Tough rules for Aberdeen strip clubs will finally be introduced next year, aimed at tackling human traffickers and violence against women.
Sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licences will finally be made a legal requirement in March, more than a year after initially planned.
At a final read-through of the new legislation, police urged council licensing bosses to tighten up the rules to reduce the risk of exploitation in Aberdeen clubs offering more hardcore experiences.
There are no such venues currently in the Granite City, but the rules would be in place should that change.
Council officials are now exploring whether adding a “consent register” to the requirements for venues offering more raunchy performances would breach data laws.
And the meeting also heard a plea from one city centre venue which offers occasional strip shows along with meals, trying to save their expansion plans.
Extra requirements for clubs offering bondage and S&M in Aberdeen
Pressing for the improvements, police told members of the licensing committee: “It would provide options should types of activities, not currently in our area, are applied for in the future.
“Where a specific activity is assessed as being higher risk, such as bondage, S&M acts, flagellation, etc, it should be a condition that a copy of photographic identity of any participant is obtained and retained in accordance with GDPR.
“Additionally, the committee could consider whether a consent register would be appropriate when risk activities are to take place.”
Council licensing solicitor Karen Gatherum revealed the requirement had not been planned as a blanket rule, but would be used if any plans for an S&M club emerged.
Convener John Reynolds, buoyed by fellow councillor Gordon Townson’s calls to be “emphatic and very specific”, said it should included as part of a “belts and braces” approach.
Former cop Mr Townson brought the police calls to the fore, citing policy regarding reducing violence against women.
He said: “I think this consent register might be very appropriate.”
Ms Gatherum said it would be included in the new policy if there were no GDPR issues.
The rule of six: Maximum number of strip clubs set at half a dozen in Aberdeen
The new rules will limit strip clubs in Aberdeen to six, the number currently operating, when they come into force on March 1.
It means no new premises can open without another closing, and that all SEVs will be contained within the city centre.
However, proprietors of a Crown Terrace restaurant had pressed to up that to seven – so they could expand their hen and stag party business offering “adult entertainment” with meals.
Currently House Of Ginza can offer four of these parties a year and would need one of the new licences to hold any more.
Solicitors working for owners Gloryever Ltd said they had acknowledged their plans to make the parties a regular thing when applying for their trading licence, addressing police and the licensing board.
However, members of the licensing committee – separate from the board and in charge of the SEV rule change – declined their request for an extra licence.
Vice-convener Tauqeer Malik said: “Where will we end up then, if not six, then seven, then eight?
“We have to put some kind of limit in place and I think six will be more than enough.”
Costs for Aberdeen strip club licences set by councillors
Councillors originally voted to licence SEVs at the start of December 2019 and planned to bring them into force on January 1, 2021.
But the Covid pandemic forced the introduction to be pushed back to next March.
The policy has been drawn up with input from Aberdeen Cyrenians, GMB Union, Grampian Rape Crisis, Grampian Regional Equality Council, Grampian Women’s Aid, Parentline, the Scottish Children’s Reporter, United Voices, Women’s Aid and the city’s community councils.
A new licence will cost £400, while renewal will cost £250.
Companies looking to vary their licences will be charged another £50.
