If you wish to carry out any of the following services, both you and the premises you are operating within need to be registered with Crawley Borough Council. This is a requirement under The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982:

• acupuncture
• tattooing
• cosmetic piercing
• electrolysis
• semi-permanent skin colouring
• microblading 

The aim of registering skin-piercing activities is to protect members of the public from the transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C and other infections.

Both the person performing the treatment and the premises must be registered.

It is an offence under Section 16(1) of the Act for any person to conduct skin piercing activities without being registered or on premises that are not registered with Crawley Borough Council, as required by Section 14(1) or (2) or Section 15(1) or (2). Any person who contravenes this requirement shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £1000.

It is an offence under Section 16(2) of the Act for any person to contravene a byelaw made under Sections 14 and 15. Any person who contravenes this requirement shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £1000. If a person registered under Section 14 or 15 of the Act is found to contravene a byelaw, the court may, instead of or in addition to imposing a fine, order the suspension or cancellation of their personal registration. Any court that orders the suspension or cancellation of a person’s registration may also order the suspension or cancellation of any premises registration, for the premises where the contravention of the byelaw took place, if the person who committed the offence occupies them.

It is an offence under Section 16(9) of the Act for a registered person not to display their certificate of registration and the byelaws in a prominent position at the place where the activities take place. Such person(s) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £500.

Officers from Crawley Borough Council’s Licensing team will carry out an initial inspection of the person or premises before a registration is approved. Once registered, council officers will inspect the person or premises as and when required to check compliance with the regulatory regime.

Email environmentalservices@crawley.gov.uk if you:

• are ready to send in your completed application form(s) with the required additional documentation
• have a complaint about a relevant business
• require further advice and/or information