Council officer shares best practice on licensing

A licensing officer from Herefordshire Council has recently been the principal speaker at two training seminars aimed at improving the way local authorities tackle alcohol-related problems.

Fred Spriggs, a licensing officer with Herefordshire Council, was asked by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to speak at two national seminars as an example of best practice in relation to the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003.

The aim of the seminars, held in Cambridge and London, was to develop awareness of the tools and powers available to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. A further eight similar seminars are to be held across the country in the new year.

Fred Spriggs said: "The seminars are proving an excellent way to share examples of best practice with authorities throughout the country and hopefully will help people to use their legislative powers more effectively in tackling anti-social behaviour resulting from abuse of alcohol.

"The seminars were also attended by representatives from the police, licensing authorities, magistrates, environmental health officer, registered socials landlords and tenants associations and proved a good opportunity to reinforce the benefits of partnership working," he added.