Licensing

If the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) has left a premises a new one must be appointed immediately. There is an application process that must be completed before you are authorised to sell alcohol on the premises.

How to be appointed the DPS

The premises licence holder will need to apply completing an application form to vary to specify a DPS which can be downloaded from the government website.

The person who is applying to be DPS will need to complete a DPS consent form which can also be downloaded from the government website. This person will be given day to day responsibility for running the premises by the premises licence holder.

These forms can be found at www.culture.gov.uk/3189.aspx

You will need to attach the existing Premises Licence (not the Premises Licence Summary which is on display at the premises). If you do not have the original or a certified copy you must pay £10.50 for a duplicate copy.

On submitting your application to the Council Licensing Unit you must pay the application fee of £23.

You will also be required to submit a copy of your application to the Licensing Officer, Kent Police, Medway Police Station, Purser Way, Gillingham, Kent  ME7 1NE.

Once the Licensing Unit has accepted the application as complete you will be immediately allowed to sell alcohol and will not be in breach of the mandatory conditions.

Where there are frequent changes of supervisor, the premises licence holder may submit the form in advance specifying the date when the new individual will be in post and when the change will take effect.

Breach of Mandatory Condition

If you are authorised under the Premises Licence for the retail sale of alcohol the following mandatory condition is placed on your licence:-

No supply of alcohol maybe made under this licence:-

a) At a time when there is no DPS in respect of it or

b) At a time when the DPS does not hold a personal licence or his/her personal licence is suspended.

Every retail sale or supply of alcohol made under this licence must be made or authorised by a person who holds a personal licence.

The government considers it essential that police officers, fire officers and licensing authority can immediately identify the DPS so that any problems can be dealt with swiftly. The police can at any stage after the appointment of a DPS seek a review of a premises licence on any grounds relating to the licensing objectives if anxieties arise about the performance of the supervisor.

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