Govt probe into lap-dancing clubs

Council feedback will affect clubs' fate

The Government is open to the idea of re-classifying lap-dancing clubs as sex encounter rather than entertainment venues.

This could happen if feedback from councils shows the Licensing Act gives insufficient power to "protect local communities".

Labour peer Lord Bassam told the House of Lords that some authorities "feel they are not adequately able to control these establishments" under the Licensing Act.

Bassam revealed: "We are in the process of providing additional guidance for local authorities on the Licensing Act and how it can be used to deal with lap-dancing clubs.

"As part of this process, we will be asking licensing authorities for feedback if they still have concerns. This will tell us if the controls under the Licensing Act are sufficient, or whether we need to do more to protect local communities.

"If we find that there is a need to provide licensing authorities with additional powers to deal with any nuisance or criminal activity associated with lap-dancing establishments, we will consider the full range of options.

"This could include changes to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, which

regulates sex-encounter establishments (such as sex shops and sex cinemas)."

Lap Dancing Association (LDA) spokeswoman Kate Nicholls said: "We don't see that there's any need for re-classification to address the concerns raised."

The LDA favours tightening up loopholes in the Licensing Act. For example, ensuring a major variation to a licence is always needed to host lap dancing.

The Guv'nor Claire Alexander

Tell your pub's story

We took over our beautiful 17th-century Cotswold stone inn, the Ebrington Arms, near Chipping Campden, in January last year.

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