UK Sex Sells News

Sex shop licences are to become 40% cheaper in Shropshire.

Shropshire Council's fees and charges for 2014/15 has included a 42 per cent reduction in the cost of a sex establishment licence.

It means the fee for a first time application will drop from £2,025 to £1,159, with a renewal falling from £1,755 to £997.

Councillor Steve Charmley, cabinet member for business growth, said the council had no choice to reduce the fees in line with national guidelines following a recent test case in London. The case established a principle that councils that profit from licence fees for sex shops must carry the surplus forward when determining the fees for future years.

Ash Patel chose to withdraw plans for a table dancing club in Worcester at the former Images and Funk nightclub, in the Butts, in September, but decided to back down in the face of local 'outrage'.

However, Patel has now succeeded in getting the old DNA club's premises licence transferred to him two weeks ago, which will now allow him to now run the venue as a lap-dancing club. Patel said of the new Lowesmoor location:

This is a Bohemian part of Worcester, very cosmopolitan. It is perfect for this venue,

There will be on average 15 different dancers performing each night. The club will feature a main bar area and a stage but also six private dance booths and three VIP rooms. Before midnight, dancers will wear elegant evening gowns but, after this time, they will be allowed to wear various outfits. They will only be able to be fully naked in the private booths and the stage will feature topless rather than fully naked dancers.

The plan is to open from 9pm to 4am on weekdays and 9pm to 4.30am on Saturdays.

Update: Miserable petition signed by 25

18th December 2013. See review from  worcesternews.co.uk

A petition against a lap dancing club in Worcester has been set up by a nimby who claims to have seen first-hand the devastating impact he says the trade can have on vulnerable young women. The e-petition against the Black Cherry gentleman's club, in Lowesmoor, has been started by David Mair who lives around the corner from the venue. Mair believes the club, which is expected to open in the new year, will lower the tone of the area and create no go areas for women.

Mair has predictably won the backing of the gender extremist organisation, Object.

But owner Patel said the club would be discreet with no salacious advertising outside the venue to avoid creating offence said:

To suggest that the very presence of the club is a threat to local women or could cause endangerment to children is sensationalism to support the petition.

Nuisance would be prevented by installing acoustically secure doors and he says there will be no exploitation of women.

Update: Stop whingeing prudes!

23rd December 2013. See  article from  worcesternews.co.uk

A struggling entrepreneur who fears her business could go under says prudes should stop moaning about plans for a new lap dancing club nearby, claiming it could boost trade.

Sarah Colquitt, manager and self-confessed dogsbody at the Puss n Pooch grooming salon and boutique in Lowesmoor, Worcester, is fed up with people moaning about the Black Cherry club, when it could help struggling traders keep their heads above water in the recession.

The club, which could feature 15 naked or topless dancers performing each night, is scheduled to open at the site of the former DNA club in the new year.

Around 1,000 supposedly extreme porn DVDs were seized by police in an operation against unlicensed goods in the London. More than 400 people were arrested during a series of raids carried out by 4,000 policemen as part of Operation Condor across London. The pornography was discovered in Barnet, north London.

Police also targeted brothels and checked sex workers' identification cards, as well as scrutinising bars, pubs and clubs.

Two table dancing clubs arbitrarily selected for closure because moralists didn't like them, have been allowed to say open whilst they seek a Judicial Review of the ban.

Wildcats and Deep Blue had faced short notice closure by the council, but have won a stay from judges at Leeds Combined Court and from the High Court. The judges ruled that they can stay open while they seek a judicial review.

A third club, Red Leopard, which also faces closure, is yet to hear if it can remain open.

Table dancing club plans for Doncaster town centre have been rejected following supposed concerns about a 'possible' effect on the work carried out at a neigbouring women's centre.

Enterprise Inns had applied to change the Loaded pub at 54 Printing Office Street into a strip joint but Doncaster Council members claimed that the site was wholly inappropriate .

The move was backed by South Yorkshire Police's superintendent Peter Norman and Director of Public Health Dr Tony Baxter who both claimed the venue would have a detrimental impact on the women's centre service and supposedly alter the perception of vulnerable women, somehow harming the service the centre provides.

Update: For the Record

20th December 2013. See  article from  sevlicensing.wordpress.com

For reference, the planning officer recommending granting the application given the club is in a part of town where use by young people and children is low, and noted the blacked out windows would mean few passers by would be aware of the nature of the premise. There were 5 objection letters

Miserable Labour politicians Vijay Luthra, Claire Maugham and Karl Eastham have launched the petition together with Cllr Neil Coyle, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Bermondsey & Old Southwark.

The campaigners have initiated an online petition :

Primesight: Stop advertising lap dancing clubs in Southwark

A huge advert for a lap dancing club has recently gone up at Elephant & Castle roundabout, featuring a giant picture of a barely-dressed woman.

We believe this advert is insulting, objectifying and demeaning to women. It is also right next to a major travel hub, so will be seen by thousands of children.

This matters.

Studies show being exposed to sexualised imagery has a profoundly damaging impact on girls' body-image and sense of self-worth.

Elephant & Castle is a tolerant and respectful community, adverts which demean women are not welcome here, particularly in such a prominent location.

We call on Primesight, which owns the billboard space, to recognise the harm this ad could cause, remove the image immediately, and pledge to ensure in future that all adverts meet basic standards of decency.

Update: Moralists Win

10th December 2013. See  article from  london-se1.co.uk

Local Labour moralists launched a petition on Sunday against the poster for Secrets table dancing clubs in London. By Monday Primesight, the company which sells the ad space on behalf of Southwark Council, announced on Twitter:

In response to the complaints the advertisement will be removed today.

Cllr Neil Coyle crowed:

I am glad Labour candidates and local people have won a significant victory for the site.

Hopefully this action will have set a precedent that offensive or sexist adverts will not be tolerated at the Elephant.

I thank Vijay Luthra, Claire Maugham and Karl Eastham for their action which shows what excellent councillors they could make locally. I also thank Southwark Council , and Richard Livingstone in particular, for such a prompt response to community concern.

On the 4th December police raided 25 premises in Soho and evicted, detained and harassed sex workers. They kicked down doors, closed working flats, took money and personal items, and manhandled women in the street in front of the photographers and news crews they invited to witness this violence and intimidation. The media presence included Sky news, BBC and the Evening Standard. It would seem that victims of sex work need to be publicly humiliated and shamed in the media in order to be properly saved from their work.

The raids were supposedly undertaken in order to locate stolen goods and to tackle prostitution (despite the fact that selling sex is not actually a crime) and to tackle human trafficking. A number of migrant sex workers, many of whom have lived in the UK for years, have - devastatingly - been conveyed to the UKBA detention centre at Heathrow; this, despite having reassured police that they had not been trafficked into the country, and were working voluntarily. Other women were instructed to appear in court the next morning. The charges against them are not yet known.

The closure of working flats will mean that women have lost their peer support network, and their regular clients who they know to be safe. They will also now be working in locations unknown to outreach and health services, and will be less likely to access services - or report crimes against them - for fear of being forcibly detained or arrested as either a victim or a criminal. They will have to continue to work, but may now have to work alone or outdoors, exposing them to greater risk. Amy, a sex worker within SWOU noted:

If we're talking about 'greater risk', people should know, and should see from these events, that those who are supposed to 'protect' us often pose the greatest risk to us. This is the case both directly and indirectly - directly, when the cops kick down our doors, drag us onto the street, and facilitate our humiliation; indirectly, when they signal to those who might wish to target us, that we don't deserve the protection of the law, that we can't report. The cops make us targets twice over.

The lasting effect of the raids will be increased risk, fear, violence and instability for these women, and many others like them.

Elisa , a migrant sex worker, said:

This is all so frightening. This backlash is spreading across Europe. It is more and more clear to me - seeing the German debates now too - that it all is an attempt to silence and marginalise mostly migrant workers, specifically women, because if sex work was decriminalised and our work made safer, migrant women would achieve a place in society that they are not desired to have. Migrant women in the sex industry have to be victimised, silent, invisible (though sensationalised and exposed at the same time when it needs to be for propaganda, and to add that spice), and better stay at home.

Cari Mitchell from the English Collective of Prostitutes, said:

It is outrageous that the police are raiding premises where women are working together safely and collectively with friends. The police must know that some women will end up working on the street as a result, where it is much more dangerous. Most of the women thrown out of premises are mothers and grandmothers who have now lost their livelihood.

Nic, a sex worker in Soho, said:

I feel so frightened. This is on my doorstep. Will I be next? That the police brought the press with them demonstrates so much why we need the only legal framework that reduces, rather than increases, police power over us. Who can look at these events and think the police are using their power respectfully, appropriately, non-abusively? This is violence against women, that the mainstream women's movement turns it's head from. We need full decriminalisation, including of our clients and our workplaces, because that is THE ONLY legal context in which we are not at the mercy of these abusive and traumatic policing tactics; where we are not at risk of being dragged out onto the street. Sex work is work - we're already in mainstream trade unions. This is so frightening - we need solidarity.

Half of Leeds' six strip venues had applications to renew their sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licences rejected by the city council.

Deep Blue, Red Leopard and Wildcats were ordered to shut by next Friday.

Liberte and Purple Door, both located on York Place, had their licences approved. The application for Silks, on Sovereign Place, was approved for a period expiring next June.

The decision by the licensing sub-committee was taken after the council introduced a new policy on SEVs stating there should be a maximum of four SEVs in Leeds.

The council claimed the decision was taken to refuse three licences due to the number of buildings with sensitive uses nearby to the location of the premises .

Comment: Leeds Council - An Absence of Common Decency

6th December 2013. See  article from  strippingtheillusion.blogspot.com

I find it fascinating that the deliberations of the Licensing Sub Committee have been embargoed by the Council. So in other words we will never know what was said, or how they arrived at the decision to close three businesses that have never violated the terms of their licenses.

The owners of Wildcats and Red Leopard have stated publicly that they will take legal action against the Council. It is my sincerest hope that this materialises because if nothing else, court action will see some light shone on what I see to be a very murky set of decisions.

Bolton Council was a little late coming to the anti lap dancing moralist party, but have now proposed a council policy of no new venues in the city centre.

The council looks set to tolerate the existing club though.

The council is now putting together some sort of consultation asking for contributors to say negative things about lap dancing venues.

Club Rouge claims to be the only lap-dancing bar in the city that does not require its dancers to fully undress and has made efforts to diversify into non-adult entertainment offerings over the last 18 months.

A spokesman said the club had stopped full strip teases since August and it was now a venue where couples can go and where businessmen can take their clients . The club has expanded into burlesque, cabaret, and life art classes.

At a licensing hearing, club bosses pleaded to be allowed a 3am drinking permit, arguing its entertainment base had widened beyond exotic dancing and should not be confined to the standard 1am closing policy in place for Edinburgh strip clubs.

However, licensing chiefs were unconvinced by the argument and turned down the application.

An internet porn website operator has been barred from running any video on demand services in the latest move by censors seeking to restrict hardcore porn on-line.

This is the first time the censorship sanction has been used against any on-demand operator, who become liables to criminal prosecution if they defy the order.

J P Media were operating the website Jessica Pressley , an internet service offering hardcore porn. A second porn supplier, S Hilder, operator of the website Pleasuring Herself has also been the subject of enforcement action.

Both services have closed following action by the Authority for Television On Demand ( ATVOD ). The video on demand censor found the services were in breach of its rules in failing to keep explicit videos or still images beyond the reach of children. The services offered access to explicit hardcore porn videos which could be viewed on-demand. Yet the content of the videos was equivalent to that which in Britain could be sold only to adults in licensed sex shops if supplied on DVD.

The services each broke the statutory rules in two ways. Firstly, they allowed any visitor free, unrestricted access to hardcore pornographic video promos/trailers or still images featuring real sex or masturbation in explicit detail. Secondly, access to the full videos was open to any visitor who paid a fee. As the services accepted everyday payment methods -- such as debit cards -- which occasionally can be used by under 18's, ATVOD ruled that each service had also failed to put in place effective access controls in relation to the full videos.

The Pleasuring Herself service closed after receiving an enforcement notification from ATVOD requiring the provider of the service to either restrict access to explicit images to those who were know to be at least 18, or remove such images from the service.

However, the Jessica Pressley service did not comply with a similar enforcement notice and was closed only after ATVOD asked Ofcom to impose a statutory penalty. Ofcom examined the service and agreed with ATVOD's findings, concluding that this was a serious breach of statutory requirements.

Under 368K(3)(a) of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom directed J P Media that their entitlement to provide the Jessica Pressley service or any other on-demand programme service was suspended. The suspension took immediate effect and continues indefinitely. This is the first time such a direction has been used in regard to a video on demand service.

The end result of ATVOD's rules are that British companies aren't allowed to sell to the many people who don't happen to hold a credit card. And smaller websites find it unsurprisingly difficult to sell their product without being able to show a sample to customers.

And as for the idea of verifying people's ages by them supplying personal identity information. This is a disgraceful charter for scammers and phishers.

The net result is that British viewers simply find their porn elsewhere. No less porn is consumed, and no less porn is seen by children. The unilateral action just means that Britain takes one more step towards bankruptcy, as business is stifled by miserablists, moralists, PC extremists, censors, health freaks, red tape addicts, bureaucrats and politicians.

'Outraged' feminists have been invited to York's lap dancing club Upstairs in response to an online petition which calls for a rejection of the club's licence renewal on 30th November.

York Feminist Network have gathered 120 signatures for the petition which states:

Lap dancing clubs have no place in our community. They promote sexist stereotypes, create 'no go' areas for women and local residents, and impact negatively on the character and reputation of York as a welcoming, family-friendly city.

A York councillor, Dave Taylor, has publically stated that A council can only reject or revoke a license if it breeches one of the four 'licensing objectives' and that it is not Council policy to revoke a license based on morals.

Heaven Gentleman's Club in Newmarket has had its sex entertainment licence renewed by Forest Heath's licensing sub-committee on Monday. The club has been operating since 2006.

Robin Hardy from Newmarket Town Pastors joined Newmarket Town councillors Rachel Hood and Warwick Hirst in speaking against the application. All three said the venue had ignored its licence by using a sign that was three times larger than allowed. Hirst said:

When you come down and see these signs there, I would say that's more like Las Vegas than Newmarket, and it's certainly not the type of signage you'd want to see when you're trying to promote the health of the high street.

Jason Newell from Heaven Club said the issue over signage had been a misunderstanding:

It doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, it doesn't stand out like a Las Vegas sign or anything like that - it's not illuminated in any way. We have no objections from the general public. It all comes from people who didn't want us there in the first place.

After more than an hour of deliberation, the three-man panel of councillors decided to renew the application. They also permitted Heaven to continue with its current signage.

Cheshire West Council banned table dancing at the already running Platinum Lounge. Council moralists had pinned the reason on the area becoming more 'residential' due to changing uses of properties in the area. It would be interesting to know exactly how many commercial premises had become residential. One suspects not many.

Now Cheshire West Council may be asked the same question in court as the club owners are challenging the ban in court

Judge Sycamore has decided to grant permission for a Judicial Review to proceed.

The premises will continue to trade as a Lap Dancing Club pending determination of the Judicial Review.

Legal Considerations

First of all it is noted that an existing licence is considered in law as a protected possession in human rights law:

It has been accepted that a licence is classed as a possession capable of protection under Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights.

This clearly states that a person has a right to peaceful enjoyment of his possessions and the case of Tre Traktorer Aktiebolag v Sweden (1989) 13 EHRR classifies a licence as something capable of protection.

Not something that can councils can take away on a moralist or feminist whim.

Secondly there are European requirements imported into UK law that impose standard conditions on councils when considering licence applications:

The Provision of Services Regulations [S.I. 2009/2999]. Regulation 24(1) imposes three important tests highlighting that any refusal must be:

• Non discriminatory
• Necessary
• Proportionate

Surely the council will be asked exactly how necessary it was to close the club because a few commercial properties had become residential.

A Bournemouth table dancing club could lose its licence amid allegations performers have been getting too close to customers.

Wiggle, in Old Christchurch Road, is facing claims its staff have breached repressive rules on the sexual entertainment it can offer.

Its sexual entertainment licence is currently up for renewal and both Dorset Police and Bournemouth council's licensing department have raised objections.

In her report to councillors, senior licensing officer Sarah Rogers said she visited the club in August and saw several conditions being breached. These include dancers straddling customers, simulating sexual acts and inappropriately touching themselves, customers and other performers. Her report also states that drug tests revealed unacceptably high levels of drug use. And the club is also alleged to have been unable to provide CCTV footage when asked.

Update: Granted a little Wiggle room

18th November 2013. See article from thisisdorset.net

The owner of a Bournemouth lap-dancing club, where performers were caught doing proper lap dancing, has promised it will never happen again.

Wiggle club came tantalisingly close to losing its licence, after it emerged dancers were repeatedly breaching no touch rules.

But after hearing assurances from contrite owner Jaspal Ojla that he would personally manage the club, Bournemouth's licensing board renewed the licence for six months.

Leeds City Council's licensing sub-committee is holding a series of crunch meetings between November 18 and 22 to decide whether the city's six strip venues can keep their licences.

At least two are likely to be refused after a new council policy recommended that Leeds should have no more than four lap dancing clubs. Sue Holden, principal project officer for the licensing department, said:

We can't fetter the discretion of the councillors through the policy. It's not a case of which four will be granted. They could listen to the applications and choose to grant all six. By the same token, they could refuse the lot.

The six clubs -- Deep Blue, Wildcats, Red Leopard, Silks, Purple Door and Liberte -- have to apply to renew their sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licences annually. Each club will be heard individually, but the sub-committee will issue judgements on all six after the last case has been heard. Members must outline special reasons for approving more than four if they decide to disregard the policy.

Lap dance club bosses have vowed to fight licence refusals. Paul Gourlay, who runs Wildcats on The Headrow, said:

We are obviously exceptionally worried about the possibility of the loss of our licence, set against the back drop of no regulatory concern over our business.

We have prepared a compelling case to place before the licensing authority and hope that there will not be the need to take this matter further to the High Court with the time, effort and expense this will cause to all parties. We employ a significant number of local people, contribute to the local economy and have a considerable amount of time to run on our lease.

We will of course need to challenge any negative decision through the legal system which seems unnecessary particularly in the current economic climate.

Legal Considerations

First of all it is noted that an existing licence is considered in law as a protected possession in human rights law:

It has been accepted that a licence is classed as a possession capable of protection under Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights.

This clearly states that a person has a right to peaceful enjoyment of his possessions and the case of Tre Traktorer Aktiebolag v Sweden (1989) 13 EHRR classifies a licence as something capable of protection.

Not something that can councils can take away on a moralist or feminist whim.

Secondly there are European requirements imported into UK law that impose standard conditions on councils when considering licence applications:

The Provision of Services Regulations [S.I. 2009/2999]. Regulation 24(1) imposes three important tests highlighting that any refusal must be:

• Non discriminatory
• Necessary
• Proportionate

Surely this would allow failed applicants to ask a court 'exactly how necessary was it for a council to refuse a license for a 5th venue, when 4 others have been approved by the council?

The first ever Paul Raymond Awards were staged at the world famous Spearmint Rhino gentleman's club in Tottenham Court Road, London, on 4th November.

Event organiser Mark Hassell commented:

It was a such an amazing success in just our first year of launching the awards. There are not many awards for the adult market in the UK that reward the hard work and success of individuals and companies in our industry. With Paul Raymond Publications being the biggest adult top shelf magazine publisher in the UK, it just goes hand in hand and is a perfect extension to our brand. Here's looking forward to next year and a bigger and better show.

The winners were:

• Emma Green [Mayfair Covergirl of the Year]

• Jenny Laird [Club International Covergirl of the Year]

• Jess West [Escort Magazine Covergirl of the Year]

• Tiffany Naylor [Best Newcomer]

• Tanya Tate [MILF of the Year]

• Samantha Bentley [British Performer/Model of the Year]

• Forno TV [Adult Product of the Year]

• Sextoys.co.uk [Best Customer Service for Adult Products]

• Camilla Jayne [Bluebird TV Girl of the Year]

• Only Fools & Arses [Bluebird Film of the Year]

Bluebird Films brings you a parody of Britain's most beloved sitcom - Only Fools And Arses. This parody is packed to the max with orgy goodness! Watch as this illustrious cast of colourful characters take part in a comedic journey of dick sharing, pussy pounding, cock swallowing, cum sharing, face sitting, finger fucking and face gagging silliness. Cast: Alexis May, Natasha Marley, Anna Lovato, Paige Ashley, Black Angelica, Sami J., Chloe Dee, Stacey Lacey, Cindy Behr, Stacey Saran, Ella Mai, Tiffany Kingston, Gemma Massey, Gilly Sampson, Lou Lou, Myla Charles

• Daisy Rock's Pornography [Adult Film of the Year]

Miss Rock offers some of her greatest scenes, previously unreleased on dvd in Pornography. Six hardcore scenes (plus two bonus scenes) on a three hour disc, starring the UK's most outrageous porn star. All scenes are hand-picked by Daisy herself and run the gamut from unplanned, candid shoots with top studs to superbly shot vignettes. Daisy Rock ranks among Britain's all-time greatest porn stars. Cast: Daisy Rock, Sara Jay, Jayla Starr, Totally Tabitha, Satine Spark, Steve Holmes, Jonny Cockfill, Richard Mann

• Demetri XXX [Male Performer of the Year]

• Samantha Bentley [Female Performer of the Year]

• Pascal White [Lifetime Achievement Award]

North Lincolnshire Council's licensing committee has reduced its sex shop licence fees.

Scunthorpe's only sex shop Pulse and Cocktail on the Trafford Street took its case to the Civic Centre and the council agreed the sex shop's fees should be cut by £1.220 a year. Councillors agreed that the processing work involved did not warrant the present £3,620 a year fee for renewing the licence. So now the fee is £2,400

In 2009 new European laws came into force in the UK, preventing licensing authorities from charging fees going beyond the actual costs of the licensing process.

Graham Kidd, a director with Pulse and Cocktails said the cuts would bring North Lincolnshire in line with other local authorities.

UK Sport is a sports agency responsible for investing over £100 million per year in Britain's best Olympic and Paralympic athletes. It is accountable to Government through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The group has been threatening to use its financial clout to impose morality on athletes by telling them that if they go to lap-dancing or strip clubs they will lose Lottery funding

New guidelines for eligibility for funding released by UK Sport, which oversees sports funding for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, included a line in its section on misconduct and disrepute which read attending a lap dancing or strip club regardless of gender .

It was described by the chief executive of one sports body as akin to treating sports like a nanny state , and boxer Luke Campbell, who won Olympic gold at bantamweight and has since turned professional, concurred. He told The Telegraph:

It's laughable. I just find it hard to fathom how they came up with this. It's just completely ridiculous. Going to a lap club or strip club is just harmless fun. Why would they want to tell athletes what to do in their private lives?

Anyone taking their sport seriously would not be out in nightclubs anyway. We are role models, and we are looked up to. I'd rather see them concentrate on banning Lottery funded athletes if they are smoking, or have been drunk and disorderly, rather than this.

From the UK Sport funding eligibility document What stars cannot do:

Commit acts or make comments (whether in the media or online such as through tweets, social networking site comments, texts, blogs etc) which...shock or offend the community or which manifest contempt or disregard.

Tell a sexist joke or make a sexist remark at a private meeting, the contents of which are subsequently disclosed.

Attend a lap dancing or strip club, regardless of gender.

Send or distribute obscene or offensive images.

Update: UK Sport morality failure

8th November 2013. See  article from  telegraph.co.uk
See also Athletes must be allowed to work hard and play hard (even if that includes strip clubs) from  telegraph.co.uk by Brooke Magnanti

UK Sport has declared a false start over its ludicrous threat of removing funding from athletes who visit lap dancing or strip clubs. The organisation said in a statement:

As a result of the consultation ahead of launching our new eligibility policy, a number of respondents requested examples, to suggest potential actions or behaviours that might, in theory, be considered acts of 'misconduct' or 'disrepute'.

We accept that one of the examples we included was not helpful and has subsequently led to confusion. Therefore we have taken the decision to remove the example.

That said, the purpose of including the illustrative examples remains, that we expect our elite athletes who benefit from the privilege of public funding to act as role models to inspire the nation.

A man whose life was ruined when he was charged with child sex offences after looking at legal gay pornography in a hotel room has accused the police and Crown Prosecution Service of a homophobic witch-hunt after his case was finally thrown out.

The defendant endured a two-year nightmare after being arrested in front of his family, charged with 10 offences almost a year later and repeatedly bailed, before every charge was dropped.

The CPS, which spent tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money pursuing the case, offered no evidence in court -- in effect conceding there was no case to answer. His lawyers say they gave the CPS conclusive documentary evidence three months ago that all models featured in the pornography were of legal age.

The defendant's nightmare began during a business trip in September 2011 when he viewed images on a website specialising in twink pornography. Twink is a well-known term in gay slang for small or young-looking men who are aged 18 or over. Perhaps a male equivalent to 'barely legal'

When a female guest who stayed in the same room the following week saw the computer's browsing history she complained to the hotel and staff called the police. Six months later, in March 2012, the man was arrested at his father's home.

Speaking after the trial closed the man said:

I can only conclude that the police officers and the CPS showed institutional homophobia throughout this case. I doubt I would have been treated the same way if heterosexual pornography was involved. Police... were obviously clueless about pornography -- as were the CPS.

In January this year the CPS charged the man with nine counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing indecent images.

He was represented by Myles Jackman, the leading obscenity lawyer who has won several victories in so-called porn trial cases. Mr Jackman obtained signed USC 2257 documents, required by adult websites to prove models they use are not underage, and photographs of all the men involved in the website holding up their passports, which clearly show their dates of birth.

Mr Jackman told The Independent: The CPS has at best showed an ignorance of gay culture and at worst showed itself to be institutionally homophobic. USC 2257 is extremely stringent US federal legislation which the defendant said the police were completely unaware of.

Mr Jackman said he had complained to Keir Starmer, the outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions, about the CPS's conduct in what he called the Twink Trial but is yet to receive a reply.

Comment: The CPS clearly didn't bother trying to investigate whether the pictures were actually underage

See  The evidence is mounting. Is the CPS institutionally homophobic? from  independent.co.uk by Myles Jackman

Throughout these aborted proceedings, we repeatedly stated that all the performers in question were over the age of 18. Despite this, the prosecution has always maintained that it was a matter for a jury to decide the age of the performers. However, we were able to prove how old the performers were. In spite of this the police and prosecution consistently failed to make further inquiries regarding the source and context of the images.

In June, our IT expert Paul Vella contacted the website directly. It confirmed it complied with USC Title 2257 legislation, which requires adult websites to keep records verifying a performer's age against their passport details, as well as keeping signed model release forms .

It supplied us with all these details for all the performers on the entire website. We presented these details to the prosecution immediately. It was possible to compare the passport photos of the performers in question with their pictures on the website.

Unfortunately, the prosecution in this case refused meaningfully to engage with the evidence we supplied. As a final resort, we complained to Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC's office. We failed to receive the reply we were promised.

Table dancing club owners in Portsmouth have won a small concession from the council, which had proposed a ban on handing out flyers. Members of Portsmouth's City Council's licensing panel decided that stopping them from promoting themselves and distributing flyers was unfair.

It was also felt that signs already in place at sex clubs were fine and in some ways less provocative than other venues. However, the committee agreed any further external displays can only be displayed with prior approval, entry fees must be visible outside, and soliciting custom is not permitted.

Councillor April Windeback said imposing all of the restrictions would have been a bad idea:

We kept these sex establishments because they are run well. They are very strict. We've said they can carry on, but now we're saying you can't run your business like you want.

But Sarah Bland, chairobject of Solent Feminist Network, said in a statement she was happy with everything that had been proposed:

Wiggle's current signage is wholly inappropriate, particularly when you consider how many individuals, particularly children, are exposed to it whilst in the Commercial Road area.

A unanimous vote by Swansea University Students' Union's has banned the Swansea Student's Pole Fitness Society, causing international outrage from the pole fitness community.

The Students' Union claimed that pole fitness was somehow:

Inextricably linked to the multi million pound sex industry and upholds and bolsters sexist attitudes and behaviours.

Although 'pole fitness' is sold as an empowering activity, we believe that women have been deceived into thinking this is a way of taking charge of their sexuality and their own decisions. Moreover, we believe that it is just a further debasement of our culture and another sign of a creeping backlash against women's true empowerment and a show of misogyny.

The pole fitness society pointed out the one sidedness of Student Union 'democracy'. The group noted that We've never been able to put our point forward as they were not allowed to go to Trustee meetings or their appeal.

President of the Pole Fitness Society Committee, Beth Morris, found drawing comparisons between lap dancing and pole fitness:

Highly, highly offensive. Lap dancing occurs in gentleman's clubs... Pole fitness is strictly for fitness. She continued, the board need[s] to take account of the context in which these classes are being taught in. Since the classes are purely for fitness... there is therefore... no link between [it] and the sex industry.

The Student's ludicrous claims seem to have gone viral but don't seem to have chimed with many people. Most have been showing their support for pole fitness group.

There was one supportive rant by Carolyn Hitt of WalesOnline but she was taken to the cleaners by commenters to the piece.

Update: Possible legal case against selfish students who put their daft morality ahead of people's livelihoods

26th October 2013. See  article from  thisissouthwales.co.uk

The national Pole Fitness Society, which represents more than 300 instructors, says it will take legal action unless the Swansea Student Union ban is reversed. A spokesman for the society said:

We appreciate that this is a young committee, new this term and for each of them, the first time in a paid, decision-making role.

We do hope that they are mature enough to acknowledge their mistake and strong enough to turn the decision round. This would be the best course of action for everyone. However, we must consider our own duty to our membership of 300-plus professional pole instructors and act according to their wishes.

In the absence of any reply from the SUSU trustee board we are prepared for both legal and constitutional recourse. We sincerely hope that neither of these options become necessary and that the young trustees can benefit from this as a learning opportunity.

This is an open letter to councillors and MPs who believe that Striptease venues are a risk to society. I have produced this arguments before in the blog but now we have readers from the political spectrum thought it wise to put most of it together.

Dear Politician

I am writing to you to express my concern in your beliefs about striptease venues or SEVs as they are branded by the councils. I have several issues about the beliefs that people have expressed and want to be sure you understand the opposing point of view. Obviously there is only so much that can be expressed in this format but if you open your mind and research further you may be surprised.

Firstly I want to pick up on the claims made by many feminist groups that there is a correlation between striptease venues and rape. This claim is made based on a couple of fallacies. One, the Lilith Report commissioned by the EAVES group, the mathematics used in this report was not examined properly and checked. When it was it was shown to contain errors that meant the data could not be trusted. There is a full systematic tearing apart of the report by Dr Brooke Magnanti if you want to find out how badly wrong the report was. Eaves has now removed Lilith from their website and research by this blogger under freedom of information showed that over a twelve year period including the period that Lilith covered rape figures fell and also fell per 1,000 head of population. Also claims have been made by a member of police in Cornwall that clubs would increase rape. This was later shown to be inaccurate and an online regional newspaper showed that the area concerned had seen a downturn in sexual crime since the introduction of Striptease. While not showing a causal link between reduction of sexual crime and SEVs it certainly disproves the claims that SEVs add to rape crime.

Then there is the claim of increased crime in general around striptease venues, this again is a fallacy and if investigated you will find that nightclubs are between and and 10 times more likely to have crime in comparison. The obvious reasoning behind this is security inside and outside the SEVs and CCTV. The clubs want to continue trading and will be very aware of the issues of crime and do what they can to minimise anything associated with themselves.

Occasionally you will hear people claim that the dancers must be trafficked. As you will know there have been no links to clubs found during both Pentameter and Pentameter 2 and is just a desperate smear attempt to create fears in people who have no knowledge of the industry. Because of the regulations and the ability of councils to inspect venues the whole issue of trafficking would be laughable if the subject matter wasn't so serious.

You will see in letters of objections that mention or imply a view based on morals. Whilst everyone is entitled to opinions the guidelines on renewing licenses say that moralistic views are not to be considered when making a judgement. Therefore any objection based on morals needs to be discarded.

So there is the suggestion that dancers offer sex in these venues. Since the regulations have been introduced by the councils about minimum distance, no contact and the risk of clubs losing their license if anything was to happen you can see that nothing is likely to happen. Once again it is a smear tactic by people opposed to striptease who wish to create fears. Of course the dancers sell a fantasy to the customer in the same way a film sells a fantasy. Because of the moralistic claims of religious groups there is a stigma associated to the performers when if you think about it is more about suggestion than fact.

Now we come onto the biggest issue (apart from NIMBY) that children are going to be corrupted or that churches and schools are at risk. Clubs that open during the day should use discrete signage and the fact that it is behind closed doors means children can't actually see anything. And I have yet to see a school or church that is open when clubs are open and busy. If you feel that neon signs should remain off until after the watershed and the club names need to be subtle then you will receive no argument but to claim that children are at risk from these clubs make no sense when sensible precautions are taken. If the clubs had toys or sweets in the windows then the fears might be understandable but people are imposing their own worries onto a group that doesn't care about SEVs.

Many feminists will claim objectification and to some extent that is true, objectification is natural and about sexual desire. However the feminists are objectifying the dancers by denial of autonomy and inertness by denying their agency and giving no value to their opinions. This also creates silencing as it treats the dancers like they are unable to speak. The suppression of natural urges may actually be the most negative aspect of the objectification of the dancers by the ANTI SEV brigade. No doubt some will claim objectification only applies to a sexual nature but this is in fact not the case as studies have shown other areas of objectification.

Finally there is the issue of exploitation, and rather than a long winded discussion I would just point out that all people working are exploited in one fashion or another. Dancers have the ability to withdraw labour far more easily than the average worker and can exercise freedom of choice the same as anyone looking to make a living.

So when deciding to challenge a club please consider the above and also remember the number of people employed in the industry and the suppliers of clubs who will lose business and/or jobs.

Yours sincerely

A strip fan.

Shades Gentleman's Club in Leamington Spa has narrowly secured its sexual entertainment licence at a meeting of Warwick District Council's Regulatory Committee. After a five-five split in the vote, with chairman George Illingworth's casting vote favouring the High Street club.

The moralists were well miffed. Councillor Alan Wilkinson told The Observer:

I'm absolutely outraged. The decision - made by Tory councillors who do not even live in Leamington - totally disrespects the feelings people living in the area.

He went on to admit that area was a bit of a dump and is in need of regeneration:

People in south Leamington are working hard to regenerate the area and decisions like this certainly do not help them.

Green Party ward councillor Jonathan Chilvers also disparaged the locale. He revealed that it is an area where people don't feel safe, and don't live in good relationships with each other. He said:

Through the Mary Portas project and other regeneration we are trying to create a community where people feel safe, valued and live in good relationships with each other. The presence of a sex club on the doorstep of the ward, whether or not it is clearly signed, whether or not there are any reported incidents, mitigates against these efforts.

The Hindu Religious Association, who have a temple nearby, hired a barrister to voice their opposition. Hopefully it was a very expensive investment.

A plan to introduce repressive measures for existing table dancing clubs and a nil policy for new ones in the borough had been unanimously approved by cabinet members last month.

But the town hall's licensing committee has voted to reject the move.

The policy, were it adopted, would affect 11 clubs in the borough, making them subject to a £9,000 immorality fee when renewing licenses annually.

Tower Hamlets cabinet members had justified their recommendation to introduce a nil policy on new establishments by saying there are enough already, and neighbours had complained about them.

However Councillor Peter Golds, who is vice chair of the licensing committee, said members were mindful of the size of fees for clubs when rejecting the policy. He explained.:

We suggested the enormous raising of fees could leave us open to legal challenges. I think it was not so much a desire to reject the policy as to seek clarification.

However, he predicted the policy will be passed by full council later this month - despite the committee's decision.

In fact the High Court has just confirmed that councils are required under European law to set licence fees according to tie cost to administer them. It is not legal to use them to raise general revenue, nor to use them as some sort of immorality tax.

A policy that effectively bans sexual entertainment venues and sex cinemas in the town of Central Bedfordshire has been adopted by the council's Licensing Committee.

An initial telephone survey of 1,123 residents resulted in 63% of respondents saying they did not believe licences for sexual entertainment venues should be granted in their local area. More specifically, the results revealed that at least 80% of respondents were opposed to sex entertainment venues operating in the vicinity of religious buildings, schools, residential areas and places frequented by children and families. A public consultation on the draft policy showed similar opinions about the locality of sex establishments.

The new policy bans sex establishments (sexual entertainment venues and sex cinemas only, not sex shops) within 500m of the more or less everywhere:

Schools, nurseries or any other premises substantially used by or for children under 18 years of age Areas frequented by children and families, eg. tourist attractions Residential areas Parks or other recreational areas used by or for children under 1 years of age Areas frequented by vulnerable adults, eg. care homes Areas associated with family leisure and retail Community buildings Churches or other places of religious worship

Gender extremists have launched a campaign against Leeds table dancing clubs whose licenses are up for renewal.

Six of the city's strip venues have applied to Leeds City Council to renew their sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licences. Silks, Deep Blue, Purple Door, Liberty, Red Leopard and Wildcats are facing a repressive morality policy set to close businesses so as to arbitrarily reduce numbers to four.

Anti-table dancing campaigners of a group called Support Against Rape and Sexual Violence are attempting to rally support behind its objections to the industry. Catriona Palin claimed, without evidence, that there was a link between crime and sex establishments, and that they tended to have a damaging impact on women. She said:

Leeds is a diverse city with a variety of cultures and faiths, representing around 11 per cent of the city. Women from a range of communities are intimidated by the proximity of these clubs.

She spouts without actually giving any clues as to how quality of life deteriorates and claims that table dancing leads to increased reports of rape, probably referring to the much debunked research about clubs in Camden:

Research has shown that wherever lap-dance and strip clubs appear, women's quality of life deteriorates as a result, with increased reports of rape.

Club operators are keeping their counsel and have declined to comment before next month's licence hearings, which are all due to take place within a week.

Oxford's only table dancing club could be demolished to make room for a temporary car park while Oxford's Westgate shopping centre is redeveloped.

Oxford City Council has unveiled plans to create up to 359 new spaces on the land that it owns. The Lodge Gentleman's Club will have to go.

Club owner Al Thompson said he had been aware of the plans for some time. He said:

We always knew our premises was on a short lease and that it would eventually be redeveloped, so we have no real problem with that. We will have to wait and see if it actually comes to fruition and if it does we will look at relocating.

We are absolutely keen on staying in Oxford. We've moved once, and we'll move again.

The revelation comes in the middle of a stalemate between The Lodge and the city council, which rejected an application to renew the venue's licence last August. Thompson has won permission from the Court of Appeal to take it to court again, and The Lodge remains open for now.

Table dancers have launched a bare-all campaign hitting back against a council moralist decision which they say undermines their right to choose to strip.

Three weeks  ago  the Platinum Lounge in Chester was stripped of its sex establishment licence after the council claimed the surrounding neighbourhood had become more residential.

But now dancers at the club, on Bridge Street Row, are stripping off in protest against the demeaning decision which many of the women say has left their livelihoods hanging in the balance.

The campaign features a naked woman holding placards reading my body, my choice. The leader of the dancers' campaign a dancer who goes by the stage name of Courtney , said during four years working as a stripper the Chester club had been the tamest, safest, strictest, cleanest and most discreet on the circuit, insisting the women hadn't been hurting anyone :

The women that I have spoken to have all expressed sheer desperation in not knowing what to do now that their source of income has been taken from them, said Courtney.

We were not flaunting it in public, in fact unless you knew what you were looking for (the club), you wouldn't have a hope in finding it as it was that discreet and looked like a bar/casino from the outside.

We were not hurting anybody and to whoever believes that we are degrading ourselves and exploiting selves, maybe we are but that is still our choice.

Courtney said many of the dancers would struggle to support their children, pay their rents or university tuition fees now the club could only put on 11 events a year.

Perhaps the campaigners should ascertain from the council the evidence they used to determine that the area had become more residential. Then when this turns out to be bollox, challenge the council via a Judicial Review.