LondonWhile, tattoo parlours operate under stringent regulations and licensing is required for both operator and premises, police and public health authorities are investigating how a tattooist infected a bunch of Llanelli teenagers at a house party.  It is not clear whether safe practices were followed, moreover some of the affected youngsters have been found to be underage.

Chris Govier, a Swansea tattoo artist and owner of the Body Art Tattoo on The Kingsway, including others have called for tougher laws to prevent people from running unlicensed businesses from home.  Mr. Govier went on to say that often many people come to professionals to fix a home tattoo job gone awry, accounting for nearly 50% of a tattoo artist’s job.  

Further, he said the law must prevent people from running a tattoo business at home when tattoo artists required a basic licence, paying ?75 and ?85 since they need two of them.  Mr. Govier claimed that he often refused to make tattoos to the underage, which goaded them and their mates to purchase tattoo kits costing ?200 - ?300 on e-Bay and give each other tattoos, often causing damage as they did not know how to use them.

According to Govier, recently done tattoos get infected if they are not properly looked after having them done.  While, the Llanelli house tattooist remains unknown and the hunt is on to find him / her, the National Public Health Service has issued a major health risk warning regarding getting tattoos from unlicensed tattooists, when one cannot be sure about the safety of their equipment and materials, and whether they observe proper infection control practices.

Launching a joint investigation into the incident, The National Public Health Service, Carmarthenshire Council, along with Dyfed-Powys Police would like all those tattooed at a party to see their GP and be screened for blood-borne viruses, if any.