Licensing news flashes

What is Martyn’s Law and how do event organisers comply?

Read about Martyn's Law via the link below:

What is Martyn’s Law and how do event organisers comply?

Government publishes voluntary code of good practice for prize draw operators

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has published updated guidance setting out a Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators, aimed at improving consumer protection and transparency in the prize draw sector.

The code applies to operators running prize draws that include both paid entry and a free entry route. These draws are not regulated under gambling legislation provided the free entry route meets legal requirements.

According to the Government, prize draws attract an estimated 7.4 million adult participants each year in Great Britain and generate around £1.3 billion in annual turnover.

The code is voluntary and does not replace existing legal obligations under consumer protection, advertising, or data protection law. Operators choosing to adopt the code are expected to implement its measures within six months of signing up, and no later than 20 May 2026.

Key requirements

The guidance sets out expectations in three main areas:

Player protection

Participation should be restricted to individuals aged 18 and over.

Operators should introduce safeguards to limit excessive spending, including a monthly cap on credit card spend and restrictions on the use of credit cards for instant-win draws.

Customers should be offered tools to set personal spending limits and to suspend their participation for a minimum period.

Operators should monitor customer activity for indicators of harm and provide information on support services.

Transparency

Operators should clearly explain how prize draws work, including how winners are selected by chance.

The free entry route must be clearly signposted and accessible.

Where possible, information about odds of winning should be provided.

Prizes advertised must be awarded as described, or an equivalent cash alternative offered.

Accountability

Operators should maintain internal processes to monitor compliance with the code.

Measures taken to meet the code's requirements should be publicly available.

Operators are encouraged to cooperate with DCMS and other operators to support consistent standards across the sector.

The Government has stated that it will monitor uptake and implementation of the code. It has indicated that further action may be considered if the voluntary approach does not deliver improved standards of consumer protection.

Government launches major review of the Licensing Act 2003

The UK Government has launched a major review of the Licensing Act 2003, aiming to modernise and streamline the licensing system for alcohol, entertainment, and late-night refreshment. Dubbed the “Red Tape Review,” this initiative seeks to reduce regulatory burdens, support economic growth, and enhance cultural and community life across England and Wales.

The Home Office and Department for Business and Trade are leading the effort, inviting stakeholders to respond to a Call for Evidence that explores a wide range of proposed reforms. These proposals are designed to make the licensing system more consistent, transparent, and responsive to modern challenges and opportunities.

According to the government’s announcement, the review could pave the way for more flexible outdoor trading, simplified licensing conditions, and better support for festivals and night-time economies. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer described the initiative as a chance to “bring more food, music and fun to your local,” while ensuring public safety and community wellbeing remain central.

Below is a breakdown of the key themes and proposals included in the Call for Evidence:

1. National Licensing Policy Framework

Establish a national framework to harmonise licensing practices across local authorities while preserving local discretion. The framework would align licensing with broader government goals such as economic growth, cultural development, public safety, and community well being.

2. Licensing Condition Amnesty

Introduce an amnesty process to allow removal of outdated or disproportionate licence conditions, especially those inherited from pre-2005 regimes. These would be treated as minor variations, streamlining the process and reducing regulatory burdens for on-trade premises.

3. Statutory Notice Requirements

End the requirement to publish alcohol licence notices in printed local newspapers due to declining readership and high costs. Explore digital alternatives such as online portals, council websites, and social media to maintain transparency and public awareness.

4. Outdoor Trading and Pavement Licences

Simplify and extend pavement licence durations, remove outdated COVID-related conditions, clarify licensing rules for outdoor alcohol sales, and promote best practice guidance to support seasonal flexibility and economic activity.

5. Temporary Event Notices (TENs)

Permanently increase the number of TENs allowed per year for licensed premises to support community events. Consider retaining safeguards such as the 24-hour gap between events and transferring licence conditions to TENs.

6. Blanket Policies and Core Hours

Proposal: Introduce requirements for regular review or sunset clauses for blanket licensing policies, such as core opening hours, to ensure they remain proportionate and evidence-based.

7. Evidence and Data Protocol

Develop a national protocol to standardise providential requirements, promote early mediation, and clarify objection procedures. Consider giving licensing officers greater influence in decision-making, similar to planning officers.

8. Festivals and Events

Enable longer-term or perpetual licences for recurring festivals and events to support investment, planning, and stability in the sector.

9. Agent of Change Principle

Strengthen the application of the Agent of Change principle in licensing decisions to protect existing venues from complaints arising due to new residential developments nearby.

10. Hospitality, Leisure and Cultural Zones

Explore the use of designated zones to preserve and manage vibrant night-time economies. Encourage local consultation and use of licensing and planning mechanisms to support economic and cultural activity.

11. Impacts – Crime, Public Health, Local Authorities, Equality

Assess the potential impacts of proposed reforms on public safety, crime, public health, and equality. Identify reforms that may place burdens on licensing authorities and suggest mitigation measures.

The government is seeking views from businesses, local authorities, residents, and other stakeholders. This call for evidence closes at midday on 6 November 2025.

For more information or to submit your views, visit the official Call for Evidence page:

GOV.UK - Call for Evidence (external website)

Home Office issues Martyn's Law 'myth buster' guidance

The Home Office has released new guidance materials to support public understanding of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025—commonly known as Martyn’s Law—by publishing a myth buster and a one-page leaflet aimed at clarifying the Act’s scope and dispelling common misconceptions.

Martyn’s Law, named in memory of Martyn Hett - one of the 22 victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack - received Royal Assent in April 2025. The legislation mandates that certain public venues and events implement proportionate security measures to better protect the public in the event of a terrorist attack.

The newly-issued 'myth buster' addresses widespread misunderstandings about the law, including the role of third-party providers and the nature of compliance requirements. It encourages organisations to focus on effective, practical security planning rather than outsourcing unnecessarily. The accompanying leaflet outlines key elements of the Act, including who is responsible for compliance, what premises are in scope, and the role of the regulator.

These documents are part of the government’s broader effort to raise awareness and prepare stakeholders ahead of the Act’s implementation. A minimum 24-month transition period has been confirmed, allowing time for statutory guidance to be published and for affected organisations to understand and meet their obligations.

Public Consultation - Licensing Act 2003 Policy Review

Under the Licensing Act 2003, this council, as a Licensing Authority is required to publish a policy document which outlines how we will apply the Licensing Act legislation, and carry out our functions under the Act.

Our current Licensing Act policy was last published in 2021, and we have a statutory obligation to publish a reviewed policy every five years.

We are now in the consultation period which runs from 1 October 2025 to 12 November 2025.

Review the policy

View the reviewed policy below:

You can also view a version which shows tracked changes, to see what has been updated since the previous version:

Submit comments

Any comments on this policy can be submitted by email to:

licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

Please note: consultation closes at midnight on November 2025, and comments will not be accepted after this time.

Festival of Hope business pledge and sponsorship commitment

As a proud supporter of the Festival of Hope, we pledge to stand with our community to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and spread hope to all those affected by suicide.

We commit to:

sharing the message of the Festival of Hope with our staff, customers, and community
encouraging our staff to complete the FREE “Talk Suicide” training from the Zero Suicide Alliance to help them have life-saving conversations
wearing purple during Festival of Hope week to show visible solidarity and help raise awareness
creating safe, supportive spaces where people feel able to talk about mental health
taking part in activities during the festival week to show that hope is alive in our region.

Further information can be found in the document below:

Protective Security guidance for use by attendees, staff and organisers of public events - August 2024

In light of the recent foiled plot against a Taylor Swift concert in Austria, The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) has bundled relevant protective security guidance for use by attendees, staff and organisers of public events in one place. The bundle includes free training, videos and guidance documents.

The bundle of guidance can be found on the Protect UK Events website on the link:

Protect UK - Keeping everyone safe at events (external website)

New guidance published on ‘Mitigation of Terrorist Threats at Venues during Ingress and Egress Guidance’ - June 2024

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have published new guidance for ‘Mitigation of Terrorist Threats at Venues during Ingress and Egress Guidance’.

The guidance can be applied to any venue where crowds are likely to form during ingress and egress. The sort of venues envisaged include stadia, concert venues, exhibition centres, theatres, nightclubs, shopping malls, theme parks and temporary sites that are set up for short periods or single events such as festivals.

This guidance aims to highlight the primary security concerns arising during the ingress and egress phases of venue operations. For more information and to read the guidance please visit the NPSA website via the link below:

NPSA Guidance (external website)

Bouncy Castles and Similar Inflatable Devices Safety

There have been a number of fatalities and serious incidents nationally in recent years where bouncy castles and similar inflatable devices have collapsed or blown away in windy or adverse conditions. The council's Health, Safety and Licensing Service are currently running a safety campaign to improve the safety and management of inflatable amusement devices by increasing the level of awareness of the risks, safety and management best practice.

Health and Safety law applies to the supply, hire and use of inflatables for commercial purposes. The council has produced guidance documents covering best practice for businesses hiring devices and details their responsibilities included testing of equipment, ensuring they carry out risk assessments and comply with the appropriate safety legislation and ensuring their devices are correctly insured.

Hirers such as event organisers can take simple precautions to help avoid serious incidents. The council has produced guidance documents covering best practice for hirers which includes who's responsible, what to check before hiring and what checks to carry out on the day of hiring.

Council officers will be carrying out safety spot checks on bouncy castles and similar inflatable devices over the coming months to check and have powers to take action against businesses that are failing to comply with the law.

For further advice or to report any concerns please contact health.safety@eastriding.gov.uk.

Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 HMRC Tax Conditionality

From 4 April 2022, Licensing Authorities must carry out certain checks on applications from individuals, companies and any type of partnership to make sure they are aware of their tax responsibilities or have completed a tax check.

New applications will not need to complete a tax check however we must ask them to read the HMRC guidance (link below) what they need to do to be properly registered for tax in the future and they will need to confirm that they have done this.

GOV.UK - HMRC Complete a tax check for a taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence (external website)

Existing licence holders will have to obtain a tax check access code from the HMRC and submit this on the renewal application. By law the Local Authority must return any renewal application that is submitted without a valid HMRC tax check access code, for more information on this check please read the below question.

Please be aware that under schedule 23 to Finance Act 2011 (Data Gathering Powers) and Schedule to 36 to Finance Act 2008 (Information and Inspection Powers) the HMRC have powers to obtain relevant information from third parties. This includes licensing bodies being required to provide information about licence applicants.

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