House committee calls for regulation of gentlemen's clubs - Paceville consultation launched
The parliamentary Social Affairs Committee has suggested that Gentlemen's Clubs in Paceville should be regulated to ensure that no laws are broken.
In a report published for public consultation, the committee says that signage outside the clubs should consist of words only and should not include graphics which may be offensive for passers by.
The committee last month held a series of meetings with people connected to Paceville and is discussing ways to improve law and order in the locality.
PROPOSALS
The report proposes that the day-to-day management of Paceville should be in the hands of an executive committee headed by the Mayor of St Julians and including stakeholders from the private and public sector.
It calls for incentives for people to use public transport to travel to Paceville and there should be reserved parking for residents.
It also calls for closer collaboration between the police and the entertainment sector, including bouncers.
The report proposes a revision of penalties when public order laws are broken and the police should be given greater resources to maintain order. More CCTV cameras should be installed to help in law enforcement.
The report calls for better organisation in refuse collection.
With regard to foreign students, the report says the students need to be given written instructions on what is unacceptable and those responsible for the schools should ensure that students behave in the appropriate manner.
Gentlemen's clubs should be regulated to ensure that there is no illegality. Signage outside the clubs should consist of words only and should not include offensive graphics.
Entertainment spots should be regularly checked by the authorities to ensure that emergency exists are easily available.
The committee insists that road works should ensure that all parts of Paceville are accessible for people with disabilities.
The committee also called for a public convenience in Paceville.
PRIVATE SECTOR SUGGESTIONS
Other suggestions, made by the private sector, included calls for the opening of a clinic and the deployment of an ambulance in Paceville, contingency planning by the police in case of a major emergency, the setting up of a police station, updating of public order laws, the use of decibel meters to check sound levels in places or entertainment, and relocation of the taxi stand.
The report can be viewed by clicking the pdf link below.
Comments can be submitted to the committee up to March 2 on socialaffairs@parlament.mt or by traditional mail to The Secretary, Social Affairs Committee, the Palace, Valletta.
Attached files
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43 Comments
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Peter Shaw
Feb 9th, 11:15
Il hmieg barra qieghed, fl ixkejjer tal iskart mal kantunieri mhux fl istrip clubs !!!!
Peter Shaw
Feb 9th, 11:14
@Joe Fenech, you did not understand the analogy, sorry its a difficult word for you :))
Joe Fenech
Feb 9th, 22:32
How could you possibly compare the two ?!
David Caruana
Feb 9th, 09:33
Legalise and regulate full-strip clubs.
Legalise and regulate prostitution too.
These activites happen anyway, whether legal or not. The role of the state is to protect all those involved and not to prohibit. What happens between two CONSENTING adults is not the state's business.
This moralistic mentality has to stop and it WILL stop.
Yes to regulation. No to prohibition.
Mike Hunt
Feb 9th, 16:07
Absolutely. And above all regulate religion, the prime cause for widespread homophobia.
joe galea
Feb 9th, 09:04
About time!!!!!!!!!
David Caruana
Feb 9th, 07:56
"Signage outside the clubs should consist of words only and should not include offensive graphics"
What's the offensive graphic? Is the silhouette of a woman's body offensive?! Paceville IS a place of entertainment. Those who get offended by the shape of a woman should stay at home.
This is a European State and NOT the Vatican.
Joe Fenech
Feb 9th, 08:37
It is the image it conveys that is offensive, that of modern slavery. Remember that whether it's Soho or Pigalle, discretion on the outside is expected from these venues.
David Caruana
Feb 9th, 09:18
Modern slavery? Is a woman who is WILLING to dance in bikini (or naked, if it was legal) for money a slave?
The state needs to regulate and check how these individuals are being employed. The state needs to protect both dancers and patrons, but what happens between two consenting adults is none of their business.
I repeat once again, there is nothing offensive on the outside of these clubs unless you are offended by the image of a woman.
Joe Fenech
Feb 9th, 18:20
If she choses YES, it's OK. BUT there are also many women who are abducted or promised jobs in the west to then find themselves forced into prostitution. There is also the third case where many university students today work in the sex trade in order to pay their university fees. This has been common in the USA for a long time and is now spreading in the UK.
Peter Shaw
Feb 8th, 22:49
I find naked statues offending also!
Joe Fenech
Feb 9th, 08:34
So is your lack of taste! Are you so desperate?
Gustav Svensson
Feb 8th, 22:32
Paceville - the red light district of the Med... Wake up and put a stop to it.
David Caruana
Feb 9th, 10:25
What's wrong with a red light district?!
We should stop an UNREGULATED red light district, but not a well regulated and liberalised red light district.
If people want to pay or receive money for sex, it's none of your business. The state has the duty and obligation to protect all those involved but NOT to regulate the adults' behaviour (when no one is being hurt by their activity).
A Camilleri
Feb 8th, 22:32
Gentlemen?????
Joe Fenech
Feb 8th, 22:31
You call Gentlemen people who are so desperate as to pay money to see some w.... flaunting her boobs? They should be called maniac, pig or desperate people's clubs!
David Caruana
Feb 9th, 09:24
Maniacs could be equally used on all those who take part or watch a 'Good' (sic) Friday procession, having fun watching blood, battered people and people nailed to a cross.
This is a pluralistic country, so if you want to call people names , be ready to be at the receiving end too.
Joe Fenech
Feb 9th, 22:34
Do you really think than when I visit I waste my time on your kitsch?
Peter Shaw
Feb 8th, 22:19
I get offended seeing a half naked man on a cross !
Peter Shaw
Feb 8th, 22:14
Ahjar taraw kif taghmlu biex il gbir tal iskart isir ahjar u mhux jingema mal kantunieri ta' Paceville
Ivan Scicluna
Feb 8th, 21:45
Ghax ma tikkoncentrawx fuq il-hemel ta' affarjiet importanti li ghandkhom pendenti, minnflok toqghodu titilfu z-zmien fuq dawn ic-cucati? Unbelievable!!!!
T Gauci
Feb 8th, 20:24
After 2007 Paceville got to the dogs, too much building and work it became an industrial zone.
Andrew Saliba
Feb 9th, 07:40
Looks like you haven't been there in a while. The only site under construction in Paceville at the moment is the Mercury site,
Mary Ann Borg
Feb 8th, 19:39
Pajjiz tat-Talibani nsomma. Illum il-pajjiz kellu sentenza bis-sens fil-qorti b'rabta ma censura u fl'istess gurnata nissugerixxu li lanqas 'signage' ma jkun hemm fit-toroq. Ghal mitejn mil fin-nofsinhar stajna gejna kollha musulmani ghax hekk jiddettaw erba mit-Talibani f'nofsna.
Carmel Camilleri
Feb 8th, 20:44
Mary Ann Borg minnek nippretendi li tiddefendi persuni ta l-istess sess tieghek. Hafna tfajliet barranin f'dawn il clubs qeghdin jigu sfruttati. MODERN SLAVERY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joseph M. Grech.
Feb 8th, 22:07
@ Ms Mary Ann Borg
Ms Borg jigifieri int qed tghid li t-Talibani jew il-Musulmani ghandhom il-gentlemen's clubs minghajr is-signage?
Joe Fenech
Feb 9th, 08:39
X'ghandu x'jaqsam! IVA, dan hu pajjiz tat-Talibani imma li tnaqqas l-iskjavitu umana u id-dodgy businesses li jimxu id f'id ma' dawn il-clubs ma fiha xejn.
Mike Hunt
Feb 9th, 16:12
@Carmel Camilleri
Which is why clubs and adult entertainment has to be regulated. Pushed (or kept) underground will only lead to abuse.
Tony Busuttil
Feb 8th, 19:37
what about regulation 38 fifth schedule A.L.1TA L-2006 TAL KODICI ?
INTERESSANTI
Carmel Camilleri
Feb 8th, 18:45
What about the working conditions of the dancers ?
Modern slavery !!!!!!!!!!!
Massimo Lubrano
Feb 8th, 18:29
This will be done with the same speed that the bouncer [security personnel] rules are being done.
D. A . Agius
Feb 8th, 18:14
Public consultation? Here it comes:
Do install the decibel meters proposed, which cut off power once levels (hopefully approved by residents, not businesses) are exceeded. No excuses about noise being generated by the crowd. Decibel Meter sensors should be located BOTH inside and Outside the location and regulations stipulate the location so that no attempts are made to hinder their sensitivity.
Hopefully, extend these to ANY place of entertainment where amplified music is allowed and make its set up part of the conditions to be granted a licence.
Don't put in a Police Station. A couple of holding vans are what's needed and staff to take any defaulters to the station immediately.
Bars Health and Safety. Install electronic meters to assess how many people go in/out of the bar and the amount of people inside the bar. Prominent signs outside and a logging system to be added to indicate when permissible amount of people within are exceeded.
A Health and safety inspectorate for Paceville needs to be set up ensuring: H&S rules, emergency exists, public areas are safe at all times. Regular samples of drinks served should also be collected to analyse whether drinks are spiked.
Police. Forget about District Police. They should be catering for Swieqi, St. Julian's, Pembroke, SAn Gwann and Madliena. That's the composition of the district, excluding Paceville. Paceville itself should be catered for by SAG and other highly trained officers in public order offences and crowd management, together with advanced first aid.
On a national level, but located somewhere close to Paceville a complex with night holding cells and a night court needs to be setup and backed with a legal system that delivers quick justice for minor crimes and more importantly, starts off the proceedings for more serious crimes.
F*****g Bay? Easy, do like it was done for the garden opposite Wembley. Fence it off and open/close the beach at appropriate times. Someone must take care of the garden and the same should be done for the beach. Trespassers should be fined, say, 200EUR each.
Finally, drink driving. Not a big issue for anyone, and in fact in this report has only been mentioned in passing. Exits need to be monitored on most nights with breathalyser equipped officers.
And lastly, discipline and respect. That's needed by Police, Bouncers, Bar Operators, Paceville Goers. Most of the problems highlighted are only a serious statement of facts that this is non-existent.
Albert Farrugia
Feb 8th, 17:39
What about the working conditions of the dancers or whatever they are in these clubs? Is anyone taking care of this?
Joseph M. Grech.
Feb 8th, 17:30
Not much gentleman's behaviour in these gentleman's clubs!
Joseph Calleja
Feb 8th, 17:14
The same old argument. How do you fight money? The same old saying. Money talks and bullshit walks. Enough said.
Mr Duncan Scerri
Feb 8th, 17:05
"The report proposes that the day-to-day management of Paceville should be in the hands of an executive committee headed by the Mayor of St Julians"
Oh, no, not Bonnello. Have you seen the state of St Julian's recently? Perhaps the local elections will resolve this matter to a more favourable outcome.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 8th, 17:51
The day to day management of Paceville has always been and will always stay in the hands of the club owners. Nothing will ever change that, because they are the ones keep Paceville in business.
Paul Azzopardi
Feb 8th, 17:01
Alot could improve with a public convenience and an emergency clinic would be more likely needed,there have been more incidents in PV than any other place in malta and most of the time they are nasty situations happening in all hours so the clinic should be till early mornings on weekends with an ambulance close by. An alternating commitee specifically for PV would make more sense to reduce corruption and bribes...errr no that wouldnt happen , right? It should be the body that controls who gets employed as a bouncer or not, as to reduce these hot heads being at the doors. But then again doesnt everyone know these things? How many more times do we have to see it on the Times before anyone seriously ANYONE does anything about it??? Maybe not before someone's son or daughter ,God forbid ,dies. Come on wake up
Jean-Michel Azzopardi
Feb 8th, 17:00
Sounds good
K. Bugeja
Feb 8th, 16:39
quoting - 'the committee says that signage outside the clubs should consist of words only and should not include graphics which may be offensive for passers by.'
unquoted.... so signage outside these clubs should consist of words only since graphics may be offensive for passers....
AND WHAT ABOUT ADVERTS ON BILLBOARDS AROUND MALTA SHOWING WOMEN IN UNDERWEAR IN REAL FLESH NOT GRAPHICS??????
William Calleja
Feb 8th, 16:57
It's going to take a lot of hard work talent and dedication to offend the sensibilities of passers by in paceville on your average weekend night. Unless the church decides to reschedule their kana meetings in the main plaza chances are that nobody will be really offended by anything that goes on there.
Jean-Michel Azzopardi
Feb 8th, 17:00
your argument is invalid
T Mifsud
Feb 8th, 17:22
Why restrictions restrictions restrictions? Why the signage in words not graphics. There is really no sense in this but to justify someone coming up with something in a form of restriction, Signage should be in grafics to indicate it is an adult club.
And alert!!! Are we introducing the damned UK disease of 'Just in case someone gets offended' ?!
This latter is the precursor of the failed UK system (declared in House of Commons parliament). Stop it right now. Let us not go there!