Enforcement of the Licensing Act 2003 is a shared responsibility between several key authorities, each playing a distinct role in ensuring compliance and protecting the public interest.
- Local Licensing Authorities (usually local councils)
- Administer applications for Premises Licences, Personal Licences, and Temporary Event Notices (TENs).
- Monitor compliance with Licence Conditions.
- Conduct Reviews and Hearings when complaints or breaches occur.
- Can suspend, revoke, or amend Licences based on evidence.
- Police
- Investigate criminal offences related to Licensed Premises, such as underage sales, disorder, or drug misuse.
- Can object to Licence applications or request Reviews.
- Work closely with councils to enforce Licensing Objectives, especially crime prevention.
- Environmental Health Officers
- Focus on public safety and nuisance issues, such as noise, overcrowding, or hygiene, and can call Reviews where serious problems or breaches of Conditions occur.
- Can recommend Licence Conditions or enforcement action.
- Trading Standards
- Enforce laws around age-restricted products, including alcohol.
- Conduct test purchases and investigate breaches of consumer protection laws, and can call Reviews where repeated or serious problems or breaches of Conditions occur.
- Fire Authorities
- Assess fire safety compliance in licensed venues.
- May object to applications or request conditions to protect public safety.
ALL these agencies collaborate to uphold the four Licensing Objectives and ensure that licensed activities are conducted responsibly.
