Mixed reaction to lap-dancing licence plan

Some of the responses to the Scottish Government’s lap-dancing consultation were as follows.

Highland Violence Against Women: “We are disappointed that ministers have devolved this issue to local authorities and did not feel confident to make a national decision, as has already happened in Iceland, and set the number of sexual entertainment venues to nil across the country.”

Scottish Women’s Aid/ Rape Crisis Scotland: “Throughout the draft guidance not enough emphasis is placed on the risks and harms associated with the operation of SEV (sexual entertainment venues). The exploitation faced by performers within SEVS and the harm to all women caused by sanctioning the objectification of women’s bodies should be made explicit within the guidance.”

The Women’s Support Project: “We have been highly critical of the normalisation of adult/sexual entertainment and remain of the view that SEV’S are still based on the eroticisation of inequality and predicated on the notion that women are sexual objects.”

Brightcrew (operators of Platinum Lace): “If the local authority wishes to consider setting a limit on the number of SEVS... it should take account of the loss of employment... particularly among female performers.”