With a recent survey showing that 72% of women surveyed felt unsafe in our Night Time economy, and that 82% had suffered some form of sexual harassment, the time has come to put words into action, and take the practical steps necessary to tackle violence and intimidation against women and girls in Gloucestershire. 

We therefore call for an end to the licenced objectification and sexualisation of women in Gloucestershire and a reduction in the threatening environment for women and girls in the county by banning Strip Clubs and other Sexual Entertainment Venues in the County of Gloucestershire.

We ask the District Councils of the County, as licensing authorities, to follow the lead of towns like Blackpool, Exeter and Swansea and reduce to zero, the number of sexual entertainment venues permitted in their districts.

Further, to prevent the creation of unlicensed and unregulated Strip Clubs proliferating in the County without any consultation with local residents and potentially putting more women at risk, we call for the repeal of the provisions of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 which allow any pub or club to offer 11 nights of sexual entertainment a year without notification to police, council or local residents. 

It’s time to say no to strip clubs in Gloucestershire.