Complaints about licensed premises

Our enforcement policy

We regularly inspect licensed premises to help licence-holders meet their licence conditions. 

Inspecting premises

Premises are inspected on a risk-assessed basis and as a guide our officers visit:

  • alcohol-licensed premises following a complaint or a change of designated premises supervisor
  • each special treatment premises once a year (apart from low-risk premises in Band A)
  • shisha premises “as and when”
  • a quarter of betting premises each year
  • all pet shops and animal boarding establishments

Breach of premise licence conditions

When we discover breaches of licence conditions we will generally take a graduated approach in line with our enforcement policies which are available on request:

  • offering advice, information and assistance
  • issuing informal warnings
  • issuing formal written warnings
  • issuing a simple caution
  • prosecuting offenders in court

Additional powers

Where we have the powers to do so we may also:

  • issue a licensed premises closure notice (for premises under the Licensing Act 2003)
  • require a minor variation application to be made (for premises under the Licensing Act 2003)
  • apply for the licence to be renewed (for premises under the Licensing Act 2003 or Gambling Act 2005)
  • impose additional licence conditions
  • refuse to renew a licence
  • revoke a licence

Copies of our inspection records are provided to licence-holders after each visit. Templates of our inspections checklists are available from the licensing team.

Licences and street trading

Questions and completed applications can be sent to the licencing team below:

Address: Harrow Council
Licensing and Street Trading
PO Box 1358
Harrow
HA3 3QN