Illegal tattoo equipment seized
Tattoo equipment has been seized as two more ‘scratchers’ have been raided through Plymouth Council’s Operation Itchy.
Officers from the Council’s Public Protection Service, together with the police, executed Court orders at addresses in Devonport and St. Budeaux over the last two weeks in the continued crackdown on illegal tattooists known as ‘scratchers’ who have bought a tattoo kit over the internet and tattoo without the proper training or awareness of hygiene.
The Council recently launched a competency scheme for tattoo businesses to make sure tattoos and skin piercing takes place in hygienic and well-run premises. Registered tattoo studios are also being invited to join a rating scheme similar to that used to show the hygiene of food premises. It aims to reduce infection and injury through better awareness and training around infection control.
Councillor Sue McDonald, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Public Health said: “We have some fantastic and very talented tattoo artists in Plymouth and the scheme is certainly not about discouraging people from using reputable parlours.
Tattooing needs to be carried out in a hygienic environment by people who know what they are doing and our competency scheme aims to reduce infection and injury through better awareness and training around infection control.”
The law requires tattoo premises and tattoo business owners to be registered but the customer has no idea how good that business is. The Council has encouraged the 30 premises in the city to self-audit to make sure they are up to speed with all the basic health requirements ahead of inspections.
Other support for the businesses include training sessions with public health professionals for infection control and work to introduce better reporting arrangements for ill health and infections.
Piercing and tattooing involves contact between blood and instruments so there is a risk of blood borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis as well as other skin infections that can lead to permanent disfigurement and blood poisoning.
Because of concerns about hygiene, the equipment was removed by Council staff trained in handling and removal of contaminated waste, for immediate destruction.
Investigations are ongoing into offences for tattooing from an unregistered premises and tattooing when not registered as a tattoo artist.
