Bristol City Council’s licensing committee is currently considering whether to implement a nil cap on Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) in the city centre. A nil cap approach is supported by Bristol Women’s Commission and Bristol Women’s Voice, along with city leaders, gender violence experts and charities which work with survivors of gender-based violence.
This page includes a range of resources to help provide information in support of a nil cap, outline the key justification and address misinformation. We’d urge everyone responding to the consultation, councillors and journalists to read this in order to inform how they engage with the gender equality issue.
Briefings and reports:
- Full policy and evidence review by Safe and Equal Bristol
- Summary of policy review report
- Briefing on SEVs and male violence against women and girls
- Briefing on SEVs as employment opportunities
- FAQs
Articles:
- Bristol Women’s Commission criticises council for failing to act to protect women and girls in the city
- Bristol Women’s Commission position statement
- Bristol Women’s Voice position statement
- Opinion piece for Bristol247: Strip clubs promote a harmful sexist culture and stand in the way of equality
- Interview with Bristol Live: closing Bristol’s strip clubs would help tackle the epidemic of male violence
- Guardian article on announcement of nil cap proposal in Bristol
Videos:
- Men in Bristol talk about strip clubs and gender inequality
- Experts in gender equality, violence against women, public health and policy speak in support of a nil cap approach (Thangam Debonnaire MP, Prof Gene Feder, Prof Marianne Hester, Dr Helen Mott, Dr Penny Gane, Dr Jacci Stoyle, Dr Akima Thomas and Men at Work CIC’s Michael Conroy)
- Not Buying It campaign organisation addresses the counter arguments (Going Underground, Women’s Choice, ‘Gentlemen’s’ Club, Feeding Prostitution, Harm, Intimidation & Censorship, Denial and Strip Clubs: Real Guide)
