Licences for Skin Piercing or Tattooing: Guidance

Orkney Islands Council

Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

These notes are for guidance only and are not an authoritative statement of the procedures and provisions relating to applications for licences and licences issued under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Any person who requires further information should consult the Head of Legal Services, as undernoted, or a solicitor.

Licensing Requirement

1. In accordance with:

   • the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006; and
   • the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Amendment Order 2006,

   a licence, issued by Orkney Islands Council (the Council) as licensing authority, is required for the carrying on of any business which provides skin piercing or tattooing.

2. No licence is required for the carrying on of that activity by a regulated health care professional.

Definitions

3. “regulated health care professional” means a member of a profession regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002.

4. "skin piercing" includes any of the following:

   • acupuncture, which means the insertion of needles into living tissue for remedial or therapeutic purposes;
   • cosmetic body piercing, which means the perforation of the skin and underlying tissue in order to create a tunnel in the skin through which jewellery may be inserted; or
   • electrolysis, which means the removal of body hair by electrocution of the hair roots with an electrified needle.

5. "tattooing" means the insertion into the skin of any colouring material designed to leave a semi-permanent or permanent mark including micro pigmentation.

Conditions

6. Mandatory conditions are imposed by the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006 and the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Amendment Order 2006.

7. The Council may also attach reasonable conditions to licences as it sees fit, with each application being dealt with on its own merits.

8. The licence holder will be required to comply with the standard conditions which will form part of the licence when granted. These will usually accompany this document, but can be obtained from the Head of Legal Services, as undernoted, and are published at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/skin-piercing-tattooing-and-acupuncture.htm.

9. Where an application relates to premises, the Council cannot make a final decision unless an authorised officer has visited and inspected the premises and conditions 1 and 2 detailed in the published conditions document have been met.

Determination of and Duration of Licences

10. When determining whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to be the holder of the licence, the Council is required in terms of the Orders to have regard to the knowledge, skill, training and experience which the applicant and/or those individuals who will be carrying on the activity can demonstrate in relation to the activity or activities which are to be carried on.

11. A licence will normally be issued after the elapse of 42 days from receipt of an application. In certain circumstances, for example where objections have been received, applications can take considerably longer to be determined. A licence shall remain in force, unless previously suspended or revoked, for a period of either one year from the date when it comes into force or three years, dependent upon the application submitted. The Council can also determine a shorter period in any case, dependent upon the circumstances. The licence is not transferable.

Licence to be Retained

12. The licence must not be altered, erased or defaced in any way, must be kept clean and legible and must not be lent to or used by any other person. Should the licence be lost or become defaced or illegible the licence holder shall obtain a replacement from the Council on payment of the appropriate fee. The licence holder shall produce his/her licence within 5 days of being requested to do so by an officer of Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service or the Council.

Return of Licence

13. A licence holder shall deliver his/her licence to the Council:

• upon ceasing to operate the licensed activity;
• if the premises cease to be used for the licensed activity;
• within 7 days of receiving notice of the coming into effect of a decision of the Council to suspend or vary the terms of the licence, or the decision of a Court to revoke it.

Notification of Convictions or Material Change of Circumstances

14. The licence holder shall notify the Council of any conviction or material change within 14 days of the event. “Material change” means any change of circumstances affecting the licence holder (e.g. change of his/her name or address) or the activity to which the licence relates, including any particulars referred to in the application for grant or latest application for renewal of the licence. If in doubt, notify the Council of any changes.

Notification of Material Alterations

15. The licence holder shall not make or permit to be made any material change to the premises without the prior written consent of the Council unless in accordance with a requirement imposed by or in pursuance of any enactment other than Part 1 of the 1982 Act. If in doubt as to whether consent is required, contact the Council.

Application Form and Fees

16. Application forms are available online at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/skin-piercing-tattooing-and-acupuncture.htm or from:

• Head of Legal Services, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall KW15 1NY;
• Email licensing@orkney.gov.uk;
• Telephone 01856 873535 extensions 2229 or 2232.

17. Applications must be lodged with the Head of Legal Services, Corporate Services, Orkney Islands Council at the address above no later than 6 weeks before the first day of the commencement of the activity.

18. Applicants who would like Council staff to check their applications must arrange an appointment in advance to ensure that staff will be available when they would like to come in.

19. Application forms must be completed legibly in block capital letters in black ink or typed. All questions must be answered.

20. Completed application forms must be returned to the address above along with:

• the appropriate fee – refer to current fees published on our website at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/L/Licences_2.htm;
• a plan of the premises showing which part or parts used for the activity;
• copies of certificates supporting the information about the knowledge, skill, training and experience the applicant and any employees or agents have in carrying out the stated activities; and
• evidence of public liability insurance for a minimum of £5 million.

Previous Convictions

21. Applicants must declare any convictions, subject to the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This legislation is available at www.legislation.gov.uk. If applicants are in any doubt as to whether to declare convictions, they must obtain independent legal advice. If applicants wish to declare that they have no convictions, they must write “None” at the question on the form. They cannot leave the question blank. If applicants do not declare something which should have been declared, they may be prosecuted for failure to declare and this will affect the processing time and procedure for their application.

Incomplete Applications

22. Incomplete applications shall be returned to the applicant.

Site Notice – Premises Applications Only

23. A Site Notice must be displayed at the premises for a continuous period of 21 days from the date of submission of the application. A Site Notice should not be displayed until the applicant has received confirmation from the Council that the application is satisfactory and can be processed. The Council will agree a date with the applicant for display of a Site Notice.

24. A Site Notice and a Compliance Notice may be obtained online at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/skin-piercing-tattooing-and-acupuncture.htm or from the address above and must be returned to that address after 21 days to certify that the display requirement has been complied with. If the Site Notice is not displayed or the Compliance Notice is not returned, the Council shall advertise notice of the application in the local press to allow representations and objections to be made. If this is required, any decision on the application shall be delayed and the cost of the advertisement must be paid by the applicant.

25. The Compliance Notice should be returned to the address below, at least 21 days after the date from which the Site Notice is first displayed in accordance with paragraph 22 above, but no later than 25 days from that date.

Processing the Application

26. Applications will be referred to Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (if the application relates to premises) and any relevant department of the Council for comment.

27. Applications must be considered within 3 months of being lodged and the Council must reach a decision within 9 months.

28. If an application is granted, a licence will be issued.

29. If, during the processing of an application, the Council receives any objection or representation, we will send a copy to the applicant. The application and the objection or representation will then be referred to a meeting of the Licensing Committee. The applicant will be invited to attend the meeting and given the opportunity to address the Committee.

30. If an application is refused, or granted conditionally, the applicant for a permanent licence is entitled to ask the Council within 21 days to give reasons for such refusal, or the imposition of such conditions, and thereafter is entitled to appeal to the Sheriff against the decision on various grounds. Applicants should seek the advice of a solicitor if matters should get to that stage.

Prior Refusal

31. If applicants have applied for and been refused a licence for skin piercing or tattooing, unless their circumstances have altered, their applications will be unlikely to be granted.

32. If refused, applicants cannot apply for the same kind of licence in respect of the same activity or for the same premises, within one year of that refusal unless there has been a material change in circumstances.

Offences

33. The following are criminal offences liable, on summary conviction, to a fine:

• carrying on an activity for which a licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 is required without such a licence;
• failing to comply with a condition of a licence;
• making a false statement when filling in the application form;
• failing to notify the Council of a material change in the circumstances of a licensee;
• failing to obtain the consent of the Council before making any material change to the premises to which the licence relates;
• failing to surrender the licence (1) after it has been suspended or varied or (2) when the licensee has given up the activity to which it relates.

34. The above list is not exhaustive and reference should be made to the 1982 Act for all offences under that Act.

Data Protection

35. The information provided on application forms will be used by the Council to enable decisions to be made on applications. The Council is required to collect the information in terms of legislation. Applicants’ information will be shared with a number of agencies which the Council is obliged to consult before making decisions on applications.

36. The Council is obliged to make available some information submitted on application forms. The Council publishes electronic public registers in the Related Downloads section of the following Council webpage: http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/C/Civic-Government-Licences---Approved-Licence-Lists.htm.

37. The Council has published a guide to your rights under Data Protection legislation and how you can exercise these. This information is available on the Council’s website at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/D/Data-Protection-Policy.htm or can be requested by contacting the Council directly.

38. Information about how the Council will process your personal information is available on the Council’s website at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Online-Services/privacy.htm.

Orkney Islands Council 2014.

Version: 2018-06-14.