Statement of Licensing Policy

Thanet District Council

Prevention of Crime and Disorder

3.1  Thanet District Council is committed to further improving the quality of life for the people of Thanet by continuing to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Thanet District Council will also consult and involve the Community Safety Partnership in decision making in order to maximise the effectiveness of reducing crime, misuse of drugs and the fear of crime.

3.2  Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced a wide range of measures for preventing crime and disorder and imposed a duty on Thanet District Council, Kent Police, Kent County Council and others to consider crime and disorder reduction in the exercise of all their duties. The Licensing Act 2003 reinforces this duty for local authorities.

3.3  The promotion of the licensing objective, to prevent crime and disorder, places a responsibility on licence holders to become key partners in achieving this objective. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate in their operating schedule that suitable and sufficient measures have been identified and will be implemented and maintained to reduce or prevent crime and disorder on and in the vicinity of their premises, relevant to the individual style and characteristics of their premises and events.

3.4  The following examples of control measures are given to assist applicants and are considered to be amongst the most essential that applicants should take account of in their operating schedule, having regard to their particular type of premises and/or activities:

• Effective and responsible management of premises
• Training and supervision of staff
• Adoption of best practice guidance (e.g. Safer Clubbing, the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy Toolkit and other voluntary codes of practice, including those relating to drinks promotions e.g. The Point of ale Promotions published by BBPA)
• Acceptance of accredited ‘proof of age’ cards and/or ‘new type’ driving licences with photographs, passports, an official identity card issued by H M Forces.
• Provision of effective CCTV in and around premises
• Employment of Security Industry Authority licensed Doorstaff.  If two or more are employed preferably there should be at least one male and one female
• Provision of toughened or plastic glasses where appropriate
• Provision of secure deposit boxes for confiscated items (‘sin bins’)
• Provision of litterbins and other security measures, such as lighting, outside premises
• Membership of a Pub Watch scheme

3.5  Within the operating schedule for premises from which alcohol will be sold, a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) must be identified and named. The Licensing Authority will normally expect the DPS to have been given the day-to-day responsibility for running the premises by the premises licence holder.  In exceptional circumstances, the police may object to the designation of a new premises supervisor where they believe that such appointment would undermine the crime prevention objective.

3.6  Certain temporary events are not required to be licensed but must be notified to the Licensing Authority and Police using the Temporary Event Notice procedure. However, depending on the nature and location of such events, these can have serious crime and disorder implications. Organisers of these events are encouraged to submit their notification as soon as reasonably practicable and at least ten working days before the event to enable the police and the Licensing Authority to work with them to identify and reduce the risk of crime and disorder.

3.7  Where the Licensing Authority has given notice in writing to the holder of the premises licence prohibiting the exhibition of a film on the grounds that it contains matter which, if exhibited, would be likely to:

•  Encourage or incite crime or lead to disorder, or
•  Stir up hatred or incite violence towards any section of the public on grounds of colour, race or ethnic or racial origin, disability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or gender

The Licensing Authority will expect that the film shall not be exhibited in the premises except with the consent in writing of the Licensing Authority and in accordance with any conditions attached to such consent.

The Licensing Authority will require all films to comply with British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) guidelines.

Next: Public Safety

Back: Licensing Objectives

• Statement of Licensing Policy
• Introduction
• Licences and planning permission
• Cumulative Impact
• Advice and guidance
• Consultation
• Reviews
• Enforcement 
• Licensing Objectives
• Prevention of Crime & Disorder
• Public Safety
• Prevention of Public Nuisance
• Protection of Children from harm
• Appendix 1 - Strategies
• Appendix 2 - Licensing Enforcement Policy
• Appendix 3 - Contact Details and Useful Addresses
• Appendix 4 - Delegation of Functions

E-mail: licensing@thanet.gov.uk

Tel:  01843 577413