A High Court judge has ruled that Bournemouth, Christchuch and Poole council was unreasonable to dismiss a woman's moralistic safety concerns as moralistic. A council's policy on lapdancing and strip clubs was overturned by a high court judge, after a
challenge by a sexual abuse survivor who claimed it would have a negative impact on women's safety. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council adopted a new policy in November 2021, which allowed an unlimited number of sexual entertainment venues
in the area. The policy also meant there would be a presumption in favour of existing venues having their licence renewed annually. However, a judge at the high court in London has now ruled in favour of the woman and quashed the decision to adopt
the policy, concluding the council had wrongly ignored objections raised against it by dismissing them as moralistic. Mr Justice Akhlaq Choudhury decided that the woman was deeply concerned about the impact of such venues on the wellbeing and
safety of women. She believes they contribute to the objectification of women, and to a climate in which women are routinely subjected to sexual and domestic violence, harassment and discrimination. She also believes the policy would lead to a rise in
the number of sexual entertainment venues, resulting in an increase in risks to women's safety and welfare and to abusive and demeaning attitudes to women that are detrimental to relations between the sexes and to sex equality in general.
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