Noctis: licensing act problems outweigh benefits

The problems of the Licensing Act far outweigh the benefits, according to Noctis executive director Paul Smith.

Speaking at the final session of the Licensing Act Inquiry, Smith said: "The problems of the Licensing Act 2003 outweigh the benefit".

Asked whether there had been an increase in public disorder as a result of the Licensing Act, he said this was "highly debabatable", adding that "alcohol being consumed in licensed premised" was not the issue.

He said this was since most disorder occurs between 3am and 6am, when "there are few people out, not a huge number of busineses operating, and when one in four people are going out for a nightcap or on their way to friends' houses".

Jeremy Allen, legal director at Noctis, referred to media coverage of all-inclusive alcohol deals, adding that there is "no suggestion by police that these aren't being properly run — that demonstrates the way late-night operators look after their customers."

Allen rubbished claims that the 2003 act had reduced bureaucracy and saved money. He said that since every change to a licence must be publicly advertised that the "major beneficiary of the Licensing Act was arguably the newspaper industry".

He commended local authorities who were more flexible in their approach and said he hoped changes to minor variations would be implemented quickly once it had passed before Parliament.

Lap dancing clubs​

Object, an equality advocacy group represented by Sandrine Leveque, criticised the Licensing Act 2003 for not giving councils adequate powers to control lapdancing venues. She said: "You don't have to go into a lapdancing club to appreciate that they have an impact on the community." She called for sex-encounter establishment licences to be applied to the venues, since, she said, they provide "visual entertainment for sexual stimulation".

Peter Stringfellow, who employs 400 dancers at his famous London 'Gentlemens' clubs' disagreed. He said: "We don't need any more legislation, the correct legislation was brought in in 2003."

He said this would not be a Government problem if councils understood the powers they already have — he cited how Westminster council use a "no-nudity" clause to deter lapdancing licence applications. He said a sex-encounter establishment licence in London's West End would cost £30,000, and added: "For what are you going to stick that on me?"

Kate Nicholls, secretary of the Lapdancing Association, said: "The Licensing Act is the best way of regulating a multi-faceted industry."

She added: "It is by no means perfect, but it is 'fit-for purpose".