Does the Licensing Act 2003 make permitting disorderly conduct on licensed premises an offence?
The Act creates an offence to knowingly allow disorderly conduct on licensed premises. This offence is different from the offences, found in the Licensing Act 1964, which include a relevant person permitting “violent, quarrelsome or riotous” conduct. Those who may commit this new offence include any person working in a licensed premises in a capacity (whether paid or unpaid) which allows him to prevent the conduct or, in the case of a club, any member or officer of the club who is present at the time of the conduct in a capacity which enables him to prevent the conduct. The holder of the premises licence, designated premises supervisor (if there is one) and the premises user (in relation to a temporary event notice) may also commit this offence. The sentence on conviction of this offence is a fine of up to £1,000.
