Lap dancing club owners petition Gordon Brown

Nov 3 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

OWNERS of lap dancing clubs across Britain have joined forces to oppose attempts by a North MP to make it more difficult for them to obtain licences.

Next week lap dancers are to hand in a petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown urging him not to reclassify them as sex establishments.

They stress that while lap dancing is a sexy industry, sex is not for sale.

Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for Durham, has won Government support for her campaign to change the law to make it easier for local councils to refuse licences for clubs where customers pay to watch semi-naked women dancing.

Labour MP Dr Blackman-Woods introduced a Private Members Bill in the summer seeking to reclassify lap dancing clubs as sex encounter establishments, which would give councils more power to control numbers and locations.

But Kate Nicholls, secretary of the Lap Dancing Association (LDA) yesterday said: Britain's lap dancing clubs have been the subject of political and media debate in recent months.

The LDA shares concerns about unregulated or inadequately controlled establishments offering lap dancing. The LDA proposes a mandatory code of operating standards for the industry.

The LDA offers its own code of practice as a blueprint for this. A code of practice which would ensure any licensed premises offering adult entertainment must adhere to principles of professionalism, safety and transparency, would go some lengths to addressing residual issues within the industry.

Under the legislation proposed by Dr Blackman-Woods local authorities would, she claims, find it easier to refuse licensing applications for lap dancing clubs.

But the LDA insist that local authorities do have the power to reject a licensing application for a lap-dancing club, and quote an example in her own Durham constituency.

Ms Nicholls said: By way of example, in a recent case in Durham, a council ignored objections from local residents and the Magistrates Court reversed their decision, showing how effective and influential local complaints can be.

The reality is that planning and licensing restrictions give local authorities and local communities full powers of consultation, complaint and control.

She added: Lap dancing clubs are a small part of the vibrant UK leisure and entertainment industry. They are not sex encounter establishments. Our performers are financially independent, self-employed women. They are not sex workers.

We do not condone illegal activity. Any demand for sexual services from a customer will result in eviction from the premises. Performers are clearly warned that making any inappropriate arrangements will lead to dismissal from the club.

The reality is that, while lap dancing is a sexy industry, sex is not for sale.