A GLASGOW tattoo artist has launched a campaign to change the licensing laws for tattooists across Scotland.

Sharon Fox, who owns the True Colour parlour on Paisley Road West, said she sees people every day who have had bad tattoos, including mis-spellings, poor artwork or tattoos that can lead to scarring or infection.

Her businesses offers a cover up and laser removal service and she says they are inundated with desperate and distraught people who have suffered at the hands of poorly trained tattooists.

Sharon, 34, from the South Side, said: "We see bad tattoos everyday or every other day.

"People are getting tattoos in the name of fashion and the decision to have one is something that should be taken seriously."

Under current legislation, anyone can apply to Glasgow City Council for a licence to perform tattoos without having to prove either their technical knowledge, skill or artistic ability.

Anyone who applies for a licence will have an inspection and interview from an environmental health officer to check infection control measures are in place.

A report will be then be submitted to the Licensing Committee for a decision.

Councillor Glenn Elder, a member of the city council's licensing committee, is backing Sharon's campaign and together they intend to lobby the Scottish Government for legislative reform.

They have gathered a wealth of evidence, including stories of people who have suffered at the hands of licensed tattooists, and information from medics who link tattooing to certain types of blood-borne viruses.

Councillor Elder said: "The legislation needs to be tightened up.

"People believe if they are going to a licensed premises that means they will get a high quality tattoo, but that is not always the case.

"Our aim is to strengthen the rules in order to restrict the bad practice of those who act irresponsibly and pay scant attention to current regulations."

Sharon opened her tattoo parlour two years ago, after training as an apprentice and working as a tattoo artist for 12 years.

She believes the licensing system at the moment is misleading, as customers assume that if a tattooist is licensed then they are qualified to carry out safe and high quality tattoos.

She says inexperienced tattooists are able to open up relatively cheaply in the back shops of other businesses.

Sharon said: "We have worked really hard to improve the overall reputation of the industry.

"But licensing is taking that away and dragging that back down again.

"It is giving people with no experience free rein to do what they want, and it is the public that suffer.

"It is high time the industry was properly regulated."

Morag Sangster, Scottish representative of the Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union, said: "We would welcome a change in legislation to ensure that tattooing and piercing only take place in treatment rooms that are professional and of a high standard."

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "Tattoo parlours are inspected as part of the application process and operators interviewed to establish their competence, with a particular emphasis on infection control.

"The council has received barely a handful of complaints in relation to tattoos or tattooists in recent years.

"Regulating the artistic merit of a tattoo is not a feature of the legislation and is therefore not within the power of the council."

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk