Lap dancing and sexual violence

Published 02 April 2008

Lap dancing clubs are being marketed as more socially acceptable but Labour MP Celia Barlow explains how these clubs can impact negatively on communities

Lap dancing clubs are marketed as being a glamorous and socially acceptable night out, accompanied by professional advertising and in many cases an up-market ambiance. The realities, however, are very different.

These clubs normalise the idea of paying for sex and this is something which should not be acceptable in modern society. Research has linked lap-dancing to human trafficking, prostitution and an increase in sexual violence towards women. For example, after lap dancing clubs opened in Camden, incidents of rape rose by 50% with other types of sexual violence increasing by 57%. The existence of such clubs is a regressive step in what has been a progressive decade for women’s rights.

As a result of the 2003 Licensing Act, strip clubs have sprung up across the country due to loop holes in the legislation which make it easier for such clubs to get licences. Indeed, under the current rules, venues do not need special permission for nudity and the powers of local authorities to reject applications are severely restricted. Now, strip-clubs are licensed in the same way that cafes and ballet schools are.

Since 2005, Brighton & Hove has seen five such clubs open where none existed before. As more and more publicans become aware of the law, the number will continue to grow. In my own constituency, Hove, a local pub submitted a planning application to host regular exotic dance evenings. It is in a residential area and is located close to schools, churches and youth groups and, if allowed, would cause severe problems for local residents. I have been campaigning with local residents to defeat the application.

While the panel of local Councillors turned the license down, the landlords have appealed, and more often than not in similar cases, the rejection has been over turned by the Magistrates Court.

Hove is not alone in this battle. Tower Hamlets in London has had problems with such clubs being situated in the vicinity of Mosques, and in Durham a license application has gone to appeal for a planned lap dancing club in the shadow of Durham Cathedral. These clubs have sprung up in the hearts of our communities and it is right that these same communities have the final say.

In Parliament, a strong coalition of MPs and Peers, in conjunction with Object – the pressure group who campaign against the objectification of women and the normalisation of the porn and sex industries - and many local authorities, have come together to campaign for a review of the licensing legislation in relation to strip clubs. We want to see these clubs classified as “sex encounter establishments” which would make them part of the sex industry. These changes would allow local councils to closely regulate these venues and give power back to local communities.

I have held meetings with the relevant government ministers, as have many of my colleagues, and the response so far has been encouraging. As the minister responsible for licensing, Gerry Sutcliffe MP announced in an Adjournment Debate last month that he would review the current legislation in order to restrict the number of lap dancing clubs in local areas. Mr Sutcliffe also promised to consult with ministerial colleagues over a permanent change to the law.

This announcement can give us a great deal of encouragement, but we need to keep up the pressure to ensure this badly needed review takes place and that the laws are changed to protect our communities.

If you’d like to join the campaign, please http://www.celiabarlow.org.uk”>log-on to my website and sign the petition.

Celia Barlow is the Labour MP for Hove & Portslade.

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8 comments from readers

Nancy Platts
02 April 2008 at 14:30

I will be actively supporting Celia's campaign calling for a review of licensing legislation. I've spoken to men and women across Brighton who are appalled at the growth of lap dancing clubs here.

Lap-dancing clubs exploit women who rarely have any employment rights. They are usually self-employed and pay a fee to dance as well as providing their own outfits. There are often too many women so the only way to make money is to offer "private dances" and from here, lap-dancers can be pressured into offering sex. While clubs claim they are not part of the sex trade, bowls of condoms are often provided in the private dance rooms.

Lap-dance clubs normalise the sexual objectification of women and it's of great concern to me that research among men who might consider strip clubs and brothels distasteful or unacceptable can justify a visit to a lap-dance club as harmless fun.

A perverse effect of the 2003 Licensing Act means that they are licensed in the same way as cafes and pubs. I want them to be licensed as Sex Encounter Establishments so that Brighton and Hove City Council will be able to refuse applications.

I don't want lap-dancing clubs in Brighton. I want Brighton to be fun, not seedy - and certainly not a place where women feel exploited or unsafe.

Nancy Platts

Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion

explodingbadger
02 April 2008 at 14:44

"For example, after lap dancing clubs opened in Camden, incidents of rape rose by 50% with other types of sexual violence increasing by 57%"

Its well known that correlation does not mean causation. The idea that opening of the clubs CAUSED a 50% increase in rape is ridiculous.

I have no problem with sexual services and believe prostitution should be legalised taxed and regulated.

emmagold
03 April 2008 at 02:19

The opening of the clubs may not have caused the increase in incidence of rape in Camden (and presumably elsewhere) but the EXISTENCE of them may very well have played a major part in this. I strongly support the Object campaign; I have often made the point that objectifying women (or men, I suppose, but ARE men ever objectified?) makes it less unacceptable to use us for whatever purpose (usually sex of course) men want to. It's similar to (though probably less serious than) the appalling propaganda to which Germans were subjected, via the disgusting rag Die Sturmer, about Jews and other "untermenschen" during the Nazi era; it's obviously much easier to abuse someone if you don't see him/her as human.

Tyke
03 April 2008 at 07:25

The 50% rise number that idiots always quote is just nonsense, I got these numbers from the Police,

Rapes Clubs open

1999 46 2

2000 83 4

2001 79 5

2002 69 6

2003 47 6

2004 51 5

2005 72 5

If you pick any 2 years you can get any figure you want which is what Lilith did. This seems to have taken the role of " the big lie" in that it's always quoted when lap dance clubs are mentioned and people who want to believe think it's a fact when it isn't.

Tyke
03 April 2008 at 07:26

Sorry it's up twice, I had to register !

Tyke
03 April 2008 at 09:10

Re Nancy Platts,

"Bowls of condoms are often provided in private dance rooms", I must have been to 40 or 50 lap dance/strip clubs in the UK and have never once seen this. This sounds like another piece of nonsense from the likes of Lilith and Blindel.

Oh and while I'm on Brighton has 4 clubs open not 5 and 2 of them have been open for over 6 years, so thats 2 clubs since 2005 not 5.

_MAngelo
22 April 2008 at 23:44

I've never been to a Lap Dancing club, but I think comparing them to Nazi propoganda is a littel extreme.

Yes - men are objectified - there are regular and popular male strip shows, and it's well known that the female audiences at these are wild compared to male audiences at strip shows.

It seems to me that the people arguing against these places are not providing any evidence against them, but more saying "I belive they are bad, because I really believe they are bad". If I see actual empirical evidence that they do harm - I'll be happy to accept your arguments - otherwise you are just stating your own belief that "I don't like the idea of women doing lap dances"

shona
25 April 2008 at 13:20

This sort of exploitation should be banned altogether, this campaign seems to be closed now but if anyone has information on campaigns and protests on these sort of venues then ill be in the front line,especially in scotland as i cant find any campaigns against it up here! Im sick of seeing these places popping up, it depresses me and makes me feel very uncomfortable.