‘Piercing law almost impossible to enforce’
Tuesday 26th January 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
IT IS ILLEGAL for under-18s to get anything more than their ears pierced in Guernsey – but it is almost impossible to prosecute, according to deputy chief environmental health officer Tony Rowe.
The Tattooing, Piercing, Acupuncture and Electrolysis (Guernsey and Alderney) Law, 2000, states that it is a criminal offence to carry out tattooing or body piercing on anyone under the age of 18.
Only lower-lobe ear piercings can be done under the age of 16 – and that must be with the written consent of a parent.
‘While it is illegal, it is very difficult to get a prosecution because the person who was pierced would have to say who did it and often they don’t want to get the person in trouble,’ said Mr Rowe (pictured).
Health and Social Services registers premises and people offering piercing.
‘We have confidence in local businesses that are registered,’ said Mr Rowe, but added that it was those that are not that posed the problem.
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If the law does not allow this type of piercing then the person who did the piercing should be identified and prosecuted.
If Shannon’s mother refuses to say who did the piercing then she should be prosecuted. She is the legal guardian of Shannon and should not have allowed an illegal act to have carried out on her daughter.
If it is illegal then surely the Head of the school has every right to exclude the child. I would have also thought that Social Services would be interested if this is an illegal act carried out on an underage child.
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The plot thickens…
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I thought it was only illegal with out parental/guardians consent? as at each tattoo/piercing parlour a ‘release’ form must be signed, if jounger than 18 then a parent/guardian must sign….
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@GGG
I agree with you completely!!!
What is the point of having a law enforced if they can’t act upon it because nobody will name names, ridiculous!!!
At the end of the day, it there are piercing places over here that are carrying out piercings on under age kids then they should be closed down!!!
The above article really does not encourage children to abide by the rules as it seems to be saying that ‘go and get a piercing coz we can’t do anything about it,’ pathetic!!!!
I’ve seen the results of some piercings gone wrong and believe me it’s not pretty!!!!
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