Police in Philippines banned from picking their noses and taking selfies

Officers also prohibited from chewing gum, reading newspapers and scratching bodyparts

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Police in the Philippines have reportedly been banned from picking their noses and taking selfies.

The National Capital Region Police Force (NCRPO) has issued a memorandum reminding officers to refrain from doing anything that may cause a negative impression, The Philippine Star reports.

According to the memorandum, police officers are banned from “playing online games, taking selfies/groupies, chewing gum, adopting unseemly postures in public such as standing with one leg, scratching part of the body and nose picking.”

Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana, regional director for operations of the NCRPO, also warned police officers not to loiter, smoke, read newspapers or send unnecessary text messages.

The directive was released after a number of police officers posted photos of themselves while on duty.

Police in the Philippines have a history of posting selfies on social media. In 2010, officers were caught taking selfies after a hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand, while others took photos of themselves in a disaster zone after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

No-selfie orders were also issued during Pope Francis’ visit in 2015.

The directive is likely to affect the increasing number of police now on patrol in the capital, Manila.

As part of his war on drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte recently announced plans to boost the police force’s budget by 24.6% to hire more officers and buy more weapons.

The NCRPO has said 85% of its force is now on patrol to increase police visibility.