Clubgoers could be ordered to stay one metre away from topless dancers and obey a no-touch policy under new rules for Oxford’s pubs and clubs.

A code of conduct is to be drafted for the promoters of adult entertainment in the city after an event at Kukui, in Park End Street, featuring topless jelly wrestling in October, sparked a police investigation.

The Halloween fetish show exposed a loophole in legislation which allows any venue holding a licence for permission to perform dance to put on topless dancing.

Although the event did not break the law or cause any trouble, city councillors have called for a code to tighten the rules on venues that host adult entertainment. They also want to protect the health and safety of topless performers.

Council licensing manager Tony Payne said: “This won’t mean the end of topless dancing in clubs because the council can’t prevent it.

“There was no evidence of illegal activity at Kukui but this is about putting together guidelines so that the activity is managed responsibly.”

The code has not yet been drafted but Mr Payne said the sort of things it could cover included: l Putting curtains around the windows of a venue hosting adult entertainment l Exotic dance to take place in front of seated customers only l Customers to be kept one metre away from dancers l A no-touch policy l Dedicated changing rooms for dancers l The provision of CCTV to monitor customers.

Members on the council’s licensing and gambling committee asked officers to draw up the code following a meeting yesterday.

The code will initially be voluntary. However, it could be added to the conditions of a venue’s licence if the Government’s new Policing and Crime Bill is passed this summer.

The bill would mean that any club which wanted to feature nudity would be dubbed a ‘sex encounter venue’ with councils given more power to dictate where – and if – adult entertainment venues can open.

Councillor Craig Simmonds, who called for the code of conduct, said: “Promoters are always trying to push the boundaries back but this would give them clear guidance about what is and what is not acceptable.

“Enough people contacted me to say the night at Kukui pushed the boundaries too far and that warranted us taking action.

“We’re trying to draw a line in the sand to say ‘this is how far you can go and no further’.”

Kukui manager Owen McCole said: “If this code of conduct is there for the safety of customers and performers we are 100 per cent behind it.

“We are a music venue though, and we have absolutely no plans for any night like that in the future.”

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk