Tattoo needle confiscated

A case containing a tattooing gun, needles and incorrectly labelled inks has been seized from a man in Borehamwood.

The homeless man surrendered his kit when questioned by environmental health officers on Tuesday. He had been performing tattoos without a licence and doing so using unsafe practices.

Tattooists must comply with strict health and safety regulations, such as using sterilised equipment between clients to prevent the spread of potential blood borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. They must also use suitable ink as others can cause potential skin reactions which can lead to permanent scarring.

Chris Gascoine, Chief Environmental Health Officer, said: "We were informed that someone was performing tattoos in an unsafe way and may not have a licence so we took action, found him and seized his kit.

"Unfortunately there are people out there performing tattoos without a licence and without taking the necessary health and safety precautions so it is extremely important that anyone having a tattoo makes sure they go to a licensed tattooist with a good track record."

If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a tattooist or tattoo parlour please contact the council straight away on 020 8207 7435.