Justice Minister Owen Bonnici believes morality laws need to be revised in the wake of another court judgment slamming police action against lap- and pole-dancing clubs.

Dr Bonnici said the time had come for a thorough assessment to determine whether morality laws had to change or whether the police should take note of repeated court interpretations.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia ruled on Thursday that lap and pole dancing in adult clubs were not illegal because they did not constitute an immoral activity.

The case in question dated back to 2006 and the police charged two men who ran an adult club in Qawra because of pole-dancing activities on the premises.

Dr Bonnici would not comment on the case, pointing out that the appeals stage was not yet over but noted that a string of court judgments had given a constant interpretation of public morality.

“I said some months ago that the government will look into this sector... Once the courts have given us a clear interpretation of the law we have to assess whether the legislation needs changing or whether the police should take note and keep this in mind when considering whether to charge someone,” he said. He insisted the government would consult stakeholders and seek guidance from experts in the field.

In the most recent case, Police Superintendent Neville Aquilina told the court three indecently dressed foreign women were found on the premises. The police also charged the club owners with running a brothel.

The magistrate threw out the charge of prostitution for lack of evidence and described lap dancing as “playing with fire wearing protective clothing”.

Pole dancing was “only a playful activity” that led to nothing, the magistrate said.

This was the umpteenth court ruling that threw out the police interpretation of public morality.

In 2007, Magistrate Antonio Mizzi ruled that lap dancing did not amount to indecency and threw out a case against the club operators. Similar judgments by the Magistrates’ Court were delivered in two separate cases in 2011 and 2013.

The Attorney General appealed in both cases, but this October Mr Justice Michael Mallia rejected the appeals, insisting that pole and lap dancing did not constitute an immoral act and neither did the fact that the women were wearing a bikini top, panties and a mini skirt.