Licensing and permit offences

Licensing offences

All of the offences under the Licensing Act 2003 (LA 2003) are summary-only offences, triable only in the magistrates' court, which normally have to be prosecuted within six months of the offence being committed. However, LA 2003, s 186(3) states that the time limit for laying an information is extended from six months to twelve months from the date of the offence.

Local Authorities or the police can prosecute people for any of the offences contained in the Act. If prosecuted, the court may also order the forfeiture of a personal licence or suspend it for up to six months and also order forfeiture of any goods concerned (eg alcohol). If convicted of an offence, the police may also raise objections to the defendant holding a personal licence, and the council can hold a hearing to consider whether their personal licence should be revoked.

See Practice Note: Summary of offences under the Licensing Act 2003.

Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (LG(MP)A 1982) sets out a categories of sex establishments including 'sexual entertainment venues',

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