Question from Councillor RC Jones to the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Economic Development:-

“It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to be tattooed. However, the LGA are warning that illegal tattooists, known as ‘scratchers’, are offering services to children using cheap equipment bought on-line. They warn that these unlicensed tattooists are taking dangerous shortcuts with Health and Safety and often work from home in kitchens or garden sheds and advertise their services on social media.

It is illegal to work as a tattooist without registering with the Local Council, so what steps are BCBC taking to identify whether there is a problem in the Borough and prosecuting, where necessary, these unlicensed tattooists so we can help protect the health and safety of our youngsters?”

Question from Councillor RC Jones to the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Economic Development:-

“It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to be tattooed. However, the LGA are warning that illegal tattooists, known as ‘scratchers’, are offering services to children using cheap equipment bought on-line. They warn that these unlicensed tattooists are taking dangerous shortcuts with Health and Safety and often work from home in kitchens or garden sheds and

advertise their services on social media. It is illegal to work as a tattooist without registering with the Local Council, so what steps are

BCBC taking to identify whether there is a problem in the Borough and prosecuting, where necessary, these unlicensed tattooists so we can help protect the health and safety of our youngsters?”

Response from the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Economic Development to Councillor RC Jones:-

Shared Regulatory Services uses a range of approaches to identify illegal tattooists but taking enforcement action against illegal tattooists is difficult because of the nature of the illicit activity and the reliance on intelligence including witnesses to enable effective investigation and prosecution. The service will investigate fully any complaints and information supplied to close down illegal tattooing operations. A regional seminar was held in October to raise awareness of the consequences of having tattoos done in unsafe environments and we hope that this will encourage reporting of illegal activity in the borough.

In due course, the Council will also adopt the Model Bylaws for Tattooists and Body Piercers, these Bylaws have already been adopted in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan and place stricter infection control requirements on business operators.

The Shared Regulatory Service is currently in the process of unifying the policy across the three authorities.

Supplementary question from Councillor RC Jones:-

Ii is noted that the Shared Regulatory Services investigate any complaints received relating to illegal tattooists. However, a good and reliable source in terms of any such complaints being made, are often from sources such as local residents and retailers situate within the area of the premises. Do the Shared Regulatory Service invite complaints from sources such as these through an appropriate advertising campaign or making readily available, a Contact telephone number/email address through which any such complaints could be lodged

Response from the Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services/Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Economic Development:-

As mentioned above, the relevant policy would hopefully soon be unified between the three participating authorities that make up the Public Protection collaboration, and this would allow for greater control over business operators, particularly those that were operating illegally. The regional seminar also referred to in the original response, was more intended to raise awareness for the trade on unregistered tattooists as opposed to the public at large. The policy would look at specific issues that needed to be targeted in respect of Tattooing and Body Piercing, particularly with regard to both educating, and by doing so, hopefully protecting the younger generation, who were interested in or even fixated by tattoos etc. The policy would be subject of the approval of Cabinet in due course he concluded.

As Members were aware, the Shared Regulatory Service involved the local authorities of Cardiff City, Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend County Borough. The targeting of illegal tattooists had been more active in Cardiff than the other two areas to date, as there were more tattooist and body piercing establishments there, and therefore, this came with a greater risk of some of these illegally operating. Tattoos and body piercing was seen as a fashion accessory by young people, and it was therefore important from a health and safety perspective, to put a stop to any illegal operators.

Second supplementary question from Councillor D Patel:-

What does the definition of tattooing cover?

Response from the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Economic Development:-

The use of needles and other similar type instruments that are covered by health (and Safety) regulations.