Should DBS Checks Be Mandatory for Tattoo Artists in England?

Tattooing is a highly personal service. It involves close physical contact, long one-to-one appointments, and a high level of trust between artist and client. Yet in England, there is currently no legal requirement for tattoo artists to undergo a DBS check before being licensed.

That gap has recently come under renewed scrutiny, following the launch of a public campaign calling for DBS checks to be made mandatory for tattoo artists in England. Something that is already a legal requirement in Wales. As the debate gathers pace, it raises broader questions about safeguarding, consistency across the UK, and how licensing frameworks should evolve.

The Current Rules in England

In England, tattoo artists must register with their local authority under local licensing schemes, typically focused on public health and hygiene. Councils assess matters such as premises standards, infection control, and equipment safety.

What these schemes do not require, however, is a criminal record check. There is no statutory obligation for a council to request a DBS certificate when granting or renewing a tattoo licence, regardless of the nature of the work or the level of client interaction.

This means that, from a legal standpoint, an individual could be licensed to tattoo members of the public without any formal assessment of their criminal history, even where convictions may be relevant to public safety or safeguarding considerations.

The Campaign to Change the Rules in England

That absence of mandatory checks is at the centre of a growing campaign calling on the UK Government to introduce compulsory DBS checks for all licensed tattoo artists in England. Tattoo artists Matthew Castel and Natasha Thompson, from Nottingham, are some of the founders of the ‘Draw the Line’ campaign which is campaigning for the change.

The campaign is supported by a parliamentary petition, which argues that tattooing involves situations comparable to other regulated activities where DBS checks are already standard practice. Petition organisers point to the level of trust placed in practitioners, the private nature of appointments, and the potential vulnerability of clients as reasons why safeguarding checks should form part of the licensing process.

While some tattoo artists do voluntarily apply for Basic DBS Checks to try an alleviate some of their customers concerns, they aren’t currently eligible for higher levels of criminal record check.

The petition also highlights Wales as a working example, suggesting that a DBS requirement is both practical and proportionate. At the time of writing, the petition is continuing to gather signatures, with the aim of triggering a formal government response and, ultimately, parliamentary debate.

The issue moved further into the public spotlight after campaign organisers spoke to BBC, bringing national attention to what they see as a safeguarding blind spot.

In a BBC report, campaigner Miss Thompson explained why the absence of DBS checks is a concern. Speaking to the BBC, Vaughan said:

“When you're getting a tattoo, it is a vulnerable experience for clients, especially in intimate placements … You could be getting tattooed on your thighs or sternum and breasts. You're exposed in that situation, and you need to feel safe."

"If you are a nurse, care-worker or teacher, you need these checks because you're dealing with vulnerable people …The same should be true for tattooing. We are not trying to penalise people who were convicted of offences that aren't relevant, or someone who made a petty mistake when they were young.

"We are focusing on certain kinds of offences which threaten client safety. Councils can then make their own decision on whether to offer a licence to an artist with [previous convictions]."

She also pointed to the situation in Wales, arguing that the existence of a structured licensing and DBS framework there demonstrates that safeguarding checks can be introduced without undermining legitimate businesses or professional artists.

What Wales Is Doing Differently

Since late 2024, Wales has operated a mandatory licensing scheme for “special procedures”, which includes tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis. Under this framework, anyone performing these procedures must hold a licence issued by their local authority.

Crucially, the Welsh system requires councils to assess whether an applicant is fit to perform a special procedure, and statutory guidance explicitly allows for criminal record information to be considered as part of that decision-making process.

The guidance makes clear that a DBS certificate issued under the Police Act 1997 may be used by local authorities when assessing an applicant’s suitability. This embeds safeguarding considerations directly into the licensing process, alongside public health and safety requirements.

Local authorities in Wales must also approve premises, maintain registers of licensed practitioners, and apply ongoing licence conditions — creating a more structured, transparent system for both practitioners and the public.

While reactions within the Welsh tattoo community have been mixed, particularly around cost and administration, the framework demonstrates that a DBS-inclusive licensing model can operate at scale.

The campaign to make DBS checks mandatory for tattoo artists in England raises broader questions about how safeguarding is applied outside traditional care, education and healthcare settings. At present, England relies on health-focused licensing schemes that do not formally consider criminal history, despite the highly personal nature of tattooing.

Whether England follows suit remains to be seen.

You can view and sign the petition here:
👉 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/747281