TATTOO parlours across the city have been raided by NSW Police and the Department of Fair Trading using new powers allowing them to enter parlours without a search warrant.

The tattoo parlours targeted were based in the Sydney CBD, Kings Cross, Newtown, West Ryde, Merrylands and Crows Nest areas.

Police from the Gangs Squad’s Strike Force Raptor and the Police Dog Unit swooped on the parlours over the weekend charging several known bikies with a number of offences.

Department of Fair Trading officers were also with police.

The owner of a Crows Nest tattoo parlour, a 28-year-old man, was served with three court attendance notices for the offences of possess prescribed restricted substance, goods in custody and possess non-firearm for discharging irritant. The charges relate to a car stop conducted by police last month. He is due to face Parramatta Local Court on 18 August 2012.

Two members of the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang were spoken to outside a tattoo parlour at Newtown and issued warnings for consorting.

Health and hygiene issues were identified in a Sydney CBD tattoo parlour.

The weekend’s operation was also an opportunity to explain the new licensing requirements under the Act which will come into effect later this year.

Under new laws tattoo parlour operators and individuals performing body art tattooing procedures will need to obtain a licence issued by NSW Fair Trading.

All licence applicants will have their finger and palm prints taken to confirm identity and will need to provide information on their close associates and employees.

All applications will be reviewed by the NSW Police Force, with the Commissioner of Police to make a determination on whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence or whether it would be contrary to the public interest for the licence to be granted.

If the Commissioner issues an adverse security determination the licence will not be granted.

Individuals operating businesses or performing body art tattooing procedures without a licence will be in breach of the Act and may be subject to heavy penalties.

(Individuals performing cosmetic tattooing procedures are exempted from licensing requirements.)

Further operations by the NSW Police Force and NSW Fair Trading will be conducted.

Originally published as Tatt parlours raided with new powers