Explanatory Notes

Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

2005 asp 16

21 December 2005

Commentary on Parts

Part 2 – Licensing Bodies and Officers

Section 13 – Licensing Standards Officers

31.Subsection (1) places a duty on local authorities to appoint one or more officers to be known as Licensing Standards Officers (“LSOs”) whose general statutory functions are those set out in section 14 of the Act. This is a new role. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 empowers the police and authorised officers of licensing and fire authorities to enter and inspect premises, vehicles or vessels of a licence holder or applicant for a licence. With respect to liquor licensing, however, there is currently no such provision. Subsection (2) further provides that local authorities may share the use of LSOs across their boundaries.