Police

Pub underage sales

Underage sales fine increases by £10

By Gurjit Degun

Licensees and bar staff caught serving an under 18 or drunk person will now be given £90 on-the-spot fines, instead of £80.

crime pub

Crime at the lowest level since statistics began

By Ellie Bothwell

Crime is at its lowest level since records began with public order offences – most often associated with alcohol related crime and disorder – seeing the biggest drop, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed.

Police version of events can be much more believable to a licensing committee

Premises licence reviews can be a bumpy ride

By Lisa Sharkey

Facing a review of your premises licence can be like stepping on to a roller coaster at a theme park — you have that feeling in your stomach that the experience you are about to face may be unpleasant but, as you slowly move up that first hill, you realise...

ACPO, Crimestoppers and Facewatch team up to tackle crime

ACPO, Crimestoppers and Facewatch team up to tackle crime

By Gurjit Degun

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Crimestoppers and Facewatch, an online crime reporting system, are set to work in partnership with a focus on sharing and improving technology to tackle crime.

Are good pubs the victim of over-enforcement?

Are good pubs the victim of over-enforcement?

By Jonathan Smith

A couple of weeks ago the Metropolitan police and other agencies launched the second phase of Operation Condor. This was enforcement by way of inspection of a number of licensed premises, including pubs and bars in central London.

Closure notices: Don't ignore the warnings

Closure notices: Don't ignore the warnings

By Jonathan Smith

The recent High Court decision in favour of the Bank in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, confirmed what many licensing lawyers (including some of those acting for the police) had been saying for some time — that closure notices issued under Section 19 of the...

Home Office and police pay for closure notice error

Home Office and police pay for closure notice error

By Gurjit Degun

The Government has admitted it was wrong to advise police that they could close premises immediately for minor breaches of conditions and threaten licensees with arrest if they did not comply.

Police could spend levy on ‘paper clips’

Police could spend levy on ‘paper clips’

By Adam Pescod

Police forces could reap the rewards of the cash raised by the late-night levy (LNL), but choose not to spend it on policing the late-night economy, a leading licensing lawyer warned last week.

Simmonds: 'Late night levy threatens partnerships'

Simmonds: 'Late night levy threatens partnerships'

By Michelle Perrett

The late-night levy poses a threat to greater partnership in the late-night economy, British Beer & Pub Association boss Brigid Simmonds told last week’s National Pubwatch conference.

Pubwatch: How to watch out for trouble

Pubwatch: How to watch out for trouble

By Adam Pescod

It’s a busy Saturday afternoon and the atmosphere in your pub is electric. Two local football teams have just played out a highly-charged match on your big screen, and your bipartisan customers are all in lively, but friendly, voice.

Late-night levy ‘could cost £25m’

Late-night levy ‘could cost £25m’

By Michelle Perrett

The introduction of the late-night levy (LNL) could cost the industry as much as £25m a year, according to a Home Office consultation launched last week.

Riots: Uninsured pubs can claim compensation

Riots: Uninsured pubs can claim compensation

By Gurjit Degun

Uninsured pubs and bars affected by looting and vandalism in the widespread riots are eligible for compensation from the police. The Riot (Damages)...

500k for 20 Best Bar None schemes

500k for 20 Best Bar None schemes

By Michelle Perrett

Twenty new Best Bar None (BBN) schemes are to be set up across the country funded by a £500,000 investment from four drinks companies.

Theresa May: eyes action on enforcement

Theresa May's alcohol crackdown vow

By John Harrington

Home Secretary Theresa May has promised to look at perceived difficulties in cracking down on licence breaches at pubs and shops. Congleton MP Fiona...

Undercover policeman to maintain peace in Cheltenham

Cheltenham police hunt pub troublemakers

By Lesley Foottit

Plain-clothed policemen will frequent pubs in Cheltenham over the Christmas period and issue bans of up to 48 hours to any troublemakers.

Enforcement: lack of confidence over powers

Authorities urged to tackle problem pubs

By John Harrington

Police and councils in 26 areas are to receive "intensive" support visits to get them up to speed on their powers to tackle 'problem pubs'. The Home Office cited a "lack of confidence" among enforcement officers.

May: late night levy plan

Government to 'tear up' Licensing Act

By Ewan Turney

The Government is to "tear up" the Licensing Act and will forge ahead with controversial plans for a late night levy and a ban on the below cost sale...

Police cuts could impact on the pub trade

Police cuts raise pubs' safety fears

By Ewan Turney

Town-centre pubs could be forced to take on extra responsibility for their customers' security, due to police budget cuts.

Coulson: shutting a pub should be the last resort

Shutting pubs is a last resort

By Peter Coulson

Some clarification appears to be needed about whether a local council has the power to close down a pub "on the spot", says Peter Coulson.

Many crimes are not reported to police

FSB wants tougher police action on crime

By Lesley Foottit

The FSB is calling for national definition of crimes against small businesses after it found more than two thirds are victims of crime.

Don't get caught out by scams

Pubs targeted in bogus ad scam

By Gemma McKenna

Bogus callers are targeting pubs in south Wales to pay for ads in magazines — according to one Chepstow host. Ian Mayrick, licensee at the Coach...

Best Bar None

Call for late-night levy exemptions

By John Harrington

Any venue with Best Bar None or equivalent accreditation should be exempt under the planned late-night levy. So says Noctis, the trade body for...

Coulson: encourages police involvment when dealing with drunkenness

Pubs should get police help if needed

By Peter Coulson

There is no offence of permitting drunkenness, but there is of allowing disorderly conduct in a pub, so call the police, says Peter Coulson.