Warning shot to nightclubs in Cheltenham over lap dancing during race week
NIGHTCLUB owners in Cheltenham have been warned not to overstep the mark when it comes to hosting lap dances during race week.
Licensing officers at the borough council say they will team up with police to carry out nightly inspections of late-opening premises throughout the event to ensure they do not breach regulations which will limit strip club activity to 24 hours over the whole week.
Last year Embassy nightclub, in Pittville Street, was forced to close after a raid by authorities found it was hosting such entertainment outside the permitted time frame.
A second club was given a formal warning for allowing touching between dancers and customers.
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This year authorities plan to take a tough stance with anyone caught flouting the rules.
Councillor Garth Barnes (LD, College), chairman of the council's licensing committee, said: "It's something we take very seriously. I know there are concerns from the police that we get a lot of people flooding in from the big cities like Manchester and Birmingham to try to take advantage of the situation during race week.
"But we have shown we will be strict when it comes to lap dancing.
"We closed down one venue last year for breaking the rules and are not afraid to take the same kind of action again if necessary."
Traditionally, many night- clubs in the town centre have hosted lap dances during race week in a bid to capitalise on the massive influx of people to the town.
Current licensing rules mean anyone wanting to host lap dances for longer than 24 hours per month now has to apply for a permanent sexual entertainment licence.
It is believed lap dancers can earn up to £5,000 a week – making it a lucrative trade.
However, police have said strip club entertainment has been linked to criminal activity in the past, including people trafficking.
Trevor Gladding, community protection team leader at the council, said nightly patrols were on the cards throughout the week.
He said: "Licensing officers will work with police conducting nightly checks to ensure establishments are complying with the sexual entertainment code of practice.
"Our community protection officers will also be on patrol working with police to deal with any issues that may require immediate attention."
5 Comments
by 19eighties
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:49PM
“ok mr prestbury those are fair points”
by Jewbacca
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 2:03PM
“I won't form an opinion myself until I know what Barbara 'bulldog' Driver thinks.”
by AndyPrestbury
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:48PM
“@19eighties I am talking from experience that this does happen. Many people are unaware of what does happen behind the scenes, but I can assure you that it does. As I said I have personal experience of a crimal entity applying pressure to a member of my family. It certainly isn't a Lol matter for those that are subjected to these people. The direct threat was that the premises he operated out of would be torched, a right chuckle was had by all.
Criminal gangs do operate within the town during this period. Just because you have not seen it does not mean that it isn't happening. But hey as long as you get to enjoy a bit of ti**y action who cares how it got there?
To think that for the few days of the festival the links on the larger scale are severed is naive. This is a year round business where the operators move from one event to another. The council is not worried about the lap dancing, but the paid for sex and drugs that some of the operators sell - or is that just a 'bit of fun'?
If the council were to monitor this a lot closer the lap dancing can still go on, but the criminals would be put off because they could not make their money from the optional extras that are sold. That way venue owners would be protected, and everyone can still have their fun.”
by 19eighties
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:10PM
“i think people trafficking has more to do with prostitution than lap dancing. okay there may be links between these two 'trades' on a larger scale but in this instance i think there are more important issues to worry about than people having a bit of fun going lap dancing during race week in cheltenham. Lol @AndyPrestbury i think you've been watching to many british gangster or police dramas”
by AndyPrestbury
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 7:47AM
“The council needs to have undercover officers in the clubs. One of the bigger clubs in the town ladies provided 'extras' in zones that were not covered by the in-house CCTV. To prevent being caught the club had a record that would be played when officers entered the premises, indicating that the ladies needed to back off from their clients.
The problem is that many venues do not have a choice. The article is right about the criminal element surrounding these activities. Some venues are instructed to put these nights on by external influences 'or things might happen', and I am definitely aware of these terms being made by people from Birmingham.
If the council just said no to all of this activity with a standard entertainment license it would mean that the club owners were protected from these threats. Plus it would make the town a lot safer for the period of the festival.”