Designated alcohol and entertainment premises supervisor

Every premise licensed for the sale of alcohol must have someone named as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). You can vary an existing premises licence to specify an individual as DPS.

Role of DPS

The DPS is responsible for the sale of alcohol at licensed premises. They also act as the main point of contact for any licensing, compliance or enforcement enquiries.

Who should be the DPS?

The DPS should be a person with sufficient authority to control and direct activities at the licensed premises. Normally, this is the person who has day to day responsibility for running the premises. The DPS can also be the premises licence holder.

Appoint a DPS

You must provide a DPS when applying for a premises licence. A premises licence can only name one DPS, but a DPS can be named on more than one premises licence.

Change the DPS

If you change your DPS then you must apply to make a change to your premises licence.

You can change the DPS in one of two ways:

Online 

• Complete the form online
• Save a copy of the completed form for your own records
• Make the payment using a debit or credit card
• You do not need to send an additional copy to the Police when you make an online application, as we will fulfil these requirements.

Paper

• Download and complete the application form
• Keep a copy of the completed form for your own records
• Enclose the existing premises licence, or if not available a statement why the licence cannot be returned.
• Send a copy to the Police at: 

Consent Form

The proposed DPS must complete and sign a consent form that confirms they agree to be responsible for the sale of alcohol at the premises. If the form is completed by hand and sent in the post, this document must be the original and not a copy.

Download and complete the Consent Form.

Fee

The application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

What happens next?

As soon as we receive your application, we will check to ensure that the application is valid and a copy has been submitted to the police.

If we identify a problem

If there is a minor problem with the application, we may contact you for further information or may return the application to you for correction. Where there is a fundamental error, the application may be rejected.

Objections by the police

If you apply to change the DPS and the police have concerns about the proposed person, they can object to the application (within 14 days). In such cases we will contact you. If you wish to proceed with the application we will hold a hearing of the councils licensing committee to decide on the application

If no objections are received

We will send the varied licence to you.

How long does it take?

We aim to process variation of DPS applications within 28 days of receipt (or sooner if the police raise no objection). However, you can ask that your application takes immediate effect from the date that we receive it by ticking the appropriate box on the application form.

Remove yourself as the DPS

If you no longer wish to be named as the DPS on a premises licence, you can remove yourself as the DPS online(GOV.UK) or write to the Safety and Licensing Team.