Find out how to apply to change or remove a designated premises supervisor.
In every premises licensed for the supply of alcohol, a Personal Licence holder must be specified as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). This will normally be the person who has day-to-day responsibility for running the premises.
In the event that the DPS changes, the Premises Licence must be varied to show the new DPS. It is important that we and the Police are notified of this change as soon as possible. The new DPS must also consent to this variation.
The application must include:
If you make an application online, you are not required to send a copy of the application to the Responsible Authorities, we will do this for you.
You can also apply for a new licence by downloading and completing an application form and sending it to us.
If you submit a paper application you must also send a copy of the application to the Police. You can find their contact details in the list of responsible authorities.
You must also send a copy to the existing Designated Premises Supervisor (if there is one).
The fee to change a DPS is £23.
The Licensing Act 2003 provides a mechanism, which allows the variation of DPS to come into immediate interim effect as soon as we receive the application, until it is formally determined or withdrawn. This is to ensure that there is no interruption to normal business at the premises.
The Chief Officer of Police has 14 days, beginning with the day on which they are notified of the application, to consider the application.
They can either:
If no objection is received then we will vary the DPS in accordance with the application, amend the licence accordingly and issue it to the new holder. This will usually be done within 7 days from the close of the 14-day consultation period.
The total timescale for dealing with a variation of DPS application (no objection received) is therefore expected to be no more than 21 consecutive days commencing with the correct receipt of the application paperwork (including the Chief Officer of Police) and the associated fee.
If an objection to the application is received from the Chief Officer of Police, the applicant will be notified and the Licensing Authority must hold a hearing to consider the objection.
The Committee’s consideration would be confined only to the issue of the Crime Prevention Objective. The burden would be on the Chief Officer of Police to demonstrate to the committee that there were good grounds for believing that the designation of the new DPS would undermine the Crime Prevention Objective. In this case, the committee would reject the variation of DPS. Otherwise, the variation of DPS would be approved.
A right of appeal exists to the Magistrates' Court for both applicant and Chief Officer of Police and it must be lodged with the Court within 21 consecutive days of the date of the objection notice.