Edinburgh strip club ban: Sex workers' unions says move is 'act of cruelty' to women on the breadline

Unions representing sex workers say they will take Edinburgh council to court over its decision to ban strip clubs in the city.

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They claim the move will drive sexual entertainment underground, take away women’s livelihoods and put them at more risk of violence.

The council’s regulatory committee voted by five to four to set a limit of zero on the number of sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) that should be allowed in the Capital under a new licensing scheme.

One union, United Voices of the World, said it was “extremely disappointed” that the council had “chosen to disregard its legal obligations and the relevant evidence by introducing a ‘nil-cap’ which will close all the strip clubs in the city”.

In a tweet, it continued: “This is a policy that discriminates against women. Not only does this violate the Equality Act 2010, it is an act of cruelty to remove the livelihoods of hundreds of workers as we enter the worst economic crisis since the 1970s. UVW is committed to overturning this policy via judicial review.”

United Sex Workers said it was “disappointed and angry” at the decision. It posted a statement saying: “Despite sharing their fears for their safety, for their livelihoods, sharing their expertise on their own working conditions, the council have chosen to force them into working under greater risk of violence, to further remove and limit their working rights and push more workers into unemployment.

“This decision will increase he risk of violence to women and girls. It will force them onto a benefits system that has been cut to pieces. It will drive workers into underground and unregulated spaces where they have no access to working rights, protections or the security of the clubs.”

The council's regulatory committee voted five-four to ban strip clubs. Picture: Justin Spittle

And it warned: “We will push for this decision to be reversed at judicial review.”

Even without a legal challenge, it will be at least a year before the ban takes effect. The new SEV licensing system comes into force on April 1, 2023 and despite the new policy there is nothing to stop existing venues applying for such a licence. They have until March 31, 2023 to do so, even though the new policy means they are likely to be refused. Once they have submitted an application they can carry on operating until the application is decided. And if it is refused they can appeal – and again continue operating until that is decided.

Labour councillor Joan Griffiths, who proposed the ban, said she did not want to see a legal challenge to the ban but added: “I don’t think we can make our decision on threats like that.”

She said she was not sure at the start of the meeting how it would go, but voiced her delight at the decision. “It was the right result for women in our city and for everybody. I respect and understand different people's points of view but I think it was the right thing to do to go for zero. The world is changing. I don't think there are as many people who want to visit these places. We also have to think about boys growing up and show them it's not really acceptable to go to places like that and that's not the way you should be treating women.

"No-one wants to see anybody lose their job. We will work with women to help them look at their careers and look at other employment options.”

What two strip club dancers told the committee:

Irma: "I like my job and I do not plan to pursue a different career if strip clubs are banned. If a nil cap is brought in I will be forced to work at private events, hotels and Airbnbs, where there are no security cameras or security staff and I would have to rely on third parties to find clients and give them a portion of my earnings, which would make it very easy for them to exploit me.”

Alexis: “I’ve been dancing in strip clubs for the past 15 years. I’m proud of what I do and I don’t want to be forced into doing another job just because it doesn’t fit in with other people’s moral values. We’re not all damaged women coming from abusive backgrounds and we don’t need to be saved. We are educated women making educated decisions about what is best for our lives.”

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