French police officers have been given approval to sport beards and tattoos on the job so long as they respect certain conditions, officials said Friday.

Responding to a police officers' union request, officials said French cops may wear beards on duty "as long as they are clean and well-trimmed," and may indulge in the current male fashion of letting stubble grow between shaves.

Police officers hankering for tattoos, meanwhile, may get inked so long as the result "is not contrary to (police) ethics" by carrying religious, political or racist messages, or is otherwise capable of "provoking clashes with the population."

In addition, the police union has requested detailed directives on the Dos and Don'ts of sporting facial hair and tats.