Strip Clubs are safer than places of worship

For many people, a church is a sacred place where prayers, worship and reflection are done. Most people would probably feel safer inside places of worship than spending time in strip clubs and brothels, but an Australian survey revealed in April 2010 has proved otherwise.

Recent data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research revealed that 1,600 people ended up getting charged with a range of 27 criminal offenses inside “places of worship” in 2008. Surprisingly, these figures also showed that only 282 people were caught doing the same offenses in areas classified as adult entertainment. A more detailed report of the figures revealed that 85 people were assaulted in places of worship, while 66 people were attacked in adult entertainment premises.

“Places of worship” in this survey include churches, synagogues, monasteries, mosques, convents, chapels and cathedrals. Places listed under adult entertainment included strip clubs, brothels, sex shops, massage parlours, gay bars, gaming houses and gambling clubs. NSW Bureau director Don Wedderburn’s conclusion was that people were just as likely to be assaulted in the sanctity of church as they were on the streets.

“Most people would think of churches and synagogues as sanctuaries in society but maybe that’s naïve, because the statistics show they are likely to rob, assault or steal from people there like anywhere else. These figures are genuinely surprising.”

Sexual offenses were also higher in places of worship than in adult entertainment with 16 people charged with sexual assault. Thirty three people were charged with theft from motor vehicles, seven from resisting arrest, ten people charged with liquor offenses. Offenders charged with harassment in places of worship were fifty percent higher than that of adult entertainment.

Australians were of mixed reactions to the news with some saying that comparative statistics are necessary to prove that strip clubs are safer since the number of people going to churches is higher compared to the number of strip club patrons.

With the countless attacks that the adult entertainment industry has been facing for years, this development came as good news.