Lap-dancing clubs could be banned in Glasgow if new legislation is approved by the Scottish Parliament.
The clampdown is contained in an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, and would give individual councils the power to ban the venues.
The amendment, which is currently being considered by Holyrood’s Justice Committee, has the backing of Glasgow City Council.
Selling
The council have written to the Justice Committee in support of the amendment, saying: “Intelligence would suggest that these venues are in fact linked to, and part of, the sex industry and selling of sexual services does occur in some clubs.”
The council also cautioned that women in the lap-dancing industry are often driven to sell sex to make money.
Councillor Jim Coleman, acting head of Glasgow City Council, said: “We view lap-dancing as a form of sexual exploitation which degrades women and also contributes to public nuisance problems.”
Licenses
Under the current legislation lap-dancing clubs only need routine public entertainment licenses.
But Glasgow council has warned that the current system is “ineffective” and that “local authorities must have the option to refuse to license such establishments.”
The proposed clampdown would force all lap-dancing clubs to adhere to the same licensing regime as sex-shops.
The amendment has been tabled by MSP Sandra White, but the Consenting Adult Action Network has accused Mrs White of “trying to enforce her morals on Scotland”.
Pushed
In February a former lap-dancer revealed how girls, some under the age of 18, are routinely pushed to perform sexual acts on men in lap-dancing clubs in order to make the job pay.
In a candid interview with The Times, an ex-lap-dancer called Milly shattered the myth that the practice “is no more than dancing”.
“No one sticks to that,” she said. “And if you do, you quickly lose out.”
People
And it was also revealed that local people in England and Wales were set to be given new powers to appeal against lap-dancing clubs in their areas.
Previously residents could object for licensing reasons only, such as crime and disorder, nuisance, public safety and protecting children.
But since April people in England and Wales have been able to oppose an application for a club on the basis that it would be inappropriate for the local area.