26, Bartender: Fashionable Defiance
ACAB tattoos – FTP logo tattoo meaning fuck the police – ftp clothing tattoo
VICE: What does your police tattoo represent to you?
Björg: I took the logo from the clothing brand Fuck The Population (FTP) because I liked the design aesthetically. However, for me, it directly translates to “Fuck The Police.” I’ve had enough unfair encounters with law enforcement to cultivate a strong aversion to authoritarian power.
What fuels your strong negative feelings towards the police?
A police officer threatened my ex-partner with a baton. We were outside a party as it was ending, but the police deemed us lingering too long and became aggressive. Things escalated quickly, a fight broke out, and several of us were arrested.
[ 
child strip search police – police strip searching children Read Next
Children As Young As 8 Are Being Strip-Searched By Police Under UK Drug Laws
](https://www.vice.com/en/article/children-strip-searched-police/)
Do you think you will ever regain trust in the police?
I’m not sure. I understand that not every police officer is inherently bad, but their training seems inadequate. As officers, they face challenging situations daily, but their approach in our situation was completely wrong.
Do you have plans for more tattoos expressing your views?
Yes, I’m considering a Molotov cocktail being thrown at a police officer.
Patat, 36, Tattoo Artist: A Body Covered in Anti-Cop Art
ACAB tattoos – Black ink tattoo of a cop arresting a skateboarder while another takes a board and smashes it over the policemen – anti cop tattoo skateboard
VICE: How many anti-cop tattoos do you currently have?
Patat: I have four in total. It seems to be a common theme among heavily tattooed individuals to get anti-police tattoos. I have “ACAB” on my hand, a tattoo on my calf depicting a skater hitting a cop with a skateboard while another cop handcuffs a skater, dice showing “1312,” and a “Fuck The System” tattoo with handcuffed hands.
What is the root of your strong anti-police sentiment?
I grew up in the skateboarding scene, where interactions with the police are frequent. Over time, an anti-police mentality just naturally develops. I could never be in a relationship with someone whose family member is a police officer; the animosity is too ingrained.
Conclusion: More Than Just Ink – Police Tattoos as Statements of Defiance
These personal narratives reveal that “police tattoos” are far more than just edgy ink. They are powerful statements rooted in personal experiences, observations of systemic issues, and a deep distrust of law enforcement. From overt symbols like “ACAB” to more nuanced imagery, these tattoos serve as permanent reminders of negative encounters, perceived injustices, and a desire for systemic change. For those who choose to wear them, these tattoos are not just skin deep; they represent a fundamental aspect of their identity and a bold declaration of their stance against authority.
