Simply Pleasure owner responds to complaint from resident

Timothy Hemming, who owns Simply Pleasure in Holdenhurst Road in Bournemouth, replied to an objection from a resident over the application for his store at 333-335 Holdenhurst Road.

The proposal seeks to extend the licence for the next 12 months and will be heard by the licensing sub-committee next week.

The premises has operated as a sex shop since 2002. No complaints have been received in the past year.

The objection

The objection from one resident said: "This shop is close to a bus stop used by children who also walk past regularly to get to and from the local schools.

"The shop clearly advertises their website in their window: www.simplypleasure.com where it can be seen by any child passing by.

"I visited the website and within two clicks arrived at the page for the All Star Porn Stars Pocket Pal Bobbi Starr *** *****.

"This business clearly has no regard for safeguarding, and I object to the renewal of its license (sp)."

The response

Mr Hemming replied directly in writing to the objector over the complaint.

He said the council oversee the windows and displays as defined by the licence.

And the website does not sell hard core pron DVDs, only sex toys and clothing.

He said: "As a licensee I take my responsibility seriously and have never had a license refused or revoked."

He added: "If you wish to disccuss access to the internet of minors to hard-core porn material I can sympathise with your worries having also had those concerns having children of my own.

"I was a proactive supporter of the digital economy bill of 2019 which disappointingly didn't get passed and seems to have drifted into obscurity. A question for the government and politicians for sure.

"I was involved in the consultation and expressed that from an industry perspective some sort of protection should be in place.

"It is a disgrace that the government has failed to protect young people from hard core online pornography in my opinion.

"If we compare how we operate to say Ann Summers who are in the High Street and unlicensed, the council have no power to restrict anything they do.

"I am sure on a Saturday afternoon you can see many under 18s in the store, there is nothing to stop them entering and no power for the council to act.

"I hope that by writing I have given you a wider insight of the legal parameters we operate under and you will appreciate that we are responsible in our working practice and I do take seriously my responsibility to safeguard the younger community."