Warning as bogus tattooists target customers via social media

Tattoo

Owners of legitimate tattoo establishments are calling for a crackdown on illegal operators. The licensed practitioners have to regularly correct substandard work and blame the bogus operators for bringing the industry into disrepute. 

There is evidence of people setting up operations from private homes, pubs, clubs or by visiting people in their homes.

Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter are also increasingly being used by illegal operators to promote their illegitimate business activities.

Stories from people duped by illegal operators include one local woman attracted by cheap offers being promoted on Facebook.

Wishing to have a tattoo in memory of her mother, she contacted the vendor who arranged to carry out the tattoo in his home.

The woman was duped into believing the vendor had a professional studio and counterfeit certificates were presented.

She suffered severe bruising for several weeks after receiving the tattoo and was unhappy with the standard of artwork. She had to find the money to attend a legitimate studio to have the tattoo corrected where she was advised to report the illegal tattooist to the council.

Rochdale Council Public Protection Service says it has seen a significant rise in the number of complaints about botched and potentially dangerous body art practices with over 30 separate incidents reported to the council over the last 12 months, double the number received last year.

There are concerns about the major health risks associated with this type of activity. By choosing an unlicensed operator people are exposing themselves to higher risks of serious skin irritations or blood borne viruses like Hepatitis and HIV through substandard equipment and inadequate sterilisation. 

Andy Glover, Rochdale Council Public Protection Manager said: “Having a tattoo or piercing done on the cheap or in the comfort of your own home may be appealing but the known dangers make it not worth the risk.

"We regularly check premises that are licensed and make sure those operators are working to high standards of hygiene and that premises meet the required standards.

"Unlicensed tattooists and piercers have not undergone any of these checks and you have no idea how competent the person is.”

Legitimate tattoo artist Ben Henthorne, 25, of Outer Heaven Studio based on Drake Street, Rochdale, said: “I’m committed to helping the council close these people down. Whenever someone tells me that they have had a tattoo or piercing performed from an unregistered operator I encourage them to report them and I regularly scour Facebook looking for perpetrators.

“It’s very, very dangerous; these people are not professionals and can cause serious injury, they have no concept of cross contamination that can lead to the spread of disease.

"Please do not be tempted by bargain prices, it can end up costing you more than you think.”

Unlicensed tattooists and piercers face serious penalties for carrying out these criminal offences. If an unregistered tattooist is running as a business the Health and Safety at Work Act applies which carries a maximum penalty of £20,000 or imprisonment where harm or ill-health has been caused.

It is illegal for under-18s to be tattooed.

To report unlicensed operations, please contact the council and provide as much information as possible as well as a contact name and number. All information is treated confidentially.

Email: environmental.health@rochdale.gov.uk

Tel: 08451 212971