Licencing Officers

Key activities of licencing officers

These include:

• Providing clear information on how to apply for licences under the provisions of the 2003 Licensing Act,
• Advising venue owners and festival operators on how to establish and maintain a safe environment,
• Ensuring that sufficient medical and welfare staff are always present and are trained to a high standard. See Dealing with drug-induced problems,
• Liaising with police licensing and other officers to ensure good communication about potentially dangerous premises,
• Encouraging venues to develop a drug policy,
• Monitoring the operation of pubs and clubs and festivals at times of peak occupancy,
• Ensuring that door supervisors are licensed, wearing their identification at all times and are operating responsibly,
• Sharing information and good practice with partners, highlighting premises with potential problems.

It is good practice for licensing officers, fire officers, and their colleagues from the police services to co-ordinate their relevant work and enforcement efforts and to ensure that pubs, clubs and festivals playing music that is attractive to people who may take drugs as part of their night out, receive appropriate inspection visits. The risks of harm, and ultimately of fatalities, are highest at such premises.

You can also find a compendium of other useful resources in Helpful organisations which includes contact details for useful organisations, training providers and a whole host of specialist advice and information sources, many of them online.