Licensing and gambling
Advising and dealing with licensing and gambling cases,
predominantly for police forces and local authorities.
The Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005 are landmark
statutes with extensive implications for local authorities and
police forces. Compliance with these and other legal requirements
and regulations involves major responsibilities, and the need for
expert legal guidance is greater than ever.
The Gambling Act in particular is likely to create many
difficult issues as local authorities become responsible for
licensing other forms of gambling, such as betting offices, and
strive to balance ethical judgements, strongly held principles and
local feelings with the requirements of the Act.
Weightmans has extensive expertise and a very successful track
record in these key areas. We regularly advise our local and police
authority clients on liquor and public entertainment licensing, and
have produced a handler’s guide to the Licensing Act.
We can advise and assist you as a local authority across the
whole range of your licensing functions, from acupuncture to zoos,
including street trading, hackney carriages and other licensing
functions. Our experience includes magistrates court representation
and advising on statements of licensing policy, enforcement and
appeals. We also arrange representation at hearings, including
advising committees.
As part of our service in helping you manage the issues and
prevent problems, we organise seminars and training on the effects
of the latest legislation. We also lecture at Anglia Ruskin
University on tackling alcohol-fuelled disorder, test purchasing,
fixed penalty notices, and designated public places orders.
Weightmans has its own Regulatory Services team. This is made up
of specialist regulatory, criminal and environmental lawyers, who
are well versed in handling and advising on sensitive issues.
Members of the team have wide experience of criminal litigation for
local authorities, including trading standards, health and safety
and environmental matters.