Applicants with any unspent convictions for relevant offences set out in the Act may find it useful to discuss their potential application with the police and the authority before formally making their application to the authority for a personal licence.

We must grant a personal licence providing the following criteria are met:

• (a) The applicant is over 18,
• (b) The required fee is paid,
• (c) The applicant possesses a relevant QCA accredited licensing qualification,
• (d) The applicant has not forfeited a Personal Licence in the previous five years beginning with the day the application was made,
• (e) The applicant has not been convicted of any relevant offence, or foreign offence as defined in the Act,
• (f) The Police have not given an objection notice about the grant of a Personal Licence following notification of any unspent relevant offence or foreign offence,

We will liaise closely with the police when an applicant is found to have an unspent conviction for a relevant offence as defined in the Act. Where an applicant for a personal licence has an unspent criminal conviction for a relevant offence, the police and ourselves may wish to interview the applicant should the police be minded to object to the grant of the licence.

If the police make a representation to an application, the matter will be referred to a licensing panel (three Councillors) for hearing. You and your legal representative and a police representative will be invited to attend. Your application will be decided at that hearing.

Your personal licence will be valid from the day it is determined.

Documents you must send

The following documents must be submitted with applications