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AIBU?

It's not on to tattoo a 14 year old? So WWYD?

52 replies

GilbGeekette · 15/10/2012 14:53

One of DDs best friends proudly showed me her new tattoo yesterday. It is 100% an actual tattoo - has the reddishness and general slightly raised edges of a new tattoo so isn't a henna one or a transfer. DD is 14, as is her friend! Ok, at a push, they might get away with looking 16, but not 18! Friend has been tattooed by the dodgy piercer/tattooist locally, who has pierced the noses, bellybuttons, whatever of many of her 14 yo mates.

I appreciate that friend is not my DD so it's not really my business, but I suspect her mother wouldn't be over the moon. My DD is also having a hell of a time - her father is dying of cancer and her friends are really supporting her and generally being darlings to her. Ergo, I don't want to cause a rift at an exceedingly emotional and fraught time.

However, I am raging at the irresponsibility of the tattooist. WIBU to ring Trading Standards (or someone? Not sure who?) and report this? As an aside, I had piercings in my yoof, and still have a tattoo so it's not being anti body modification Smile it's about laws being there for a reason...

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NatashaBee · 15/10/2012 15:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NymphadoraTonks · 15/10/2012 15:03

I would report the tattooist, your DD's friend and her family don't need to know it was you. They probably won't even find out. It could be anybody reporting him/her if they're going around tattooing and piercing 14 year old children!

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PinkFairyDust · 15/10/2012 15:04

Can you speak to dd friend and ask her does her mum know?

Tell you dd that you don't want her getting one until she is 18 and explain why

And I would ring trading standards if you know the place for certain where she got it done

Maybe also speak to the school to say what is going on - they may have a talk to her year group about it all.

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monkeysbignuts · 15/10/2012 15:06

omg that's awful!
I am a tattoo lover but 14 is way too young. is it possible her mum gave permission? even so the tatooist should have refused to do it.
trading standards is probably your best bet, I would almost certainly say their books will be a mess as well as hygiene.

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MrsKeithRichards · 15/10/2012 15:07

Trading standards for a start.

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GilbGeekette · 15/10/2012 15:14

DD is very aware of my feelings about it. No tattoos until 18, and then at a place vetted by me Grin Friend's mum does not know. I suspect from friends face when she saw my face, she's regretting telling me.

DD has a tragus piercing which I paid an arm and a leg for at a good piercing salon and I had to be there, in person, to sign the consent form. Whilst this caused [eye roll] because DD wanted it to be just her and her mates, I explained about hygiene, blood borne viruses and scared her something shocking.

Can't find anything on Trading Standards website, other than something about tattooing pigs (!) But a search of my local council has revealed that they are responsible for issuing licences to piercing/tattooing salons. So I'm going to give them a call. I'm 100% certain of where she had it done, because she told me. Hadn't thought about school, might call them and give them a heads up.

In fairness, it's not a 'bad' tattoo. It's an inoffensive yin/yang symbol, nicely drawn at the small of her back. But still Shock

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PomBearWithAnOFRS · 15/10/2012 15:47

Isn't it illegal to tattoo someone under 18 in this country?
The rules/law are different for tattoos and piercings iirc, piercings aren't illegal as such but require parental consent but tattooing is actually illegal for a minor (I think anyway - all the legit tattooists round here insist on ID for anyone who looks like they might be under 18)

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McHappyPants2012 · 15/10/2012 16:00

I would phone 101 and ask the police advice.

I love tattoo but 14 is way to young

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5ThingsUnderTheBed · 15/10/2012 16:06

I would be telling her mum before anyone else.

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Mrsjay · 15/10/2012 16:11

Report the tattooist to the police and the council they can revoke their license and he can be prosecuted, there was a mobile piercer going round piercing 11 yr olds belly buttons and noses in their van also did a few dogy Tatts to he got a prison sentence,

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GilbGeekette · 15/10/2012 16:14

Pom - yes. Legal age is 18, with ID if there is any doubt. Have spoken to environmental health - need to put it in writing but they sounded... unsurprised. So have composed a letter and sent it off. It's not ideal, but at least I've done something.

101 is a new number that I keep seeing mentioned here. I'm off to ask Google what it is for future reference!

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FutureNannyOgg · 15/10/2012 16:14

It is entirely illegal. It actually qualifies as ABH as an under 18 cannot consent to tattooing. Some dodgy tattooists claim it is OK for 16 year olds with parental consent, but that just makes the parent an accessory to ABH.
If there was proof, he would definitely be shut down, and face criminal charges. With no direct proof he could still be inspected and I would bet there are other things not right going on there. If you don't follow the law about who to tattoo, then why worry about hygeine, safe disposal of sharps etc.
I would call the police non-emergency for advice, I have a feeling Environmental Health inspect tattoo parlours, but I'm not sure, the police would point you in the right direction

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MmeLindor · 15/10/2012 16:15

Report the tattooist, definitely.

Would it be a criminal offence? You could ask the police for advice on it.

I'd sit the girls down and tell them that you feel obliged to tell DD's friend's mum, but don't want to cause trouble, because you know that she is being very supportive at the moment. Tell her that if it were DD and another mum withheld info like that, that you would be very upset.

And stress that if she comes clean and admits it, it will be less hurtful to her mum than if someone else tells her, or she finds out by accident.

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McHappyPants2012 · 15/10/2012 16:15

101 is a non emergency police number.

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GilbGeekette · 15/10/2012 16:16

MrsJay - 11 year olds? Thats even worse Sad

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Mrsjay · 15/10/2012 16:16

Yes it is an offence to tattoo anybody under 18 I think they can get it done at 16 (notsure) with parental consent,

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GilbGeekette · 15/10/2012 16:17

MMeLindor. Ahhh - that's what I needed. Some way to not cause a rift and to give friend a way out before I talked to her mum. You hit the nail on the head - many thanks Thanks

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MmeLindor · 15/10/2012 16:18

And sorry to hear about your DD's dad (presumably your ex?).

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Mrsjay · 15/10/2012 16:18

MrsJay - 11 year olds? Thats even worse

It was awful goodness knows where they got the money from but the guy was really dodgy anyway he had been fired from the tattoo shop he worked at and he was going round putting holes and Ink on teenagers and 11 yr olds Shock

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mrscumberbatch · 15/10/2012 16:31

Report. It's 100% an offence to tattoo a minor. Take it to the papers etc.

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queenrollo · 15/10/2012 17:03

Mrsjay - just to clarify for you, the legal age for getting a tattoo is 18. It is NOT legal at 16 even with parental consent.

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FellatioNelson · 15/10/2012 17:08

I'd be very Hmm about any tattooist who said they'd checked and the client had said they were over 18. how hard is it to ask for ID? They do it in supermarkets for alcohol and cigarettes so why not with something this permanent and invasive? If the child has parental consent then I think the parent should have to go along with them and agree in person and show that they are the parent through ID.

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katkouta · 15/10/2012 17:10

Report, I had a tattoo at 13 :( I didn't know any better at that age. The tattooist I went to is no longer there but I'm still angry with him. There is no way I looked 18 at 13...

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Tiredmumno1 · 15/10/2012 17:34

trading standards consumer helpline

Give them a ring for advice

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Mrsjay · 15/10/2012 17:34

the legal age for getting a tattoo is 18. It is NOT legal at 16 even with parental consent.

Thank you for that I wasn't sure ,

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