Personal Licences

Under the Licensing Act 2003, persons authorising the sale or supply of alcohol from a business holding a premises licence will also need to hold a personal licence. If you are named as a designated premises supervisor (DPS) on a premises licence, you must have obtained a personal licence before any alcohol can be sold.

To obtain a personal licence, you need to apply to the local authority for the area in which you are resident. We are therefore only able to accept applications from persons who live within the Sefton area. However, if you are not normally resident within England or Wales, you may apply to any licensing authority, including Sefton.

From 6 April 2017 applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK in order to hold a personal licence, from that date proof of the right to work will be required.

The fee for this process is £37.00.

To qualify for a Personal Licence an applicant must fulfil certain criteria; these state that the applicant:

  1. Must be aged 18 or over;
  2. That no personal licence held by them has been forfeited within the period of five years before making the application;
  3. That they possess an accredited licensing qualification;
  4. They have a legal right to work in the UK.
  5. That they have not been convicted of any relevant or foreign offence or have had to pay a civil immigration penalty.

If the applicant fulfils these criteria, the licence will be granted. If any of 1-4 are not met then we have to reject the application. In respect of 5. we will notify Merseyside Police or the Home Office if it appears that the applicant has been convicted of any relevant or foreign offence or has had to pay a civil immigration penalty.

 

Yes.

You will need to produce proof that you have the appropriate accredited qualification.
See "related links" for a list of current accredited training providers.

You must produce:

  • A completed application form (available via "download" section).
  • A completed Disclosure of Convictions and Civil Immigration Penalties Declaration form (available via "download" section).
  • Two photographs of yourself, which must:
    1. be taken against a light background so that your features are distinguishable and contrast against the background;
    2. be 45 millimetres by 35 millimetres;
    3. be full face uncovered and without sunglasses and, unless the applicant wears a head covering due to religious beliefs, without a head covering;
    4. be on photographic paper; and
    5. one must be endorsed as a true likeness of yourself by either a solicitor or notary; a person of standing in the community; or,an individual with a professional qualification.
  • Your accredited licensing qualification or a certified copy (see "related links" for list of accredited training providers).
  • A Basic Disclosure Certificate issued via the Disclosure and Barring Service (see "Related Links"). Such a Certificate cannot be any older than one calendar month when you submit the application to us.
  • Copies of documents which prove your legal right to work in the UK (see notes at the back of the application form).
  • The appropriate fee of £37. For this process we only accept cheques or postal orders (made payable to Sefton MBC).
  • The above should all be sent to us at the below address:

The Licensing Unit, Sefton MBC, Magdalen House, 30 Trinity Road, Bootle L20 3NJ

In these circumstances we may consult the following bodies about your application:

  • Merseyside Police, if you have any unspent convictions for relevant or foreign offences
  • The Home Office, if you have been required to pay a civil immigration penalty or if your right to work in the UK is not clear

Either body may object to your application, and if they do, your application will be decided at a hearing by our Licensing Sub-Committee.

If an application is refused following a hearing, appeals can be made to a Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the decision to refuse.

A list of the current relevant offences can be found in the "downloads" section.

No.

From 1st April 2015, under the provisions of the Deregulation Act 2015, the requirement to renew a personal licence was abolished. Therefore if you have a licence with the expiry date of 1st April 2015 or later then your licence is taken as having no expiry date.

However any personal licence issued in respect of an application made on or after 6 April 2017 will become invalid if the holder ceases to be entitled to work in the UK.

You need to write into us to tell us what the new details are (i.e. change of name, change of address).

You must return both parts of your Licence and enclose a cheque or postal order for £10.50 (made payable to Sefton MBC), if you are unable to return either simply inform us of the reasons why in your letter.

The above should all be sent to us at the below address:

  • The Licensing Unit, Sefton MBC, Magdalen House, 30 Trinity Road, Bootle L20 3NJ

Alternatively you can apply, and pay online, via the "Do it online" link.

You need to write into us to tell us that you have lost either part of your licence and enclose a cheque or postal order for £10.50 (made payable to Sefton MBC).

The above should all be sent to us at the below address:

  • The Licensing Unit, Sefton MBC, Magdalen House, 30 Trinity Road, Bootle L20 3NJ
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