The north's only strip club defends its business as 'safe and friendly' after an outpouring of allegations that Sex Entertainment Venues pose a danger to women ahead of a crucial Highland Council meeting that could see them effectively banned
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Calls to effectively ban sex entertainment venues in the Highlands have been met with a furious response from the north’s only strip club after statutory bodies accused the sector of a range of abuses.
The row was sparked by submissions to a consultation from a range of organisations that claimed such venues harbour a range of abuses that seriously harm women.
Contributions from NHS Highland and women’s groups like Highland Violence Against Women Partnership (HVAWP) claim that rape, human trafficking, assault and prostitution take place in the industry.
A spokesman for Private Eyes reacted strongly to the allegations about the business, branding them “total fantasy”, arguing that many of the sources refer to England or the US and are not applicable to Inverness.
He said: “Rape and gang rape, dancers bottled, dumped in the street half-naked, underage dancers, prostitution, and human trafficking? This is total fantasy.
“We have never had any of these things happen in our premises in the 24 years of operating and have strict age checks, have controls in place to ensure there would never be trafficking and never use any agencies.
“We have had no police or disturbance issues since we opened in Inverness. There is zero connection between dancers in a gentlemen’s club and prostitution. If there was, there would be police action and that also has never occurred in those 24 years.
“If there were drug issues in the club the authorities would soon take away our licence. We have never had this problem and never had a single person charged with any drug offence ever.”
He added: “We take pride in having dancers working with us for, in some cases, 20 years because of the safe and friendly environment. In the whole of Scotland in all the various clubs there has never been a case of either human trafficking or prostitution or underage dancers in over 24 years.”
Many of the responses were from groups hostile to the existence of such venues with possibly the strongest representation coming from the HVAWP.
The HVAWP chairman DCI Donald MacDonald said: “There has been extensive research, first-hand testimonies and statistical evidence gathered over many years which provides evidence that sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) are not harmless entertainment places.
“SEVs are places where the abuse of young girls and women is rife and where the degradation of those trapped in poverty is normalised. Routes into ‘performing’ range from abusive childhoods, human trafficking and lack of perceived alternatives.
“Verbal, physical and sexual harassment and assault of lap dancers is standard and constant. This is carried out by punters and staff alike. Assault includes GBH, stalking, rape and gang rape.
“They’ve been bottled. Drunk, half-naked dancers have been dumped in the street. Underage dancers, non-payment, prostitution and trafficking are also not uncommon. The culture of normalisation, denial and intimidation ensures reports are rarely made.”
Though there is no suggestion that Private Eyes is accused of any of those abuses, it is clear that HVAWP views SEVs as deeply troublesome.
Highland Council’s licensing committee will discuss its SEV policy on Monday.
Related Story – Sex entertainment venues could be effectively banned by Highland Council amid serious concerns of abuse associated with strip clubs
