Sexual entertainment venues
Lap dancing clubs
Section 27 of the Policing & Crime Act 2009 amends Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 to introduce a new category of sex establishment called sexual entertainment venue – if adopted by a council the act require premises in that area who provide ‘relevant entertainment’ (such as lap dancing) to obtain a sex establishment licence.
There is an exemption for premises that provide relevant entertainment on an infrequent basis.
Portsmouth City Council formally resolved to adopt the Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) provisions on March 22, 2011.
The council voted to adopt Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, allowing them greater power to regulate and licence lap-dancing clubs and similar venues. The statutory provisions officially came into effect across the Portsmouth area on November 1, 2011.
Following this adoption, the Portsmouth City Council Licensing Committee fully implemented its comprehensive Sex Establishment Licensing Policy on October 12, 2012, which introduced a "nil cap" on new SEVs in the city.