Lap-dancing clubs threaten human rights challenge if licence applications refused

Operators of lap-dancing clubs have warned that they could turn to the Human Rights Act over new legislation that gives councils greater freedom to turn down licence applications, according to The Guardian.

Local authorities have been able from 6 April to require all lap-dancing clubs in their area – including existing venues – to apply for a sex establishment licence. Existing owners have 12 months from the day the new provisions come into force locally in which to apply for the licence.

Councils that adopt the powers will also be able to impose a wider set of conditions and introduce a quota on the number of clubs in an area. Local people will be able to oppose an application on the basis that the venue is inappropriate for the area.

Chris Knight, president of the Lap-Dancing Association, told The Guardian that strip club owners were prepared to go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

He said:  “If local authorities don’t give us new licences, they are effectively taking away our right to property and to do business, as outlined in the Human Rights Act, and we will consider taking it as far as we have to in the courts.”

However, Richard Kemp, vice-chairman of the Local Government Association, said it would defend the legislation. He added: “If they want a legal showdown, then we’re going to test the depths of their pockets, because we’re certainly going to test ours.”

The LDA believes that the legislation could infringe Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, the right to property protection. The LGA’s Kemp told the paper this argument was “rubbish because there are lots of other articles in the Act that don’t support the clubs – articles that relate to equality and gender”.