Government promises consistency in licensing

Moving control of licensing to the Home Office will mean a "more consistent approach" to the issue is taken, according to a Government minister.

Earlier this week it was confirmed that responsibility for licensing will switch from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to the Home Office, except around regulated entertainment.

Under the previous Government, DCMS was responsible for licensing but many initiatives - for example, alcohol disorder zones - originated from the Home Office.

Home Office minister James Brokenshire said the latest move "will not only help reduce duplication of effort but will mean just one department is responsible for enforcement and licensing policy, allowing for a more consistent approach to tackling this issue".

He added: "We continue to be concerned about the number of alcohol-related incidents and the drink-fuelled violence and disorder that blights many of our towns and cities.

'The Government believes that the power to make licensing decisions needs to be rebalanced in favour of local communities, so that they can decide on the night time economy they want.

'We have already committed to overhaul the Licensing Act to give local authorities and the police much stronger powers to remove licences from, or refuse to grant licences to, any premises that are causing problems.

"We will toughen the sanctions for those premises found to be persistently selling alcohol to children and will allow local councils to charge more for late-night licences, which in turn will raise money for extra policing. We will also ban the below cost sale of alcohol."