In 2003, a report was released by Lilith Research and Development, a subsidiary project of Eaves Women’s Aid, a London women’s housing agency [and active campaign against adult entertainment].
The report examined the phenomenon of lap-dancing clubs in the north London borough of Camden and its effects on crime rates from the late 1990s onward. One conclusion that received considerable attention was the statement that following the introduction of lap-dancing clubs, rape in Camden rose by 50%.
In 2009, corrections to the statistics were reported in the Guardian stating that the change between 1999 and 2002 was a somewhat lower increase of 33%. It still however implies evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between lap dancing clubs and rape. The uncorrected claims that rapes rose by50% after lap dancing clubs opened and that Camden’s incidence of rape is three time the national average are still reported in national and international media.
But Dr Magnanti’s paper, The impact of adult entertainment on rape statistics in Camden:a re-analysis, found:
This paper presents a broader analysis of the impact of lap-dancing clubs by calculating accurate rates of incidence, analysing statistics from a longer time period, and comparing the results with crime rates in neighbouring boroughs of London. The rate of rape in Camden is lower than that in comparable boroughs, including ones with no such clubs. The overall trend for London boroughs, while higher than the national average, shows a decrease where national statistics are on the increase.
Now further evidence has been made available that suggests that Lilith conclusions re increased crime near strip clubs are bollox.
A Freedom Of Information request presumably to Camden Council was made by a group called Community Safety who wanted it as part of a response to the Licensing Departments consultation on sex establishments in Camden.
This resulted in a summary of the results of an unpublished report. The original report examined crime near nine lap dancing clubs in Camden Borough. The summary reveals:
Three years worth of data (1 June 2008 – 31 May 2011) was collated of ‘all reported crime within 40 metres, and 10 metres of each club. The clubs are listed below:
- City Burlesque
- Parkers
- Red Rooms
- Secrets, Eversholt Street
- Secrets, Finchley Road
- Secrets, Gray’s Inn Road
- Secrets, Parker Street
- Spearmint Rhino
- The Griffin
The report attempts to determine whether crime around these venues is in any way excessive, or exceptionally different from what would be expected of any other night-time economy venue in Camden.
10 metre buffer zone
- The results showed an overall low level of offences with no obvious seasonality.
- Of all crime types other theft was considerably higher than other type of crime.
- Most offences occurred in the early hours of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- There is not an exceptional amount of crime around these venues at the 10 metre buffer level. The type of crime that is apparent mirrors what would be expected in any other night-time economy venue.
40 metre buffer zone
- The results showed an overall low level of offences with no obvious seasonality.
- Of all crime types other theft was considerably higher than other type of crime.
- Most offences occurred on Friday evening and early Saturday morning.
- As with the 10 metre buffer zone, there is no evidence when examining the 40 metre buffer zone of excessive levels of crime. Once again, the majority of crimes are other theft which is consistent with night-time economy venues.
Conclusion
There is no statistical evidence for a specific crime problem around lap-dancing clubs in Camden
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