Edinburgh lap dancing and strip clubs are to be licensed and limited to strict number in one area of city centre.
Edinburgh council have recommended all Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEV) are licensed in the city, with strict new rules, after a two-year public consultation.
The council’s regulatory committee will meet tomorrow morning (December 2) and they will be asked to agree to the new regulations.
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Members of the public were asked for their opinion on the matter in 2019 and the council has also liaised with Police Scotland, women’s charities and NHS Lothian.
There were over 800 contributions to the public consultation as people made their feelings on the subject clear.
Under the new proposals Edinburgh council will determine the number of such venues in Edinburgh is limited to four.
There are currently four SEVs already operating in the city centre and unless one closes there will be no more under the new ruling.
The city-centre will now also be the only place where they are licensed to operate.
Edinburgh council’s report says that the consultation showed that public supported the idea to license the SEVs.
The report stated: “Having reviewed the responses to this consultation, as well as those received in the initial consultation, it is clear that there is support for the introduction of a licensing system for SEVs. Committee will be aware that Police Scotland and performers have been supportive of this, arguing that it would make venues better regulated and safer.”
In a letter to Edinburgh council this year Police Scotland welcomed the move and said they were “encouraged” to see their recommendations included after the public consultation.
A spokesperson said: “In response to the public consultation on the licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEV’s), I am encouraged to see that the recommendations submitted by Police Scotland in response to the initial consultation have been included in the draft Policy and Conditions.
“The conditions proposed are imperative to ensure the safety of staff and customers attending SEV’s, and allow City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland to ensure compliance with the licensing regime.”
The council invited the national sex worker-led charity, Scot-Pep, to have their say.
They advocate for the safety, rights and health of everyone who sells sex in Scotland and disagreed with the move to set a limit on the number the SEVs in Edinburgh.
They said: “Our concern about SEV licences being denied or revoked is borne of our concern for the workers’ rights, safety, wellbeing and financial security of the people who work in these venues.
“The last 18 months have caused significant upheaval and increased precarity for workers across Scotland (in all sectors), and the priority for the next 12 months should be supporting people’s income/employment to remain as stable as possible.
“Scot-Pep does not believe setting a formal upper limit for the maximum number of SEVs is a useful approach. Instead we believe that every application should be taken on its individual merit and quality.”
