Crackdown on rogue Botox clinics targeting children in Blackpool

The NHS says Botox can only be prescribed face-to-face by qualified medics

Rogue traders offering lip filler and Botox treatments to children in a seaside town are to be targeted.

Blackpool Council has received £8,500 from the government to protect under-18s from unscrupulous practitioners.

Jennifer Clayton, the authority's head of public protection, said the money would be used "to look at aesthetics and how that can be controlled".

The government has allocated £1.4m for English councils dealing with the issue.

Botulinum toxin injections, such as Botox, can temporarily relax facial muscles to smooth out lines.

The NHS said it should only be prescribed by qualified medical practitioners in a face-to-face meeting.

Since 2021, it has been illegal for under-18s to receive botulinum toxin or filler injections for cosmetic reasons in England.

In Blackpool, the fund will be used to "carry our visits and test purchasing scenarios… ensuring procedures are in place to protect children", the council said.

Work is also continuing to ensure tattoo studios in the town are operating properly.

The Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme was re-launched in 2022.

There are currently 26 tattoo studios included in the scheme, with newer studios awaiting an assessment by health and safety officers.