Commentary on Parts Part 9 – Miscellaneous and General Section 137 – Inspection of premises before grant of licence etc.
280.This section provides a power for Licensing Standards Officers and the police to enter premises at any time in those circumstances linked to a relevant application or review, provided for in subsection (1), and if necessary to use reasonable force to do so. This is for the purposes of assessing the likely effect on the promotion of the licensing objectives of the grant of the application or the effect of the sale of alcohol under the licence. It also provides that anyone preventing those persons from undertaking this task will be guilty of an offence.