Sex Establishments are required to be licenced under the Local
Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
The fee is currently £1,457.
A sex establishment can either be a Sex Shop or a Sex Cinema.
A sex shop is a premises used for business which consists to a
significant degree of selling sex articles.
A sex cinema is any premises used to a significant degree for
showing of films which are concerned primarily with, or relate to,
or are intended to stimulate sexual activity.
The law defines the way in which an application is made, which
include advertising notice of the application in the local press
and displaying a notice outside the premises for a specific time
period to give passers by the opportunity to comment by a statutory
closing date.
When considering an application for a sex establishment licence the
Council may only use the following criteria:
- the suitability of the Applicant
- whether the person applying is a "front" person for someone
else
- the location and situation of the premises in relation to other
premises in the area
- whether the number of sex establisments in that locality is
equal to, or exceeds the number which the Council considers
appropriate for the area
Your Right of Appeal
- any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence or by
any condition to which a licence is subject may appeal to the
Magistrates' Court.
- an appeal against a decision made at the Magistrates Court may
be appealed at the Crown Court but the decision of the Crown Court
is final.
Offences and Penalties
- anybody who operates a sex establishment without a licence or
fails to comply with licence condition or admits persons under the
age of 18 is committing an offence.
- penalties upon conviction can range from £1,000 to £20,000.
Further Information
Copies of the Local Government (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1963 can be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationery
Office.
A copy of the legislation can be viewed at the Council Offices
where you can also obtain an application form and a copy of our
standard conditions.
Upon request we can e-mail a copy of your approved licence to
you.
For further information use the contact details below:
E-mail:
licensing@waveney.gov.uk
Telephone: 01502 523620
Fax: 01502 589327