Terrified strippers blast police for using ‘fear tactics’ during club raid
TERRIFIED strippers have accused police of using ‘fear tactics’ during a raid of a lapdancing club in Glasgow.
Seventh Heaven on Elmbank Street was visited by law enforcement officers on Thursday night at around 11pm.
The Evening Times understands that immigration officers and cops swooped in on the property as part of a Licensed Premises and Welfare visit.
Gia, a dancer who was present during the raid, said: “It was chaos, the girls were terrified. As soon as police entered the floor was cleared, dancers were kicked off of stage and out of dance booths, treated like naughty children rather than workers in their own workplace.
“No information regarding what was happening was given. We were required to stay put, and then individually interviewed by the police.
“They demanded personal information, including travel details.
“They begun databasing tattoos and piercings, keeping records of each one.
“We were not allowed to work while the police were there, which spanned the majority of the night, but were still required to pay house fees.
“The support of the union enabled me to know my rights and the power it holds, to feel supported and to help guide others through the experience.
“We are workers, and we have rights. These fear tactics are unacceptable.” Let us know your views. Email letters@ eveningtimes.co.uk
United Voices of the World, an independent trade union organising strippers in London and Scotland, and sex worker charity SCOTPEP condemned the police raid.
They say the raid intimidated workers, who were misinformed of their legal rights, and resulted in significant loss of earnings as dancers still had to pay the house fee.
Lydia, an organiser with United Voices of the World, said: “We were horrified to hear of this raid as it happened from a concerned union member, and were able to provide advice and support as it happened.
“Sadly, many of the dancers did not have the same resources and many were pressured into interviews without being made aware of their legal rights.
“It is perfectly legal to work as a dancer in a strip club like Seventh Heaven, but it is the stigmatisation of sex work that has caused an invasive and ultimately useless raid, a raid that resulted in no arrests and significant loss of earnings for the workers.”
Police Scotland said no offences were detected during the raid.