West Ham MP, Lyn Brown welcomes the Labour Government’s recent plans to tighten licensing laws for lap dancing clubs.

As part of the Government’s new strategy ‘Fair Rules for Strong Communities’ which aim to give back power to local communities, Local Councils will have more control over the establishment of lap dancing clubs in local neighbourhoods. The reforms have been supported by Lyn Brown MP who this year objected to the opening of a new adult entertainment club close to Maryland Station in Stratford and signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament on this issue.

The decision by the Government follows intensive campaigns from organisations including Object and the Fawcett Society, supported by the Local Government Association, who sought to tighten present licensing rules. Currently lap dancing clubs are licensed in the same way as restaurants and karaoke bars, only needing a Premises license, which campaigners say have led to the to the number of lap dancing clubs in the UK doubling since 2004 to over 300 clubs. From May this year, one new lap dancing club has opened every week in the UK.

The new proposals will reclassify lap dancing clubs as Sex Establishments – like sex shops and sex cinemas, which would need to gain a Sex Encounter Establishment license. This change will enable local authorities to apply greater controls and restrictions to lap dancing clubs, and will give local people a greater say in the licensing process.

 Lyn Brown MP said:

“I welcome this move by the Government to tighten the licensing laws over lap dancing clubs. It’s a very important change as it gives more power to the Local Council and crucially more say to local people over whether they want lap dancing clubs in their local areas”.

“As residents I believe we should have the opportunity to express concerns, and a right to expect bars and clubs that wish to offer adult entertainment to demonstrate that they have put in place appropriate safeguards so that local residents do not have to suffer as a result”.

“I pay tribute to all those who have campaigned intensively on this issue and I am delighted that this Government has listened and responded to these concerns”.