The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) and Environmental Health professionals across the UK have welcomed the decision of Manchester Civil Justice Centre to issue a court order banning Ricky Sawyer from conducting or facilitating cosmetic procedures anywhere in England and Wales until 27 May 2028.

 

Nationwide Prohibition Following Civil Action

The injunction, secured by Trafford Council, prohibits Mr Sawyer from performing any invasive cosmetic procedures, including the so-called liquid Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), and from possessing surgical tools or prescription-only medications associated with such treatments, unless prescribed for his personal use. A power of arrest has been attached to key terms of the injunction.

The case was pursued under civil enforcement legislation available to local authorities, and the outcome demonstrates the growing effectiveness of collaboration between environmental health officers, local authorities, and national regulatory bodies in upholding public safety in the aesthetics sector.

 

Shocking Evidence Presented to Court

The court heard extensive evidence detailing the extent of harm caused by unsafe procedures. According to BBC reporting, graphic photographs and video footage were submitted showing the severe injuries suffered by a number of individuals. These included reports of sepsis, necrosis, and lasting trauma.

In granting the injunction, Judge McAdam acknowledged the severity of the harm and stated that the order’s broad scope was necessary to prevent further injury to the public.

 

The Need for National Licensing

The case underscores the urgent need for the implementation of a robust national licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. The cosmetic interventions landscape has evolved dramatically, with rapid growth in availability, marketing on social media, and increasing complexity of procedures.

Without national standards or licensing, it has fallen to local authorities and professional bodies to address serious risks on a case-by-case basis.

The JCCP supports the Government’s commitment to introduce a national licensing scheme, as proposed under the Health and Care Act 2022. When implemented, this system will:

• Ensure that only qualified and appropriately trained practitioners are authorised to deliver high-risk cosmetic treatments
• Mandate comprehensive insurance and indemnity coverage
• Require that procedures be performed in suitably hygienic and safe environments
• Provide a mechanism for monitoring compliance and responding to public complaints

Such a system is essential to uphold consistent safety standards across the country and to protect members of the public from harm.

 

Guidance That Enabled Enforcement

This landmark legal action was supported by the October 2024 Guidance for enforcement by Local Authority authorised officers on buttock augmentation and body contouring procedures. The guidance was developed in response to mounting reports of patient harm and provides a clear regulatory framework for enforcement under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The document identifies procedures such as buttock, breast and genital augmentation using dermal fillers or autologous fat as surgical in nature, and asserts that such interventions should be restricted to appropriately trained and regulated medical professionals operating in clinical environments.

The guidance has been instrumental in providing Environmental Health Officers with the clarity and confidence to issue Prohibition Notices and pursue enforcement where risk to public safety exists.

 

Quote from Andrew Rankin, Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners Trustee

“This outcome is testament to the hard work and commitment to public safety of Environmental Protection Officers nationally, and it demonstrates the value of the coordinated approach that was necessary in this instance.”

 

Quote from Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

“This injunction illustrates how collaboration to produce clear enforcement guidance can help local authorities to act swiftly and decisively to protect the public.”

 

Collaborative National Effort

The JCCP guidance was published in collaboration with the following organisations, who continue to play a central role in safeguarding the cosmetic sector:

•              Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)

•              British Beauty Council (BBCo)

•              British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN)

•              Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA)

•              British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)

•              British Association of Dermatologists (BAD)

•              British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM)

•              Royal College of Surgeons of England

•              Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

•              Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow