A TATTOO parlour in Darwen has become the first studio in the North West to be given a licence under new laws.

Diamond Dozen Tattoo Studio is the first in the region to opt into the new scheme, which is designed to make more reputable businesses stand out from the rest.

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Jayke Cox, 25, a co-owner of the business in Duckworth Street, said the licence would make it stand out from others.

He said: “It’s fantastic that we have become the first studio in the region to opt into this new scheme.

“It will really put us out there.

“It’s a long process that you have to go through to get your license now and you really have to prove yourself as professionals.

“We pride ourselves on being extremely clean and careful about what we do. We are artists not just tattooists.

“It is massively important to do tattooing right, it is an art at the end of the day and we do not want people paying lots of money and then having problems with their tattoo.

“This new scheme is to ensure that there are no rogue tattoo shops in the North West and will be implemented to the surrounding areas.

“It is also to help the public decide on what type of shop they are walking into.”

Sections 14 and 15 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982 have recently been amended enforcing stricter rules on the registration of tattoo businesses to ensure the practice is being done professionally and correctly.

Diamond Dozen has only been in the town for just over a month and is the first business that Mr Cox and his co-owner Nathan Haworth, 28, have had together.

The studio is described as ‘custom’ meaning that both Mr Cox and Mr Haworth prefer to produce bespoke artwork for each customer rather than them picking out a design from a book.

Mr Cox said: “We are a tattoo studio not a tattoo shop. We like to do everything from scratch meaning that the customers can come in a picture or anything they want and we can turn it into a tattoo.”

Cllr Brian Taylor, leader of Darwen Town Council, said: “I am very pleased for this business and I am very supportive of laws that will make sure tattoo studios are acting professionally.

“A tattoo is for life and that must be taken seriously and I’m glad that this business has received a license to say it is doing that.”