1. makes it an offence for someone other than a duly qualified medical practitioner (or a person working under his direction) performing a tattoo for medical reasons, to tattoo a person under the age of eighteen; it is to be defence that the person charged had reasonable cause to believe that the person tattooed was of or over the age of eighteen, and did in fact so believe.
2. lays down a penalty on summary conviction of a fine not exceeding £100.
3. defines "tattoo" as the insertion into the skin of any colouring material designed to leave a permanent mark.
4. deals with short title, commencement and extent.

The Act, which does not extend to Northern Ireland, received the Royal Assent on 16 May 1969, and came into force on that date.

For parliamentary debates, see HC Vol 776, Col 266; Vol 780, Col 1944.

SCOTLAND

The Act applies to Scotland without modification.

1. PROHIBITION OF TATTOOING MINORS

It shall be an offence to tattoo a person under the age of eighteen except when the tattoo is performed for medical reasons by a duly qualified medical practitioner or by a person working under his direction, but it shall be a defence for a person charged to show that at the time the tattoo was performed he had reasonable cause to believe that the person tattooed was of or over the age of eighteen and did in fact so believe.

2. PENALTIES

Any person committing such an offence shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, or, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.

3. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Act "tattoo" shall mean the insertion into the skin of any colouring material designed to leave a permanent mark.

4. SHORT TITLE, COMMENCEMENT & EXTENT

1. This Act may be cited as the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969.


2. This Act shall come into force at the expiration of one month, beginning with the date it is passed.
3. This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.