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New licensing laws 'allow councils to clamp down on lap dancing'
Tue 06 Apr 2010
Measures that require lap dancing clubs in England to apply for a new licence have been hailed by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Under the new laws, lap dancing venues will be classified as sex establishments, which means they will have to reapply for their licence in order to stage the activity.
According to Richard Kemp, deputy chairman of the LGA, councils have in the past had limited powers to stop lap dancing clubs opening in suburban and residential areas.
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Kemp stated that as a result, "quite lurid displays" have been staged in places where families live, go to school and attend church.
However, he said the new rules will enable local authorities to address the issue and take "firm action" against lap dancing.
Meanwhile, the Lap Dancing Association has said the new licence will add to the cost of running a lap dancing establishment.
Spokesman Chris Knight stated that this could lead to local authorities seeing it as "a bit of a golden carrot".
The government first unveiled the new measures, which came into force on April 6th 2010, back in February.
Robert Botkai, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, said: "For further information on this change to the law relating to lap dancing please see view our Briefings."
