Commentary on Sections Part 5.Intimate Piercing Section 96 - What is an intimate piercing?
192.An intimate piercing is a body piercing performed on an intimate body part. The definition of “body piercing” is provided in section 94 and means the perforation (including puncture or incision) of an individuals’ skin or mucous membrane, with a view to enabling jewellery or another object to be attached to, implanted in or removed from the individual’s body. Objects will be prescribed in regulations and may include, for example, a bead.
193.The intimate body parts are listed in subsection (2) and include the breast (including the nipple and areola), buttocks, genitals and tongue. The list captures parts of both the male and female anatomy. Mucous membranes are included in the definition as the surface of intimate body parts such as the vulva may comprise skin or mucous membranes.
194.The offences created by this section do not apply to intimate piercings of a person under the age of 18 if they occur in the course of a medical procedure carried out by a registered medical practitioner, a registered nurse or a registered midwife. A medical procedure is defined as any procedure carried out for the purposes of or in connection with the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of disease, ill-health, disability or other physical or mental abnormality, or birth control.