A police licensing officer has called for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to introduce a national framework for training in licensing, after claiming officers are forced to resolve issues based on “trial and error — and mainly error” due to lack of support.
Speaking to M&C Report’s sister title the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, Suffolk Constabulary licensing officer Amanda Graham said police only receive “bread and butter training” when they join a force and licensing officers are “just told to read the Licensing Act”.
“It all depends what training priorities there are for that year. But usually it’s crime, so licensing takes a back seat,” Graham said. “There is no formal training for licensing as far as I’m aware. We spend millions on policing the night-time economy but some officers sent out have no knowledge of the Licensing Act.”
She said part of the problem was “stretched resources” and the high turnover of officers who often move to different roles within a force without further training. “It means what we do is based on trial and error — and mainly error. To call us experts in licensing would be a loose term,” she added.
“I would welcome ACPO introducing training on a formal level. It would give us more confidence in dealing with specific legislation, which changes a lot.”
