MPs vote to support lap dancing club licensing reforms : Object and Fawcett
On 19th January 2009 cross-party MPs voted overwhelmingly to support the Government’s proposed changes to the way lap dancing clubs are licensed. The new Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling MP, spoke strongly in favour of the reforms, as did MPs Lynda Waltho, Roberta Blackman-Woods and Andrew Slaughter.
Lap dancing clubs are currently licensed under the 2003 Licensing Act in the same way as cafes and karaoke bars – with a Premises License. This lax regime has led to the number of lap dancing clubs in the UK doubling since 2004 to over 300 establishments, with local communities powerless to stop the spread.
Following an intensive nine month campaign led by the Fawcett Society and Object, the Government is set to hand controls back to local people through the Policing and Crime Bill (PCB), by licensing lap dancing clubs as ‘Sex Encounter Venues’ (5). This will enable local authorities to control the number and location of lap dancing clubs in their area, and give more local people a say in licensing decisions.
Dr Katherine Rake, Director of the Fawcett Society, commented on the vote by MPs:
“We welcome parliamentary support for these reforms. Lap dancing clubs are sexist and promote the degrading view that women are sex objects. All women have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to feel safe in public spaces, yet areas around the clubs can become ‘no-go’ areas for women.
“The licensing reforms will enable local authorities to control and regulate lap dancing clubs, and enable local communities to claim back their high-streets. It is crucial that Parliament ensures these reforms are robust, comprehensive, and deliver change to all local communities.”
Dr Sasha Rakoff, Director of Object, commented on the vote by MPs:
“We welcome the support shown by MPs for reform of lap dancing club licensing. The current system has acted as a green light to the industry – with a new lap dancing venue opening, on average, every week since May 2008 alone. It has also acted as a green light to sexism and ‘sex object culture’ – a culture in which women are increasingly portrayed as sex objects, not people.
“Changing the law will allow local councils to consider gender equality when licensing such venues and will restore democracy to the licensing process. Widespread support for the reforms – from the public, local councils, Local Government Association and women’s rights organisations – has been reflected by today’s debate which highlighted the need for thorough and far-reaching reforms”.
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Notes
The Policing and Crime introduced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP, received its second reading in the House of Commons on 19/1/09. Key moments in the campaign included the following:
- 18/6/08: a 10 Minute Rule Bill was introduced by Robert Blackman-Woods MP (City of Durham) calling for lapdance clubs to be licensed as Sex Encounter Establishments. The Bill was unopposed and received cross-party support
- 18/6/08: The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport began a consultation with all local authorities in England and Wales on whether they wanted greater powers to control and regulate lap dancing clubs. 75% of responding local authorities asked for such powers.
- 21/9/08: The Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith announced at the Labour Party Conference that the Government would grant local people a greater say in stopping lap dancing clubs opening: http://www.labour.org.uk/jacqui_smith_speech,2008-09-21
- 3/12/08: Plans to tighten the licensing of lap dancing clubs were announced in the Queen’s Speech
Lap dancing clubs will be licensed as Sex Encounter Venues under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. This will require lap dancing club operators to obtain two licences; one for the sale of alcohol (Premises License), and a second for live visual performances given for the purpose of sexual stimulation, which are provided for the direct or indirect financial gain of the operator (Sex Encounter Venue licence).
