Dancers At Ealing Club Had Sex With Customers
Director of LA Confidential says he was ' shocked' when he read evidence
Dancers at an Ealing strip club had sex with clients according to a police report due before a council committee hearing (Thursday 21st)
LA Confidential - which calls itself ' the premier gentlemen's club' is under the spotlight for breaches of regulations and could lose its licence to operate.
The investigation followed an anonymous complaint to the authority, alleging dancers at the club were:
•Breaching conditions
•Customers and dancers were taking drugs
•Sexual acts were taking place in areas not covered by CCTV
•The security team was complicit and were taking money
•Dancers were being fined by the club for misdemeanours.
CCTV was obtained from the Club on 1 March 2018. However, the officer investigating believed this was not fit for purpose as the dancers and customers appeared to be fully aware of the blind spots, together with the obscured vision beyond the hanging curtains.
Concerns have also been raised by The Public Health Authority about sexual services posing dangers to women, and fears that there aren't enough procedures in place to ensure under-age staff aren't working at the club after it was found a dancer had been employed under the legal age of 21.
The Police believe that the conduct of the premises show a complete disregard to the Licensing Objectives. However, thirteen representations have been made in support of LA confidential including former employees and customers of the club who said they belived it was a safe environment.
In a witness statement to the council, Director and Shareholder of LA Confidential, Kiran Gulati, has queried some of the evidence over CCTV but has apologised for any breaches, writing:
'' I have read through the evidence from the police and licensing authority and I was shocked.''
Mr Gulati goes on to explain that when the club opened in 2006 he was involved for several years, but stepped back to concentrate on other business interests.
However he says once he was made aware of the allegations he employed a private consultant and has already made a number of changes in how the club operates including regular covert assessment to ensure licensing compliance.
He concludes: '' On the basis of these proposals I would assure the committee that we will comply with all terms and conditions and the licenses may remain in force.''
The Council have to consider whether the club is contributing to crime and disorder; affecting public safety; causing a nuisance to the public and harm to children when it reviews club's licence.
June 20th 2018