November 24 has been set as the date when responsibility for the licensing of all pubs and clubs will transfer from the licensing justices to local authorities across England and Wales. The recent announcement by licensing minister, James Purnell, is the final piece of the jigsaw, which sees some 900 premises in Pembrokeshire coming under the control of the county council. However, licensees are being warned once again that they need to meet the earlier deadline of August 7 to ensure that they carry-over their existing licences - in order to avoid the unnecessary expense and lengthy procedures of obtaining a new licence. While the November date will see the county council taking on the administration and lead enforcement role under the new system, the police will still play a major part in being able to object to applications and influence the way in which a premises is run "At last there is some clarity and the months of speculation over whether the government would postpone, or even scupper, the whole process can be laid to rest," said Gareth Watts, principal officer with the county council's licensing team. "Licensees, however, need to act fast and act now to ensure that they get their applications in on time before the August deadline. "We are committed here in Pembrokeshire to continuing the excellent partnerships we have built up with the police and other agencies over the last decade. Licensees can expect to see even greater co-ordination of effort, not only in providing advice but also to ensure that any problem premises are dealt with quickly." As a mark of that partnership, officers from the council's licensing team and Dyfed Powys Police recently participated in the nationally co-ordinated Operation Arrowhead targeting doormen who remain un-licensed under the new licensing scheme which came into effect last autumn. Under those laws, all security staff need to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority and the campaign saw some 36 premises visited throughout the county in order to check compliance. "Whilst it was pleasing to note that the vast majority of doormen had made themselves legal, there was a small minority who had plainly ignored all the advice and warnings given in the past couple of years and these individuals will be dealt with under the law," said Gareth Watts. Anyone wishing to take advantage of free advice on the new liquor licensing scheme is encouraged to contact the licensing team at County Hall.
