Dear Resident,

I hope you have had a lovely weekend. Welcome to the 12th week of the A-Z of Crime Prevention where we will focus on a topic beginning with ‘L’. Before I go into this week’s topic, I just want to thank residents for their ongoing engagement with these weekly bulletins. Whilst some topics appear to be more relevant to residents than others, it seems from the viewings and replies we are receiving that these messages are facilitating important conversations about community issues and allowing you as readers to send in your questions. So, thank you for following along and for sending your messages in. 

Did you know we have a Senior Licensing Officer based at St Albans Police Station who is responsible for any licensing-related issues in the St Albans district? Under the Licensing Act 2003, there are a variety of reasons where a business or an individual may require a license, including but not limited to: planning to sell alcohol or providing regulated entertainment. It is important that the pubs, bars, clubs, and restaurants in our area are conducting their business legally for the good of the community. These licensing requirements are important for: 

It is important for businesses operating within the conditions of their license to work together with the local authority and Police to ensure the above objectives are met. 

With that said, we would love to hear from you! Are there any premises in your neighbourhood who may be in breach of their license? For instance, have you ever seen alcohol being served to under 18s? Are there any premises which you believe are a hotspot for criminal activity such as drug-taking, drug supply, or sexual offences? We are seeking information from the public so we can carry out the relevant checks on licensed premises in our area so that everyone can enjoy a safe evening out. 

Thank you in advance for any information you may have on the matter. 

Kind regards,

Fiona