A man has been fined nearly £7,000 for operating unlicensed tattoo studios in Croydon.

Croydon Magistrates Court found Terry Brown guilty of operating Tales of Inksipiration on Shirley Road and Godstone Road on September 2, 2024, without a Special Treatments Licence.

The court found him guilty in his absence, and he was fined and ordered to pay costs to the total of £6,722 for six offences.

Businesses that provide special treatments, which include massage, acupuncture, manicure, tattooing, body piercing, sauna and light and electrotherapy, are required to hold a Special Treatments Licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991.

It is an offence to offer licensable treatments or advertise them without having been granted a licence from the council.

Licence holders must comply with the conditions that accompany their licence, which covers hygiene and safety.

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said: “I want to make sure that Croydon is a great place for businesses to operate and a safe place for residents to live.

“Residents have a right to expect that businesses operate within the law and are not putting them at risk.

“Special treatment licenses are there to make sure businesses that offer certain treatments offer them safely.

“If they fail to do so, we will not hesitate to take action.”