Aberdeen City Council consults locals on prospect of licensing strip clubs in the area

Aberdeen City Council’s licensing team has opened an online survey to gather people’s opinions on strip clubs.

Currently, there is no legal requirement for sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) to be licensed in Scotland, other than for the sale of alcohol in those premises.

Premises are classed as a SEV if sexual entertainment is provided before a live audience, for the direct or indirect financial benefit of the organiser. ​

Sexual entertainment is any live performance or live display of nudity provided for the sole or principal purpose of “stimulation” of members of the audience. ​

Questions in the online survey concern whether people believe strip clubs have an impact on the community at present, and whether people expect there to be positive or negative impacts of them being licensed.

There are also queries on whether the location of such venues is an “important consideration”, and whether surrounding areas could be badly affected.

The Council’s Licensing team has opened an online survey to gather opinions on its policy statement relating to Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEV) in Aberdeen. At present there is no legal requirement for SEV to be licensed in Scotland. https://t.co/r124Z8MKWF pic.twitter.com/rjuLgUxAnu

— Aberdeen City Council (@AberdeenCC) March 12, 2020

The council is in the process of creating a new system for SEVs which could limit the number in the city.

It followed a major consultation, which involved owners of sexual entertainment venues (SEVs), the police and various women’s charities, which found a majority were in favour of new regulations.

Only six Scottish council areas have the venues, with consultations already launched in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and planned in Fife, while Dundee said it had made “no decision” on the issue.

The council has encouraged people to share their views on the venues.

Councillor John Reynolds, convener of licensing committee, said: “When developing the SEV licensing policy, care will be taken to balance the freedom of individuals to engage in legal employment and activities with the right to exercise appropriate control and regulation to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of the staff and patrons.

“In turn, citizens should also benefit from a safe, regulated environment.” ​

To take part in the survey people can click here

The survey closes on Friday, April 10.