Office of Public Sector Information

Section 1.

SCHEDULE 2 AMENDMENTS CONSEQUENTIAL ON SECTION 1

Hypnotism Act 1952 (c. 46)

1For section 2(4) of the Hypnotism Act 1952 (control of demonstrations of hypnotism at places not licensed for public entertainment) there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(4)In this section, the expression “controlling authority” in relation to a place in any area means the authority having power to grant licences of the kind mentioned in section 1 above in that area.”.

Private Places of Entertainment (Licensing) Act 1967 (c. 19)

2In section 1(1) of the Private Places of Entertainment (Licensing) Act 1967 (power to adaopt that Act in certain area) for the words from “in which any” to the edn there shall be substituted the words “specified in the first column of Part I of the Schedule to this Act.”.

3In section 2 of that Act (certain private places of entertainment to require licences)—

(a)in subsection (1)(a) for the words from “public” to “area” there shall be substituted the words “a public entertainment” ; and

(b)in subsection (2)(a) for the words “any enactment mentioned in section 1(1) of this Act” there shall be substituted the words “paragraph 1 of Schedule 12 to the London Government Act 1963 (which provides for the licensing of premises used for public music or dancing in London) or paragraph 1 or 4 of Schedule 1 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (which taken together make similar provision for other areas in England and Wales)”.

4For Part I of the Schedule to that Act there shall be substituted the following—

“Part I Adopting and Licensing Authorities

Licensing Act 1964 (c. 26)

5In section 79(1) of the Licensing Act 1964 (licensing authority’s certificate of suitability of club premises for music and dancing) for the words from “and which are” to “those regulations” there shall be substituted the words “, the licensing authority under the statutory regulations for music and dancing”.

6In section 201(1) of that Act for the words after the word “means” in the definition of “statutory regulations for music and dancing” there shall be substituted—

“(i)Schedule 12 to the London Government Act 1963 ; or

(ii)Schedule 1 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 ;”.

SCHEDULE 3 Control of Sex Establishments

Saving for existing law

1Nothing in this Schedule—

(a)shall afford a defence to a charge in respect of any offence at common law or under an enactment other than this Schedule; or

(b)shall be taken into account in any way—

(i)at a trial for such an offence; or

(ii)in proceedings for forfeiture under section 3 of the M1Obscene Publications Act 1959 or section 5 of the M2Protection of Children Act 1978; or

(iii)in proceedings for condemnation under Schedule 3 to the M3Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 of goods which section 42 of the M4Customs Consolidation Act 1876 prohibits to be imported or brought into the United Kingdom as being indecent or obscene; or

(c)shall in any way limit the other powers exercisable under any of those Acts.

Meaning of “sex establishment”

2In this Schedule “sex establishment” means a sex cinema or a sex shop.

Meaning of “sex cinema”

3(1)In this Schedule, “sex cinema” means any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used to a significant degree for the exhibition of moving pictures, by whatever means produced, which—

(a)are concerned primarily with the portrayal of, or primarily deal with or relate to, or are intended to stimulate or encourage—

(i)sexual activity; or

(ii)acts of force or restraint which are associated with sexual activity; or

(b)are concerned primarily with the portrayal of, or primarily deal with or relate to, genital organs or urinary or excretory functions,

but does not include a dwelling-house to which the public is not admitted.

(2)No premises shall be treated as a sex cinema by reason only—

(a)if they are licensed under [F1section 1 of the Cinemas Act 1985], of their use for a purpose for which a licence under [F1that section] is required; or—

[F2(b)of their use for an exhibition to which section 6 of that Act (certain non-commercial exhibitions) applies given by an exempted organisation within the meaning of section 6(6) of that Act.]

Meaning of “sex shop” and “sex article”

4(1)In this Schedule “sex shop” means any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used for a business which consists to a significant degree of selling, hiring, exchanging, lending, displaying or demonstrating—

(a)sex articles; or

(b)other things intended for use in connection with, or for the purpose of stimulating or encouraging—

(i)sexual activity; or

(ii)acts of force or restraint which are associated with sexual activity.

(2)No premises shall be treated as a sex shop by reason only of their use for the exhibition of moving pictures by whatever means produced.

(3)In this Schedule “sex article” means—

(a)anything made for use in connection with, or for the purpose of stimulating or encouraging—

(i)sexual activity; or

(ii)acts of force or restraint which are associated with sexual activity; and

(b)anything to which sub-paragraph (4) below applies.

(4)This sub-paragraph applies—

(a)to any article containing or embodying matter to be read or looked at or anything intended to be used, either alone or as one of a set, for the reproduction or manufacture of any such article; and

(b)to any recording of vision or sound,

which—

(i)is concerned primarily with the portrayal of, or primarily deals with or relates to, or is intended to stimulate or encourage, sexual activity or acts of force or restraint which are associated with sexual activity; or

(ii)is concerned primarily with the portrayal of, or primarily deals with or relates to, genital organs, or urinary or excretory functions.

Miscellaneous definitions

5(1)In this Schedule—

• “the appropriate authority” means, in relation to any area for which a resolution has been passed under section 2 above, the local authority who passed it;

• “the chief officer of police”, in relation to any locality, means the chief officer of police for the police area in which the locality is situated; and

• “vessel” includes any ship, boat, raft or other apparatus constructed or adapted for floating on water.

(2)This Schedule applies to hovercraft as it applies to vessels.

Requirement for licences for sex establishments

6(1)Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, no person shall in any area in which this Schedule is in force use any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall as a sex establishment except under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted under this Schedule by the appropriate authority.

(2)Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply to the sale, supply or demonstration of articles which—

(a)are manufactured for use primarily for the purposes of birth control; or

(b)primarily relate to birth control.

7(1)Any person who—

(a)uses any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall as a sex establishment; or

(b)proposes to do so,

may apply to the appropriate authority for them to waive the requirement of a licence.

(2)An application under this paragraph may be made either as part of an application for a licence under this Schedule or without any such application.

(3)An application under this paragraph shall be made in writing and shall contain the particulars specified in paragraph 10(2) to (5) below and such particulars as the appropriate authority may reasonably require in addition.

(4)The appropriate authority may waive the requirement of a licence in any case where they consider that to require a licence would be unreasonable or inappropriate.

(5)A waiver may be for such period as the appropriate authority think fit.

(6)Where the appropriate authority grant an application for a waiver, they shall give the applicant for the waiver notice that they have granted his application.

(7)The appropriate authority may at any time give a person who would require a licence but for a waiver notice that the waiver is to terminate on such date not less than 28 days from the date on which they give the notice as may be specified in the notice.

Grant, renewal and transfer of licences for sex establishments

8Subject to paragraph 12(1) below, the appropriate authority may grant to any applicant, and from time to time renew, a licence under this Schedule for the use of any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall specified in it for a sex establishment on such terms and conditions and subject to such restrictions as may be so specified.

9(1)Subject to paragraphs 11 and 27 below, any licence under this Schedule shall, unless previously cancelled under paragraph 16 or revoked under paragraph 17(1) below, remain in force for one year or for such shorter period specified in the licence as the appropriate authority may think fit.

(2)Where a licence under this Schedule has been granted to any person, the appropriate authority may, if they think fit, transfer that licence to any other person on the application of that other person.

10(1)An application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under this Schedule shall be made in writing to the appropriate authority.

(2)An application made otherwise than by or on behalf of a body corporate or an unincorporated body shall state—

(a)the full name of the applicant;

(b)his permanent address; and

(c)his age.

(3)An application made by a body corporate or an unincorporated body shall state—

(a)the full name of the body;

(b)the address of its registered or principal office; and

(c)the full names and private addresses of the directors or other persons responsible for its management.

(4)An application relating to premises shall state the full address of the premises.

(5)An application relating to a vehicle, vessel or stall shall state where it is to be used as a sex establishment.

(6)Every application shall contain such particulars as the appropriate authority may reasonably require in addition to any particulars required under sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) above.

(7)An applicant for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under this Schedule shall give public notice of the application.

(8)Notice shall in all cases be given by publishing an advertisement in a local newspaper circulating in the appropriate authority’s area.

(9)The publication shall not be later than 7 days after the date of the application.

(10)Where the application is in respect of premises, notice of it shall in addition be displayed for 21 days beginning with the date of the application on or near the premises and in a place where the notice can conveniently be read by the public.

(11)Every notice under this paragraph which relates to premises shall identify the premises.

(12)Every such notice which relates to a vehicle, vessel or stall shall specify where it is to be used as a sex establishment.

(13)Subject to sub-paragraphs (11) and (12) above, a notice under this paragraph shall be in such form as the appropriate authority may prescribe.

(14)An applicant for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under this Schedule shall, not later than 7 days after the date of the application, send a copy of the application to the chief officer of police.

(15)Any person objecting to an application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under this Schedule shall give notice in writing of his objection to the appropriate authority, stating in general terms the grounds of the objection, not later than 28 days after the date of the application.

(16)Where the appropriate authority receive notice of any objection under sub-paragraph (15) above, the authority shall, before considering the application, give notice in writing of the general terms of the objection to the applicant.

(17)The appropriate authority shall not without the consent of the person making the objection reveal his name or address to the applicant.

(18)In considering any application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence the appropriate authority shall have regard to any observations submitted to them by the chief officer of police and any objections of which notice has been sent to them under sub-paragraph (15) above.

(19)The appropriate authority shall give an opportunity of appearing before and of being heard by a committee or sub-committee of the authority—

(a)before refusing to grant a licence, to the applicant;

(b)before refusing to renew a licence, to the holder; and

(c)before refusing to transfer a licence, to the holder and the person to whom he desires that it shall be transferred.

(20)Where the appropriate authority refuse to grant, renew or transfer a licence, they shall, if required to do so by the applicant or holder of the licence, give him a statement in writing of the reasons for their decision within 7 days of his requiring them to do so.

11(1)Where, before the date of expiry of a licence, an application has been made for its renewal, it shall be deemed to remain in force notwithstanding that the date has passed until the withdrawal of the application or its determination by the appropriate authority.

(2)Where, before the date of expiry of a licence, an application has been made for its transfer, it shall be deemed to remain in force with any necessary modifications until the withdrawal of the application or its determination, notwithstanding that the date has passed or that the person to whom the licence is to be transferred if the application is granted is carrying on the business of the sex establishment.

Refusal of licences

12(1)A licence under this Schedule shall not be granted—

(a)to a person under the age of 18; or

(b)to a person who is for the time being disqualified under paragraph 17(3) below; or

(c)to a person, other than a body corporate, who is not resident in the United Kingdom or was not so resident throughout the period of six months immediately preceding the date when the application was made; or

(d)to a body corporate which is not incorporated in the United Kingdom; or

(e)to a person who has, within a period of 12 months immediately preceding the date when the application was made, been refused the grant or renewal of a licence for the premises, vehicle, vessel or stall in respect of which the application is made, unless the refusal has been reversed on appeal.

(2)Subject to paragraph 27 below, the appropriate authority may refuse—

(a)an application for the grant or renewal of a licence on one or more of the grounds specified in sub-paragraph (3) below;

(b)an application for the transfer of a licence on either or both of the grounds specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of that sub-paragraph.

(3)The grounds mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above are—

(a)that the applicant is unsuitable to hold the licence by reason of having been convicted of an offence or for any other reason;

(b)that if the licence were to be granted, renewed or transferred the business to which it relates would be managed by or carried on for the benefit of a person, other than the applicant, who would be refused the grant, renewal or transfer of such a licence if he made the application himself;

(c)that the number of sex establishments in the relevant locality at the time the application is made is equal to or exceeds the number which the authority consider is appropriate for that locality;

(d)that the grant or renewal of the licence would be inappropriate, having regard—

(i)to the character of the relevant locality; or

(ii)to the use to which any premises in the vicinity are put; or

(iii)to the layout, character or condition of the premises, vehicle, vessel or stall in respect of which the application is made.

(4)Nil may be an appropriate number for the purposes of sub-paragraph (3)(c) above.

(5)In this paragraph “the relevant locality” means—

(a)in relation to premises, the locality where they are situated; and

(b)in relation to a vehicle, vessel or stall, any locality where it is desired to use it as a sex establishment.

Power to prescribe standard conditions

13(1)Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the appropriate authority may make regulations prescribing standard conditions applicable to licences for sex establishments, that is to say, terms, conditions and restrictions on or subject to which licences under this Schedule are in general to be granted, renewed or transferred by them.

(2)Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) above may make different provision—

(a)for sex cinemas and sex shops; and

(b)for different kinds of sex cinemas and sex shops.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above, regulations under this paragraph may prescribe conditions regulating—

(a)the hours of opening and closing of sex establishments;

(b)displays or advertisements on or in such establishments;

(c)the visibility of the interior of sex establishments to passersby; and

(d)any change of a sex cinema to a sex shop or a sex shop to a sex cinema.

(4)Where the appropriate authority have made regulations under sub-paragraph (1) above, every such licence granted, renewed or transferred by them shall be presumed to have been so granted, renewed or transferred subject to any standard conditions applicable to it unless they have been expressly excluded or varied.

(5)Where the appropriate authority have made regulations under sub-paragraph (1) above, they shall, if so requested by any person, supply him with a copy of the regulations on payment of such reasonable fee as the authority may determine.

(6)In any legal proceedings the production of a copy of any regulations made by the appropriate authority under sub-paragraph (1) above purporting to be certified as a true copy by an officer of the authority authorised to give a certificate for the purposes of this paragraph shall be prima facie evidence of such regulations, and no proof shall be required of the handwriting or official position or authority of any person giving such certificate.

Copies of licences and standard conditions

14(1)The holder of a licence under this Schedule shall keep exhibited in a suitable place to be specified in the licence a copy of the licence and any regulations made under paragraph 13(1) above which prescribe standard conditions subject to which the licence is held.

(2)The appropriate authority shall send a copy of any licence granted under this Schedule to the chief officer of police for the area where the sex establishment is situated.

Transmission and cancellation of licences

15—In the event of the death of the holder of a licence granted under this Schedule, that licence shall be deemed to have been granted to his personal representatives and shall, unless previously revoked, remain in force until the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the death and shall then expire; but the appropriate authority may from time to time, on the application of those representatives, extend or further extend the period of three months if the authority are satisfied that the extension is necessary for the purpose of winding up the deceased’s estate and that no other circumstances make it undesirable.

16The appropriate authority may, at the written request of the holder of a licence, cancel the licence.

Revocation of licences

17(1)The appropriate authority may, after giving the holder of a licence under this Schedule an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by them, at any time revoke the licence—

(a)on any ground specified in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 12 above; or

(b)on either of the grounds specified in sub-paragraph (3)(a) and (b) of that paragraph.

(2)Where a licence is revoked, the appropriate authority shall, if required to do so by the person who held it, give him a statement in writing of the reasons for their decision within 7 days of his requiring them to do so.

(3)Where a licence is revoked, its holder shall be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence in the area of the appropriate authority for a period of 12 months beginning with the date of revocation.

Variation of licences

18(1)The holder of a licence under this Schedule may at any time apply to the appropriate authority for any such variation of the terms, conditions or restrictions on or subject to which the licence is held as may be specified in the application.

(2)The appropriate authority—

(a)may make the variation specified in the application; or

(b)may make such variations as they think fit; or

(c)may refuse the application.

(3)The variations that an authority may make by virtue of sub-paragraph (2)(b) above include, without prejudice to the generality of that sub-paragraph, variations involving the imposition of terms, conditions or restrictions other than those specified in the application.

Fees

19An applicant for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under this Schedule shall pay a reasonable fee determined by the appropriate authority.

Enforcement

20(1)A person who—

(a)knowingly uses, or knowingly causes or permits the use of, any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall contrary to paragraph 6 above; or

(b)being the holder of a licence for a sex establishment, employs in the business of the establishment any person known to him to be disqualified from holding such a licence; or

(c)being the holder of a licence under this Schedule, without reasonable excuse knowingly contravenes, or without reasonable excuse knowingly permits the contravention of, a term, condition or restriction specified in the licence; or

(d)being the servant or agent of the holder of a licence under this Schedule, without reasonable excuse knowingly contravenes, or without reasonable excuse knowingly permits the contravention of, a term, condition or restriction specified in the licence,

shall be guilty of an offence.

21Any person who, in connection with an application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under this Schedule, makes a false statement which he knows to be false in any material respect or which he does not believe to be true, shall be guilty of an offence.

22(1)A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 20 or 21 above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1£20,000].

(2)A person who, being the holder of a licence under this Schedule, fails without reasonable excuse to comply with paragraph 14(1) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F2level 3 on the standard scale].

Offences relating to persons under 18

23(1)A person who, being the holder of a licence for a sex establishment—

(a)without reasonable excuse knowingly permits a person under 18 years of age to enter the establishment; or

(b)employs a person known to him to be under 18 years of age in the business of the establishment,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2)A person guilty of an offence under this paragraph shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1£20,000].