Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 - amendments to notice requirements for EMRO hearings

The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 ('2014 Regulations') were laid before Parliament 5 September 2014 and will come into force 1 October 2014.

These amend Regulation 34 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 ('2005 Regulations'), specifically in relation to Early Morning Restrictions Orders (EMROs).

Currently, any notices given under the 2005 Regulations must be given in writing, although they can be notified electronically:

1. if the recipient agrees that in advance; and
2. immediately after the notice is provided electronically the notice is then given to the recipient in writing.

The 2014 Regulations effectively state that when notice is given electronically in respect of an EMRO hearing then (i) and (ii) above do not apply.

The 2014 Regulations can be found here.

With no EMRO hearings currently listed, the amendments make little practical difference at this moment in time but will reduce the administrative burden on Licensing Authorities should they proceed with such a hearing.