MPs to debate lap dancing licensing reforms
The Policing and Crime Bill will receive its 3rd Reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday 19th May. OBJECT, Fawcett Society, human rights organisations, local authorities and MPs are calling for the reforms to be universally applied across England and Wales and for the removal of a frequency loophole. The reforms will allow councils to licence lap dancing clubs as Sex Encounter Venues - giving better protection to both women working in lap dancing clubs and local communities, who will for the first time be able to raise concerns of gender equality in licensing. However the current proposals are 'opt-in' only. This will lead to a 'postcode lottery' in which only some areas have adequate controls over lap dancing clubs and a patchwork licensing regime likely to be manipulated by operators.
It is crucial that MPs vote for Amendments 198/199 tabled by MPs Lynda Waltho and Roberta Blackman-Woods, which will ensure that lap dancing reforms deliver real change. Read our briefing here and take action by contacting your MP to ensure they attend the 3rd Reading and vote in support of Amendments 198/199.
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