Underage Tattooist Successfully Prosecuted

An illegal tattooist, or ‘scratcher’ has been prosecuted following a joint investigation by Police and Environmental Health Officers from Wrexham County Borough Council.

Richard Owen Jones from Wrexham, who was arrested by Police in the early stages of the investigation, admitted to offences under the Tattooing of Minors Act and failure to register with the Council as a tattooist under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

He was fined a total of just over £600 for 6 offences and a court order was issued for the destruction of his tattooing equipment.

Council Officers liaised with the Police via the recently created Wrexham Joint Safer Communities Unit.

Wrexham Council said: “Wrexham County Borough Council officers have worked with the Police to protect public health and safeguard the vulnerable.

“It is right that this individual has been brought to account for illegally tattooing children in his home. In this case tattoos were being offered at pocket money prices to children and adults in an unregulated setting in contravention of the law”.

Stakeholders Wrexham County Borough Council and the Police have agreed on two clear messages, one to those thinking of a tattoo aged under 18 and the other to those ‘scratchers’:

“Young people (under 18) and adults are urged not to visit illegal tattooists (or tattoo their friends using cheap tattoo equipment obtained via the internet). The health risks are unacceptable, there are safeguarding concerns and a bad tattoo often leads to scarring, regret and expensive removal or cover up.”

“The message to scratchers is that your illegal activities will not be tolerated. Those wishing to pursue tattooing activity are urged to ‘go legit’ and become registered with the Council. Council officers can be contacted by prospective tattooists to seek advice on legal requirements and appropriate hygiene practices.”