Statement of Licensing Policy - Licensing Act 2003 - 7 January 2026 to 6 January 2031

7.1 Applicants will need to provide evidence to the Licensing Authority that, in respect of each of the four licensing objectives, suitable and sufficient measures, as detailed in their operating schedule, will be implemented and maintained, and will be relevant to the individual style and characteristics of their premises and events.

Prevention of crime and disorder

7.2 The Licensing Authority will expect to see evidence that the following specific matters that impact on crime and disorder have been addressed in the operating schedule of the premises:

• the capability of the person who is in charge to run the premises during trading hours or when regulated entertainment is provided to effectively and responsibly manage and supervise the premises, including associated open areas
• the steps to be taken in the absence of the designated premises supervisor to effectively manage the business
• the steps taken or to be taken to ensure that appropriate instruction, training and supervision is given to those employed or engaged in the premises to prevent incidents of crime and disorder
• the measures taken or to be taken to raise staff awareness and discourage and prevent the use or supply of illegal drugs on the premises
• the policies that have been determined in respect of adoption of appropriate existing and future best practice guidance (for example Safer Clubbing, the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy Toolkit, and so on)
• any arrangements which the licence holder proposes to work in partnership with the council, police and other traders in establishing a method of co-ordinating closing times to prevent crowds emerging from premises at the same time and to prevent migration between premises with different closing times
• any appropriate additional measures taken or to be taken for the prevention of violence or public disorder
• the measures taken to identify and prevent spiking of drinks (including staff training, anti-spiking devices (for example drink covers), duty of care for affected individuals and clear incident reporting procedures)
• the measures and policies in place for taking robust and positive action to prevent drug use or supply on their licensed premises. Licensees should implement a zero-tolerance approach to drug use or supply on their premises and ensure that there are clear policies in place at all times to enable staff and contractors to identify and to tackle drug use or supply by any person on the premises and should adhere to the Licensed Premises Drugs Protocol which sets out the expectations of Northumbria Police and Gateshead Council.
• the steps taken to identify and prevent the sale or storage of illicit goods such as illicit alcohol and tobacco, counterfeit products and goods not complying with UK safety standards. The policy encourages responsible authorities (like Trading Standards and the Police) to take action where such goods are found on licensed premises.

7.3 The above matters needing to be addressed will be dependent on the individual style, characteristics and location of the premises, and proposed events and activities. In general, however, the Licensing Authority will expect more comprehensive measures to be in place at late-night entertainment venues, and at festival or dance-type events or in premises with a history of crime and disorder issues.

7.4 In such premises, appropriate additional measures taken or to be taken for the prevention of violence or public disorder may include:

• provision of effective CCTV both within and around premises
• employment of SIA-licensed door staff
• provision of toughened or plastic glasses
• procedures for risk assessing drinks promotions and events such as 'happy hours' for the potential to cause crime and disorder and plans for minimising such risks

7.5 The Licensing Authority will have particular regard to representations from the Police in deciding whether the above issues have been adequately addressed. It will not normally grant an application where representations indicate a potential negative impact on crime and disorder, unless the applicant can demonstrate compelling reasons why the application should be approved in the light of these concerns.

Public safety

7.6 The Licensing Authority will expect to see that applicants have considered the impact that the following factors may have on public safety:

• the occupancy capacity of the premises
• the age, design and layout of the premises, including means of escape in the event of fire
• the nature of the licensable activities to be provided, in particular the sale or supply of alcohol, and/or the provision of music and dancing and including whether those activities are of a temporary or permanent nature
• the hours of operation (differentiating the hours of opening from the hours when licensable activities are provided, if different)
• customer profile and vulnerability (for example age, being alone, the presence of alcohol or drugs, state of mind, the presence of an offender)
• the use of special effects such as lasers, pyrotechnics, smoke machines, and so on
• compliance with Martyn's Law (Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) where applicable

7.7 The Licensing Authority expects that, where appropriate, licensees will adopt an initiative or policy (such as, for example, Ask for Angela or Shout Up) aimed at helping people who feel unsafe or vulnerable in licensed venues, especially in nightlife settings, and which includes the training of staff to spot signs of inappropriate behaviours and to respond effectively to requests and reports from victims.

7.8 The following examples of control measures are given to assist applicants who may need to take account of them in their operating schedule, having regard to their particular type of premises and or activities:

• suitable and sufficient risk assessments
• effective and responsible management of the premises
• provision of a sufficient number of people employed or engaged to secure the safety of the premises and patrons
• appropriate instruction, training and supervision of those employed or engaged to secure the safety of premises and patrons
• adoption of best practice guidance (for example Guide to Fire Precautions in Existing Places of Entertainment and like premises, The Event Safety Guide, Safety in Pubs published by the BBPA, and the Safety Guidance for Street Arts, Carnival, Processions and Large Scale Performances published by Independent Street Arts Network)
• provision of effective CCTV in and around premises
• provision of toughened or plastic drinking vessels
• implementation of crowd management measures
• proof of regular testing (and certification where appropriate) of procedures, appliances, systems and so on pertinent to safety

Prevention of public nuisance

7.9 The Licensing Authority interprets 'public nuisance' in its widest sense, and takes it to include such issues as noise, light, odour, litter and antisocial behaviour, where these matters impact on those living, working or otherwise engaged in normal activity in an area.

7.10 The Licensing Authority will normally apply stricter conditions, including controls on licensing hours, where licensed premises are in residential areas. Whilst the licensing authority will seek to ensure the four licensing objectives are promoted by licensed premises in Gateshead, it is acknowledged that conditions can only be imposed that seek to manage the behaviour of customers that fall within the control of the licensee.

7.11 The Licensing Authority will expect to see that applicants have considered the impact that the following factors may have on the potential for public nuisance:

• the location of premises and proximity to residential and other noise sensitive premises
• the hours of opening, particularly between 23:00 and 07:00 hours
• the nature of activities to be provided, including whether those activities are of a temporary or permanent nature and whether they are to be held inside or outside premises
• the design and layout of premises and in particular the presence of noise limiting features
• the occupancy capacity of the premises
• the availability of public transport
• 'wind down period' between the end of the licensable activities and closure of the premises, that is, allowing patrons to remain in the premises for a period after licensable activities have ceased, so that people do not disperse en masse
• last admission time

7.12 The following examples of control measures are given to assist applicants who may need to take account of them in their operating schedule, having regard to their particular type of premises and or activities:

• effective and responsible management of the premises
• appropriate instruction, training and supervision of those employed or engaged to prevent incidents of public nuisance for example to ensure customers leave quietly
• operating hours for all or parts (for example garden areas) of premises, including such matters as deliveries
• adoption of best practice guidance (for example Good Practice Guide on the Control of Noise from Pubs and Clubs, produced by the Institute of Acoustics, Licensed Property: Noise, published by BBPA)
• installation of soundproofing, air conditioning, acoustic lobbies and sound limitation devices
• management of people, including staff, and traffic (and resulting queues)
• liaison with public transport providers
• siting of external lighting including security lighting
• management arrangements for collection and disposal of litter
• effective ventilation systems to prevent nuisance from odour

Protection of children from harm

7.13 The licensing regime has a fundamental role in the protection of children from harm. This includes moral, psychological and physical harm and applicants are expected to provide sufficient detail in their operating schedules to demonstrate the measures, policies and procedures by which children will be protected from harm. For the purposes of the policy a child is anyone under 18 years old.

7.14 A vision of an alcohol-free childhood for the Gateshead population aligns to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy policy objective to enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives. The vision is that every child should be free from:

• the impact of other people's drinking
• commercial, social and environmental pressure to drink
• health and social harms caused by drinking alcohol themselves
• be supported and encouraged to make healthy positive lifestyle choices as they enter adulthood

7.15 In relation to licence applications or temporary event notices where the application relates to children specific premises such as schools or youth centres, or activities aimed primarily at families with children, it is expected that applications should be considered through a lens of promoting an alcohol-free childhood.

7.16 Licensees will be expected to operate, advertise and enforce an effective age verification policy such as Challenge 25.

7.17 Licensees should be aware of proxy sales which is a term used to describe the purchase of alcohol on behalf of children. Licensees selling alcohol must also take steps to prevent proxy purchase, such as monitoring activity in and around the premises using CCTV or by regular and recorded patrols. Staff must be trained and reminded of their responsibilities in relation to the issue.

7.18 Applicants should expect to receive objections in respect of the protection of children from harm, and licensees should expect their licence to be reviewed, where:

• there have been convictions for serving alcohol to minors or the premises have a reputation for facilitating underage drinking
• there is a known association with drug taking or dealing
• there is a strong element of gambling on the premises
• entertainment of an adult or sexual nature is commonly provided

7.19 Licensees will be expected to prevent children from viewing films that are unsuitable because of the age classification of the film that has been imposed by the British Board of Film Classification or the Licensing Authority.

7.20 Anyone intending to provide staff for the supervision of activities for under 18s will be expected to carry out enhanced criminal record checks on all such persons, and to keep a register which should be available to the Police or authorised council officer on request. Applicants who do not put these measures in place should expect objections to be made to their application.

7.21 Where applicants intend to provide any age-restricted goods or services, it is expected that they will apply the same standards of age verification in respect of all age-restricted goods or services, that staff will be regularly trained, and that appropriate records are kept of training and refusals.

7.22 It is expected that licensees consider the positioning of alcohol in premises and do not locate alcohol directly next to products aimed at children.