beSmart Blog » 2009

Cathedral Requires Alcohol License

August 25th 2009

This is not the sort of headline you read everyday, but it just goes to show how important it is to be fully licensed when supplying alcohol.

Winchester Cathedral is seeking a new premises licence to allow the sale of alcohol in church.

The council’s licensing committee are meeting consider the application which consolidates two existing alcohol licences for the building and its grounds.

But local businessman Martin Wilson, has voiced his opposition, linking the licence application to anti-social behaviour.

In a letter to the council, Mr Wilson said: “Despite regular reporting of anti-social behaviour and unregulated drinking to the police, it seems their already stretched resources prohibit intervention, the cathedral regularly posts a member of their security team to the area, who I have not once seen intervene to limit anti-social behaviour. ”

He added: “To open the area to a licence will seek to encourage the unregulated consumption of alcohol in what is central to the Alcohol Exclusion Zone.”

The cathedral say the licence is required to allow the holding events such as the Food and Wine Show.

No matter where the alcohol licence is for, it is essential that you are always fully licensed to retail it.

Here at beSmart we offer all the training required to become a designated premise supervisor, responsible acohol retailer and personal licence holder.

For information on our courses please visit the beSmart website.

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Clamper Says A Clamping Ban Would Lead To Chaos

August 25th 2009

A CAR clamping boss claims a ban on private clampers would lead to “anarchy and chaos”.

Tony Fithon, managing director of Colchester clamping firm, Impact Security Services, says AA calls for a ban are unnecessary and would leave the police and other authorities under pressure.

“The big problem is that there is no ceiling on what you can charge to release a clamped car. If the Government put a limit in place, all these problems would go away.” said Tony Fithon, of clamping firm, Impact Security Services

The motoring organisation has condemned unregulated private clamping firms as “immoral” and is urging the Government to ban them.

But Mr Fithon said: “Wheel clamping plays an important part in the overall security of the UK.

“If you took doormen off the doors on a Saturday night in Colchester, the police could not cope and the bars and night clubs would have to shut down.

“If you took the traffic wardens off the streets, there would be chaos and anarchy and it is exactly the same with car clamping. The police would have anarchy in the UK.”

He added: “The big problem is that there is no ceiling on what you can charge to release a clamped car.

“If the Government put a limit in place, all these problems would go away.”

The AA says some unscrupulous companies are charging as much as £500 to release vehicles.

It also believes it is too easy for people to get access to Government records of car owners’ details, allowing almost anyone to set up a car clamping business.

Paul Watters from the AA said: “The lure of uncontrolled money-raking is so great some companies even offer DIY packs, with signs clampers can print off the internet.

“Private parking enforcement is big business, generating millions of pounds and no one notices, or acts when the rules are broken.

“The public has absolutely no protection if a private parking firm acts unfairly, as it is a civil matter and no one is interested in helping.”

Essex University recently backed down in a row with students, hundreds of whose cars were clamped by Woodlund Services, which then demanded £50 to release them. In the end, the university agreed instead of clamping, drivers would simply be given a penalty notice, warning cars were liable to be clamped in future.

The Government has promised legislation regulating clampers will be introduced in 2010.

All vehicle immobilisers who clamp or tow vehicles on private land must be licensed by the Security Industry Authority. To get licensed they must pass two examinations which cover current legislation, good practice and conflict management, and have a criminal record check. beSmart Training run these courses every month at their London training centre. Go to our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk for more details.

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SIA Carry Out License Checks in Corby

August 18th 2009

The SIA joined forces with Northamptonshire Police, Corby Borough Council and Trading Standards officers to carry out random license checks at Corby’s pubs and bars.

The SIA inspected door supervisors to ensure they were displaying valid SIA licences. Just one individual was found to have an expired licence. Trading Standards conducted alcohol tests while the Council checked venues were adhering to licensing conditions and the police looked at various issues including Health and Safety.

The leader of Corby Borough Council commented: “Corby Borough Council prides itself on working closely with its partner agencies on initiatives such as this. We’re very pleased that the SIA operation has highlighted the majority of door staff and premises within the Borough to be complying with licensing regulations.”

SIA head of investigation, Nigel Davies added: “While I’m pleased that the majority of door staff were working legally, I must remind all door supervisors that they must apply to renew their licence in good time.”

Davies added: “The Licensing Act 2003 stipulates that where door supervisors are used by premises, those individuals must be SIA licensed and if not, that venue is in breach of their premises licence.”

beSmart offer a full range of security and alcohol licensing courses including door supervisors, personal license holder and security guard training.

For more information please visit the beSmart Training website.

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Pub Closed For Breaching Alcohol Licensing Laws

August 11th 2009

A pub where free drinks were handed out to customers has been closed down.

The pub in Devon where bout 20 “intoxicated” people were present was shut on Friday night by the police, due to concerns about disorder and public safety.

A notice was served last month on the premises banning the sale of alcohol until certain conditions were met.

Since then police officers and council enforcement staff have been reviewing allegations of breaches of the order.

It is the first time police in mid Devon have used their powers under Section 161 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The pub closure order has been extended until the police can take the matter to magistrates.

A police spokesman said it was a “highly unusual action” and demonstrated a willingness to ensure licensed premises were well-managed and safe places for the public.

Here at beSmart we offer a range of alcohol licensing courses including Responsible Alcohol Retailing, Designated Premises Supervisor and many more related courses.

For further information please visit the beSmart Training website.

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Unlicensed Door Supervisor Found Guilty

August 4th 2009

Grantham Magistrates Court handed down a Community Punishment Order of 60 hours unpaid work to a former Grantham door supervisor, after he pleaded guilty to making false statements to the SIA.

He was also given prosecution costs of £1,000.

Making false statements to the SIA is an offence under Section 22 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

The 22-year-old from Grantham in Lincolnshire had previously been convicted of working as an unlicensed door supervisor in August 2008.

He then knowingly made false statements in an appeal against the SIA’s refusal of his door supervisor licence application which was made in September last year.

An SIA head of investigation commented: “This prosecution proves that our licensing system is robust in checking information given on licence applications. In this case, we could see Barratt’s previous conviction.”

They added: “Furthermore, it highlights how seriously we view deliberately providing false statements in attempting to obtain an SIA licence.”

It is now vital to be fully licensed in the security industry, here at beSmart we offer door supervisor and security guarding training plus many more related courses.

For more information please visit us at www.besmart-training.co.uk

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