A ‘brick wall’ for licensing

Nov 17 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

COMMUNICATION between two Scottish Police forces was in the dock during a meeting of Perth and Kinross Licensing Board, when a Tayside officer accused Strathclyde of creating a “beaurocratic brick wall”.

The criticism came about when a Crieff Hydro Hotel employee failed to disclose a previous conviction when applying for a personal licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act.

A routine check on the applicant by Tayside Police revealed Kevin McIntyre had been convicted in 2006 at Glasgow Sheriff Court of carrying an offensive weapon, for which he had been fined £200. But in attempts to glean more information from Strathclyde Police about the conviction, Tayside officers “came across a beaurocratic wall”.

Mr McIntyre explained to the board the conviction arose after he took off the belt of his trousers and went to the aid of his friend who was being attacked in the street.

He said he did not declare the conviction because of misinformation from his employer.

Licensing Board member Councillor Wilma Lumsden moved Mr McIntyre’s application be refused, and she was seconded by Councillor Dennis Melloy, who expressed frustration at the lack of information from Strathclyde Police: “We are asking for information which could affect someone’s livelihood.”

Mr McIntyre, however, was granted a licence after a vote returned a 4-2 majority in his favour.