Victory for campaigners as Government announces reforms to lap dancing club licensing

On the eve (2/12/08) of the Queen’s speech the Government has announced changes to the way lap dancing clubs are to be licenced, following an intensive 9-month campaign by the Fawcett Society and Object.

In the Government’s ‘Fair Rules for Local Communities’ strategy published on the eve of the Queen’s speech it is announced that lap dancing clubs will be licensed as ‘sex establishments’.

Lap dancing clubs are currently licensed under the 2003 Licensing Act in the same way as cafes and pubs – with a Premises License. This has led to the number of lap dancing clubs in the UK doubling since 2004 to over 300 clubs. And whilst campaigners have been urging the Government to tighten licensing laws, the spread of lap dancing clubs and problems experienced by communities have continued unabated:

• Since May 2008 a new lap dancing venue has opened every week (‘A Growing Tide Update: the Need to Reform Licensing of Lap dancing clubs’, Object, December 2008)

• There have been unsuccessful challenges to lap dancing club license applications in 10 localities

• There are at least 2 ongoing challenges to lap dancing club license applications

The Government plans to reform legislation so lap dancing clubs are licensed with a Sex Encounter Establishment licence – like sex shops and sex cinemas – as Fawcett and Object have been calling for. This will enable local authorities to apply greater controls and restrictions to lap dancing clubs, and will enable local people to have a greater say in whether lap dancing clubs can open in their community.

Responding to the Government’s announcement, Dr Katherine Rake, Director of the Fawcett Society, said:

“This is a victory for feminist campaigners who have exposed the inherent sexism of lap dancing clubs. Lap dancing clubs normalise the sexual objectification of women, and areas around the clubs can become ‘no-go’ areas for women. Yet all women have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to feel safe in public spaces. 

“We applaud the Government for heeding the public’s concerns. Sex Encounter Establishment licensing will enable local authorities to control and regulate lap dancing clubs, and enable local communities to claim back their high-streets.”    

Dr Sasha Rakoff, Director of Object said:

“We greatly welcome the Government’s announcement that lap dancing clubs are to be licensed in the same way as sex shops and sex cinemas. This is a common sense measure which will empower local communities to control lap dancing clubs in their area and close a loophole that sees such venues boxed into the same system as restaurants and cafes. The loophole has seen the number of lap dancing clubs rocket, with a new venue opening virtually every week. Yet lap dancing clubs are not just ‘harmless fun’. They promote gender stereotypes and attitudes that say it is acceptable to see women as sex objects, not real people.

“The current licensing regime has not provided a framework for community and equality objectives to be considered and a string of club openings have gone against the wishes of local people. The new system will tip the balance back in the favour of local communities and allow gender equality objectives to be brought to the table in licensing hearings. It is a crucial measure which has widespread backing”.

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

A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in this campaign - public support has proved crucial.