(AUS) AUSTRALIA - Treating tattooists like criminals won't stop organised crime

OFF THE WIRE
The manager of a local tattoo parlour says treating tattooists like criminals won't work to crackdown on organised crime.

Under new licensing laws, NSW tattoo operators and employees can be slugged with fines of up to $11,000 a day if they are not licensed by October.

In an effort to crack down on bikie related crime the New South Wales government has introduced mandatory licensing laws for tattoo operators and employees.

Licences must be approved by the NSW Department of Fair Trading and authorised by the states' Commissioner of Police, Andrew Scipione.

Scott Raymond from Albury's Wizards of Ink Tattoo says the laws will not work and singling out the tattoo industry is not fair.

"To clean up the industry from outlawed bikie gangs and crime, god knows how a licence is going to make it any different," he said.

"The Tattooist who work here have had to have finger prints and a police check before they get issued a license to work in a tattoo shop - which is ridiculous to me."

"Because anyone who gets a tattoo is over 18 - we're not working with children."

Mr Raymond says the new laws are placing a huge burden on the industry's small businesses.

The Department of Fair Trading says licences for operators cost $2094 and individual licences cost $700.

Scott Raymond says despite putting in applications six months ago only one out of three of his staff members have had their licence approved.

He says his staff are getting anxious and he feels they have been left in the dark.

"It's been hard, even the tattooists have found it hard to get all their money together we've all struggled and managed to get our payments up there," he said.

"It's just taken so long to find out and its getting closer and closer and everyone's a little bit nervous."

"They're wondering why it's taking so long and why only one of our tattooists have got the licence so far."

"It's all just a bit nerve-wracking waiting to see whether you are going to get a licence or not."

The Albury tattooist says the regulations might help crack down on dangerous backyard trade in the industry.

Mr Raymond says his business has had to fork out over $4000 for the licences, which he hopes will help clean up the industry.

"I think it's a great thing to stop backyard tattooing and to stop people giving diseases and infections to other people," he said.

"Because you have to be tattooed in a shop that's been passed by the health department and passed by the council - you can't do it in your kitchen or your spare bedroom at home.

"But as for stopping criminal enterprises I don't think it's going to work, no."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-20/treating-tattooist-like-criminals-won27t-work-to-crackdown-gan/4898544?&section=news