Ritchie heralds a new era for clubs

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today revealed proposals that will improve the trading environment for many of Northern Ireland’s Registered Clubs.

After introducing the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill in the Assembly, Margaret Ritchie said: “These new measures reflect a strong desire to remove some of the barriers to club development that arise from overly restrictive and prescriptive regulation.

“Today I have brought forward legislation which will allow clubs greater freedom of operation with a measured increase in opening hours entitlement, and a lifting of overly heavy accounting requirements.

“Although I will be permitting an increase in the number of ‘late’ licences from 52 to 120 per year this will be accompanied by tough measures to counter underage drinking and disorderly behaviour.”

The Minister added: “This is good news for clubs. Clubs do excellent work in the community, particularly with young people and in fostering voluntary activities. They often depend on their social club revenues to fund their valuable community work. The measures I am introducing will help them finance and sustain these.

“At the same time this legislation will introduce new measures that will be strong in countering the growing problem of alcohol abuse and the problems associated with it.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Bill will amend the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 to:
   · Enable a court to order licensed premises or registered clubs in an area of actual or anticipated disorder to close for up to 24 hours in the first instance; Repeal the Secretary of State (now Department of Justice) power to close premises or reduce opening hours to preserve public order; Enable a senior police officer to close with immediate effect for up to 24 hours specific licensed or club premises where disorder is occurring;
   · Enable a court, following conviction, to endorse penalty points on a licence or certificate of registration. The court will have some discretion but for more serious offences such as underage sales, endorsement would be mandatory. Premises which accumulate 10 penalty points within any three year period will have their licence or certificate suspended for a period between one week and three months;
   · Introduce a statutory proof-of-age scheme specifying acceptable proof-of-age documents for the purposes of licensing and registered clubs law. The documents will be: a passport, photocard driving licence, Northern Ireland Electoral Card and any PASS-accredited photo identity card. Power will be provided to make regulations specifying other age cards if necessary. Premises will be required to display specified signage describing the new scheme and it will be an offence to fail to display the signage. The scheme will complement PSNI’s new test purchasing power;
   · Increase the number of occasions on which registered clubs may apply to PSNI for later opening to 1.00am from 52 to 120 each year;
   · Create a more flexible accounting system for registered clubs which recognises the differing auditing requirements for small, medium & large clubs, reduce penalties for certain offences and introduce guidance on control of accounts, cash holdings and receipts. PSNI has acknowledged that financial mismanagement which previously existed in some clubs is no longer in evidence and that more flexible arrangements would be in order.
2. There will be no change to the current “surrender” provision under which an existing licence for a pub or off licence must be surrendered to a court before a new licence of either type may be granted.
3. Enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.