You can't beat the British tattoo

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It's hot and at last we're able to slip off our sweaters and expose ourselves to a few rays. The summer striptease will, though, also result in showing off something many people prefer to remain under wraps - a tattoo.

According to prison doctor Theodore Dalrymple, Brits are the most heavily tattooed folk in Europe - and celebrities are at the forefront of the trend. But why do we do it? Dr Raj Persaud, consultant psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital, believes tattoos can be "badges of communication".

It's unclear exactly what David Beckham is saying with a guardian angel and his son's name "Brooklyn" engraved on his back, or Tim Henman's benign smiley face on his arm (a message for his sponsors, Adidas?). Vinnie Jones's Welsh dragon on his chest and Leeds United on his leg are easier to fathom, and footballer-cum-TV presenter Ian Wright MBE is obviously a biking fan with that fierce Harley Davidson adorning his thigh.

Dr Persaud explains: "Tattoos can be a symbol of belonging to a certain gang. They are painful to get and difficult to remove, so going away to get a tattoo is a sign of your seriousness and intent. To have your football team tattooed on you is a symbol of permanence and pure loyalty - it's not a sign you're going to change your team next season."

Permanence, alas, is one of the problems of a tattoo (as Vinnie found out when he left Leeds and went to Sheffield United). Johnny Depp has perhaps regretted the "Winona Forever" on his arm; ditto Patsy Kensit's neat ankle shamrock (with the now dated "Liam" next to it). Let's hope the marriage of Angelina Jolie, daubed with a dragon and husband's name "Billy Bob", stays solid.

And as for Home Secretary Jack Straw's belief that tattoos are the brand of the football hooligan, perhaps he ought to consider world-famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie, who sports a thistle on her shoulder, or Boy George's rather pretty illustrated neck. Dr Persaud adds: "Tattoos are the middle-class vogue at the moment - people trying to appear hard and a bit edgy and rebellious." Which might explain Sporty Spice's dragon on her leg and phoenix on her back, or Robbie Williams's fear-some-looking lion covering his entire right shoulder, but doesn't quite answer the case of "Butterfly Art Barbie", launched last year to shocked mums worldwide. An edgy and rebellious doll?

 

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