UK Act of Parliament 1982 United Kingdom

Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

What this means for your business

57 obligations
39 penalties
10 can imprison
3 guides
Applies to
United Kingdom
On this page
57 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides
Read full text on legislation.gov.uk

What you must do

57 compliance obligations under this legislation — 10 can result in imprisonment.

Inspections 1

Present your taxi or private hire vehicle for inspection

If you hold a taxi or private‑hire licence, you must bring the vehicle (and its taximeter) to an inspection when the licensing authority asks you to, at the time and place they specify. If the inspector is not satisfied with safety or the taximeter’s accuracy, you must make the vehicle available for further checks and risk licence suspension if you do not comply within the time allowed.

Trader/Business s.11 Holding a taxi or private‑hire car licence

Management duties 8

Arrange care and custody of your property when in police custody

If you are taken into police custody and you own or have the right to possess any property, you must promptly organise how that property will be collected, looked after and stored. If you do not make these arrangements within a reasonable time, the police can take charge of the property and may charge you for any reasonable costs incurred.

Any Person s.82 You are taken into police custody and you own or have a …

Charge taxi fares no higher than the fixed scales

If you run a taxi, you must only charge fares that are equal to or lower than the rates set by the local licensing authority. Any price you charge above those scales would be unlawful.

Trader/Business s.17 when providing taxi services in an area where fare scales have been …

Comply with licence conditions and correct any breaches

If your business holds a civic licence (for example an event, market stall or other licensed activity), you must follow all the conditions that came with that licence and any other local licensing rules. If the civic licensing standards officer gives you a notice that something is wrong, you must fix it as directed, or the issue may be taken to the local council.

Any Person s.45H When you hold a civic licence under Parts 1‑3 of the Act

Comply with licence conditions for record‑keeping, storage and display

If you hold a knife dealer’s licence in Scotland you must follow any conditions the licensing authority attaches to the licence. Those conditions can require you to keep accurate records of the knives you sell, store the knives securely and display them in the way the authority specifies. Failure to follow these conditions would breach your licence.

Trader/Business s.27C When you hold a knife dealer’s licence

Maintain private open spaces used by multiple properties

If you own an open area in a busy place that is shared by the owners or occupiers of two or more separate properties, you must keep the space and any surrounding walls or fences in a condition that does not create danger or nuisance to the public. Local authorities can issue a notice telling you to fix any problems within a reasonable time, and you can recover the cost from the other users in equal shares.

Any Person s.95 You own an open space in a populous area that is set …

Obtain a market operator’s licence and meet its conditions

If you run a private market – that is, a market organised by you (or any non‑public body) where more than one seller offers goods to the public – you must first get a market operator’s licence. The licence will set out rules you must follow, such as the days and hours the market can open, providing adequate toilet facilities, arranging the layout of stalls and keeping order and public safety.

Trader/Business s.40 When operating a private market (any market run by a non‑public authority …

Obtain and keep a licence (or waiver) to run a sex shop

If you want to use any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall to sell, hire or display sex articles, you must first get a licence from the local authority (or obtain a waiver). You have to submit a written application with detailed personal and premises information, publish a public notice, display that notice on the premises for 21 days, and keep the licence up‑to‑date. The authority can end a waiver with at least 28 days’ notice.

Trader/Business Schedule 2 When you intend to use premises, a vehicle, vessel or stall as …

Provide and maintain lighting on common stairs and passages

If the local council does not supply lighting for shared stairs, corridors or private courts in your building, you as the owner must install and keep the lights working to the council’s satisfaction. You also have to switch the lights on or off at the times the council orders, and you must comply with any written notice within 14 days.

Landlord/Property Owner s.90 Local authority has not exercised its power to provide lighting in the …

Other requirements 1

Display local authority management rules for public access

If a Scottish local authority has put management rules on one of your land or premises, you must put those rules on public display at the entrance (or another clearly visible spot). You also need to show a notice telling visitors where they can get a copy of the rules. This ensures anyone who wants to enter knows the conditions that apply.

Occupier s.114 Where a local authority has made management rules that apply to the …

Offences and prohibitions 39

Allow dangerous or annoying creature to cause injury, alarm or annoyance

Fine up to £1,000

If you keep an animal that creates danger, injury, alarm or annoyance to members of the public, or you let it do so, you commit an offence. A court can also order you to take steps (short of killing the animal) to stop the annoyance, and ignoring that order is a separate offence. Conviction brings a fine – up to £500 for the first offence and up to £1,000 for breaching a court order – and the case is heard in the magistrates’ court only; no imprisonment is prescribed.

Any Person s.49

Be liable for corporate offence due to director/manager consent or neglect

If your company commits an offence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act and a director, manager, secretary or similar officer either gave consent, was conniving, or was negligent, that officer is also guilty and can be prosecuted and punished just like the company. The same rule applies when a member who manages the company’s affairs behaves in this way.

Director/Officer s.130

Breach cleaning byelaw for common property

Fine up to £500

If you are the occupier of premises that have shared stairs, passages or similar areas and you fail to keep those areas clean in the way a local‑authority by‑law requires, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face a fine of up to £500 (standard‑scale level 2).

Occupier s.92

Continue touting after police order to desist

Fine up to £500

If you are selling, advertising or otherwise soliciting people in a public place and your activity annoys others, a police officer can order you to stop. Failing to stop when told to do so is a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face a fine of up to £500.

Any Person s.55

Display or supply obscene material

5 years imprisonment

If you show, sell, publish, distribute, or keep any obscene material in a place where the public can see it – or include it in a TV or radio programme – you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you can be sentenced to up to 12 months in prison or an unlimited fine in a magistrates’ court, or up to 5 years in prison (or 3 years for non‑extreme material) plus an unlimited fine in the Crown Court.

Any Person s.51

Display taxi‑like signage on a private hire vehicle

Fine up to £1,000

If you operate a private hire car and put any word, sign, mark, illumination or other feature on or in the vehicle that could make people think it is a taxi, you commit an offence. The same applies if you let someone else do it or you know it is happening. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face a fine of up to £1,000.

Any Person s.14

Dispose of stock before 48‑hour waiting period

Fine up to £1,000

If you run a second‑hand dealing business, you must wait 48 hours (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) after acquiring an item before you can sell it, unless an exemption applies. Selling the item earlier is an offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you face a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale (£1,000).

Any Person s.25

Enter or be on property with intent to commit theft

3 months imprisonment

If you are found inside a building, on its grounds, or in a vehicle or vessel without permission and it can be shown you intended to steal something, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face a fine of up to £2,500, up to three months’ imprisonment, or both.

Any Person s.57

Fail to allow police search or obstruct constable

Fine up to £1,000

If you refuse a police constable the right to search your premises, vehicle or to seize items, or you do not stop a vehicle when ordered, you commit a criminal offence. The offence applies to any person, including business owners and operators of premises such as second‑hand or metal dealers. On summary conviction in a magistrates' court you face a fine of up to £1,000, but no imprisonment.

Any Person s.60

Fail to comply with a seashore or adjacent‑waters byelaw

Fine up to £50

If a local authority makes a byelaw under this section – for example banning certain trade, vehicle use or water‑based recreation on the seashore or in adjacent waters – and you carry out that prohibited activity, you commit an offence. On summary conviction you can be fined up to £50. No imprisonment is provided for this offence.

Any Person s.121

Fail to comply with court order on disposal of second‑hand goods

60 days imprisonment

If a second‑hand dealer is convicted of an offence and the court orders them not to dispose of any second‑hand items for a set period (at least 7 days and up to 2 years), ignoring that order is a criminal offence. On summary conviction the dealer can be fined up to £2,500, jailed for up to 60 days, or both.

Any Person s.27

Fail to comply with fire safety notice for common property

Fine up to £1,000

If you are the occupier of a building and a fire officer gives you a written notice telling you to remove or make safe any combustible material or obstruction in the common areas, you must act within the time set. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be fined up to £1,000.

Occupier s.93

Fail to comply with local authority order to leave premises

Fine up to £50

If a local‑authority officer tells you to leave land or premises because you have broken, are breaking, or are about to break a management rule, and you stay, you are committing an offence. The same applies if you enter after being told you are excluded, or if you breach an exclusion order made under section 117. On conviction you face a fine of up to £50, dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court.

Any Person s.118

Fail to keep mileage record for second‑hand vehicle

Fine up to £1,000

If you run a business that buys used motor vehicles to resell, you must record the odometer reading at the time you acquire each vehicle. Failing to keep that mileage record is a criminal offence. On summary conviction in the magistrates' court you face a fine of up to £1,000 (level 3 on the standard scale), although you can defend yourself by proving you took all due diligence to prevent the breach.

Any Person s.24

Fail to maintain required insurance for hired vessels

Fine up to £2,500

If you hold a boat‑hire licence and let a vessel be used without having an appropriate insurance policy in place, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you can be fined up to £2,500. There is no custodial sentence for this breach.

Any Person s.38

Fail to obey court order restricting metal dealing

60 days imprisonment

If a metal dealer is convicted and the court orders them not to dispose of or process any metal for a set period, ignoring that order is a criminal offence. On summary conviction the offender faces up to a £2,500 fine, up to 60 days in prison, or both.

Any Person s.35

Fail to permit or obstruct authorised entry onto premises

Fine up to £1,000

If you own, occupy or control land or a building and an authorised local‑authority officer (or someone they have authorised) asks to enter to carry out work under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act, you must let them in. Refusing entry without a reasonable excuse, or actively blocking them, is a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates’ Court you can be fined up to £1,000.

Any Person s.101

Fail to produce records to constable or authorised officer

Fine up to £1,000

If a police constable or authorised officer suspects you are carrying out knife‑dealer activity without a licence and asks you to produce any records or documents about that activity, you must provide them. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is an offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face a fine of up to £1,000.

Any Person s.27G

Fail to report or deliver found lost property

Fine up to £50

If you (or someone acting for your business) take possession of something that appears to be lost or abandoned and you do not promptly give it to the police or the rightful owner, you commit an offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you can be fined up to £50.

Any Person s.67

Fail to return taxi or private‑hire licence after vehicle disposal

Fine up to £500

If you sell, dispose of or otherwise stop using the vehicle that your taxi or private‑hire licence covers, you must give the licence and any licence plates back to the licensing authority within 28 days. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to £500, tried in the magistrates’ court.

Any Person s.10

Give false information to a knife dealer licence holder

Fine up to £1,000

If you, or anyone acting for you, knowingly or recklessly supply false information when a licensed knife dealer asks for information required by their licence, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face a fine of up to £1,000. No prison term is prescribed for this offence.

Any Person s.27D

Give false name or address when selling to a second‑hand dealer

Fine up to £1,000

If you sell anything to a second‑hand dealer and provide a false name or address, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you face a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale (maximum £1,000). No custodial sentence is provided for this offence.

Any Person s.26

Hold a public procession without required notice or in breach of order

3 months imprisonment

If you organise a parade, march or any public procession and you fail to give the required notice, ignore an order that stops the procession, or break any condition (date, time, route, etc.) you commit an offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you can be fined up to £2,500, sent to prison for up to three months, or both.

Any Person s.65

Light a fire in a public place that endangers people or property

Fine up to £1,000

If you or anyone acting for your business lights a fire in any public place and it puts people at risk, causes alarm or annoyance, or threatens property, you are committing a criminal offence. The offence is tried in the magistrates' court and can result in a fine of up to £1,000. No prison term is prescribed for this breach.

Any Person s.56

Operate an unlicensed taxi or private hire car

Fine up to £2,500

If you run a taxi or private‑hire car in an area where the vehicle or its driver is required to be licensed but isn’t, you commit an offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you face a fine of up to £2,500.

Any Person s.21

Operate without a licence required under s27A

2 years imprisonment

If you carry out an activity that needs a licence under section 27A and you do not have that licence (and have no reasonable excuse), you commit an offence. On conviction you can face up to two years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Any Person s.7

Organise a public charitable collection without permission

Fine up to £1,000

If you arrange a public charitable collection and do not obtain written permission from the relevant local authority, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face a maximum fine of £1,000. No custodial sentence is provided for this offence.

Any Person s.119

Partner liable for partnership knife‑related offences

2 years imprisonment

If your partnership commits an offence under the knife‑dealer provisions (sections 5, 7, 27D, 27F or 27G) and a partner either consents to it, turns a blind eye, or is negligent, that partner can be prosecuted as if they committed the offence themselves. The partner faces the same penalties that apply to the partnership for the underlying offence.

Any Person s.27L

Pay for metal using unacceptable method

Unlimited fine

If you are a metal dealer or itinerant metal dealer and you pay for metal in any way other than a non‑transferable cheque or an electronic transfer to a bank or building society account in the payee’s name, you (and anyone who makes the payment for you) commit an offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you face an unlimited fine.

Any Person s.33A

Play music or operate sound device causing annoyance and refuse to stop

Fine up to £50

If you or your business play a musical instrument, sing, or operate a radio, TV, record player, tape‑recorder or similar sound‑producing device and it gives a reasonable cause for annoyance, you must stop when a constable in uniform tells you to. Failing to desist is a criminal offence that can result in a fine of up to £50 on summary conviction, and the police may enter premises to seize the equipment.

Any Person s.54

Possess extreme pornographic images

3 years imprisonment

If a business (or its employees) holds an image that is obscene, pornographic and depicts an extreme act (such as violence, severe injury, non‑consensual sex, necrophilia or bestiality) you commit a criminal offence. The offence applies whether the image is stored on a computer, phone or any other medium. On conviction you can be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Any Person s.51A

Possess indecent photographs of children

5 years imprisonment

If you have any indecent photograph or pseudo‑photograph of a child in your possession, you commit a criminal offence. Defences are limited to having a legitimate reason, not having seen the image or knowing it was indecent, or that it was sent to you without request and you did not keep it unreasonably. On conviction you can be sentenced to up to five years in prison, face an unlimited fine, or both.

Any Person s.52A

Refuse constable entry or obstruct search under warrant

Fine up to £1,000

If you deliberately stop a police constable, who has a warrant under this Act, from entering or searching your premises, vehicle or vessel – and you have no reasonable excuse – you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face a fine of up to £1,000. No prison term is attached to this offence.

Any Person s.6

Refuse entry or fail to produce records, equipment or stock on request

Fine up to £1,000

If a person who is in charge of premises, a vehicle or vessel, or a licence holder refuses to let an authorised officer, civilian employee or constable enter, or refuses to show equipment, stock‑in‑trade or required licence records when asked, the business commits an offence. On conviction in the Magistrates’ Court the offender faces a fine of up to £1,000.

Any Person s.5

Refuse entry to or obstruct constable/authorised officer executing a warrant

Fine up to £1,000

If you, as a business owner or occupier, refuse to let a police constable or an authorised officer enter your premises or carry out a search when they have a warrant under the knife‑dealer legislation, you commit a criminal offence. On summary conviction you face a fine of up to £1,000. No jail term is provided for this offence.

Any Person s.27F

Sell or give metal to someone under 16

Fine up to £1,000

If you are a metal dealer (including itinerant dealers) and you sell or give metal to a person who appears to be under 16, or you buy metal from such a person, you commit an offence. On conviction in the Magistrates’ Court you face a fine of up to £1,000.

Any Person s.34

Take, make, possess or distribute indecent images of children

10 years imprisonment

If you create, take, distribute, show, possess or advertise an indecent photograph or pseudo‑photograph of anyone under 18, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to up to 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine (or up to 6 months imprisonment and a £1,000 fine on summary conviction). The law applies to any person, including businesses and their employees.

Any Person s.52

Urinating or defecating causing annoyance

Fine up to £500

If anyone – including an employee, client or visitor – urinates or defecates in a place where it is likely to annoy other people, they commit an offence. A business can be prosecuted if it permits or fails to stop this behaviour on its premises. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court the offender can be fined up to £500.

Any Person s.47

Use raised platform without local authority approval

Fine up to £2,500

If you set up a platform, stand, staging or similar structure for people to sit or stand on and you do not first obtain approval from the local authority (or you break a condition they have imposed), you have committed a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face a fine of up to £2,500. No prison term is provided for this offence.

Any Person s.89

Record keeping 2

Keep metal dealing records in the correct format

If you buy, process or dispose of metal, you must keep detailed records either in numbered‑page books or an electronic system. Use separate books for metal you acquire and for metal you process or discard, and keep a log of any changes you make to electronic records. You can store supporting documents electronically and only need one copy of a person’s name or address document.

Trader/Business s.33D If you are a metal dealer or an itinerant metal dealer

Keep separate metal dealing records for each place of business

If you run a metal‑dealing business you must maintain separate records for each of your premises. One log‑book (or electronic record) must capture every metal purchase, and a second must capture every metal you process or dispose of, even if the activity occurs away from that site. The records must contain the information set out in the related sections of the Act.

Trader/Business s.33E

Registration and licensing 5

Hold a licence for each regulated activity

If your business involves both dealing in second‑hand goods and selling knives, you must have a separate licence for each activity. You cannot rely on a single licence to cover both. Make sure you apply for and keep both licences up to date.

Trader/Business s.27M Your business requires a second‑hand dealer's licence (s.24) AND a knife dealer's …

Obtain a metal dealer’s licence before trading

If you run a business that buys, sells or otherwise deals in metal, you must have a metal dealer’s licence before you start operating. The licence must clearly state what metal‑related activities you will carry out and the exact premises where you will do them.

Trader/Business s.28 When you carry on business as a metal dealer

Obtain an itinerant metal dealer’s licence

If you buy, sell or otherwise trade metal while moving around Scotland, you must hold a licence. The licence authorises you to carry on itinerant metal‑dealing anywhere in Scotland, so you cannot operate without it.

Trader/Business s.32 When you carry on business as an itinerant metal dealer in Scotland

Obtain a window cleaner’s licence

If you run a window‑cleaning business in Scotland, or you employ someone to clean windows, you must hold a window cleaner’s licence. You need to apply to the local authority before you start work and keep the licence up to date.

Trader/Business s.43 when carrying on the trade of window cleaning or employing a window …

Obtain the correct licence for each dealer activity you run

If your business deals in second‑hand goods, metal, or operates as an itinerant metal dealer, and you carry out any two (or more) of these activities, you must hold a separate licence for each type of dealing. You need to apply for, pay for and keep the relevant licences on record.

Trader/Business s.36 Business carries on any two or more of: second‑hand dealing, metal dealing, …

Reporting and filing 1

Lodge appeal against procession restriction order

If you have given notice of a public procession and the council issues an order or variation restricting it, you must file an appeal with the sheriff within 14 days of receiving the order and its reasons. The appeal is a short written application, and you may only miss the deadline if you can show good cause.

Any Person s.64 You have given notice of a public procession and receive an order …

Penalties for non-compliance

39 penalties under this legislation. 10 can result in imprisonment. 7 carry an unlimited fine.

Prison risk

Display or supply obscene material

Unlimited fine and/or 5 years imprisonment

Either way s.51 Penalises: Display or supply obscene material
Prison risk

Operate without a licence required under s27A

Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment

Either way s.7 Penalises: Operate without a licence required under s27A
Prison risk

Partner liable for partnership knife‑related offences

Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment

Either way s.27L Penalises: Partner liable for partnership knife‑related offences
Prison risk

Possess extreme pornographic images

Unlimited fine and/or 3 years imprisonment

Either way s.51A Penalises: Possess extreme pornographic images
Prison risk

Possess indecent photographs of children

Unlimited fine and/or 5 years imprisonment

Either way s.52A Penalises: Possess indecent photographs of children
Prison risk

Take, make, possess or distribute indecent images of children

Unlimited fine and/or 10 years imprisonment

Either way s.52 Penalises: Take, make, possess or distribute indecent images of …
Prison risk

Enter or be on property with intent to commit theft

Fine up to £2,500 and/or 3 months imprisonment

Summary only s.57 Penalises: Enter or be on property with intent to …
Prison risk

Fail to comply with court order on disposal of second‑hand goods

Fine up to £2,500 and/or 60 days imprisonment

Summary only s.27 Penalises: Fail to comply with court order on disposal …
Prison risk

Fail to obey court order restricting metal dealing

Fine up to £2,500 and/or 60 days imprisonment

Summary only s.35 Penalises: Fail to obey court order restricting metal dealing
Prison risk

Hold a public procession without required notice or in breach of order

Fine up to £2,500 and/or 3 months imprisonment

Summary only s.65 Penalises: Hold a public procession without required notice or …
Unlimited fine

Pay for metal using unacceptable method

Unlimited fine

Summary only s.33A Penalises: Pay for metal using unacceptable method
Fine

Fail to maintain required insurance for hired vessels

Fine up to £2,500

Summary only s.38 Penalises: Fail to maintain required insurance for hired vessels
Fine

Operate an unlicensed taxi or private hire car

Fine up to £2,500

Summary only s.21 Penalises: Operate an unlicensed taxi or private hire car
Fine

Use raised platform without local authority approval

Fine up to £2,500

Summary only s.89 Penalises: Use raised platform without local authority approval
Fine

Allow dangerous or annoying creature to cause injury, alarm or annoyance

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.49 Penalises: Allow dangerous or annoying creature to cause injury, …
Fine

Display taxi‑like signage on a private hire vehicle

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.14 Penalises: Display taxi‑like signage on a private hire vehicle
Fine

Dispose of stock before 48‑hour waiting period

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.25 Penalises: Dispose of stock before 48‑hour waiting period
Fine

Fail to allow police search or obstruct constable

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.60 Penalises: Fail to allow police search or obstruct constable
Fine

Fail to comply with fire safety notice for common property

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.93 Penalises: Fail to comply with fire safety notice for …
Fine

Fail to keep mileage record for second‑hand vehicle

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.24 Penalises: Fail to keep mileage record for second‑hand vehicle
Fine

Fail to permit or obstruct authorised entry onto premises

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.101 Penalises: Fail to permit or obstruct authorised entry onto …
Fine

Fail to produce records to constable or authorised officer

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.27G Penalises: Fail to produce records to constable or authorised …
Fine

Give false information to a knife dealer licence holder

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.27D Penalises: Give false information to a knife dealer licence …
Fine

Give false name or address when selling to a second‑hand dealer

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.26 Penalises: Give false name or address when selling to …
Fine

Light a fire in a public place that endangers people or property

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.56 Penalises: Light a fire in a public place that …
Fine

Organise a public charitable collection without permission

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.119 Penalises: Organise a public charitable collection without permission
Fine

Refuse constable entry or obstruct search under warrant

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.6 Penalises: Refuse constable entry or obstruct search under warrant
Fine

Refuse entry or fail to produce records, equipment or stock on request

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.5 Penalises: Refuse entry or fail to produce records, equipment …
Fine

Refuse entry to or obstruct constable/authorised officer executing a warrant

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.27F Penalises: Refuse entry to or obstruct constable/authorised officer executing …
Fine

Sell or give metal to someone under 16

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.34 Penalises: Sell or give metal to someone under 16
Fine

Breach cleaning byelaw for common property

Fine up to £500

Summary only s.92 Penalises: Breach cleaning byelaw for common property
Fine

Continue touting after police order to desist

Fine up to £500

Summary only s.55 Penalises: Continue touting after police order to desist
Fine

Fail to return taxi or private‑hire licence after vehicle disposal

Fine up to £500

Summary only s.10 Penalises: Fail to return taxi or private‑hire licence after …
Fine

Urinating or defecating causing annoyance

Fine up to £500

Summary only s.47 Penalises: Urinating or defecating causing annoyance
Fine

Fail to comply with a seashore or adjacent‑waters byelaw

Fine up to £50

Summary only s.121 Penalises: Fail to comply with a seashore or adjacent‑waters …
Fine

Fail to comply with local authority order to leave premises

Fine up to £50

Summary only s.118 Penalises: Fail to comply with local authority order to …
Fine

Fail to report or deliver found lost property

Fine up to £50

Summary only s.67 Penalises: Fail to report or deliver found lost property
Fine

Play music or operate sound device causing annoyance and refuse to stop

Fine up to £50

Summary only s.54 Penalises: Play music or operate sound device causing annoyance …
Fine

Be liable for corporate offence due to director/manager consent or neglect

Penalty applies

s.130 Penalises: Be liable for corporate offence due to director/manager …

Practical guidance

Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.

Sections and provisions

196 classified provisions from this legislation.

Duties 31

  • Schedule 2 Control of Sex Shops person
  • s.11 Inspection and testing of vehicles. reasonable time
  • s.12 Fees for taxi and private hire car licences.
  • s.17 Taxi fares.
  • s.18A Publication and coming into effect of taxi fares
  • s.27Q Duty to avoid conflict between conditions of licences
  • s.27C Knife dealers' licences: conditions
  • s.27B Applications for knife dealers' licences: notice application made
  • s.27M Appropriate licence required
  • s.28 Metal dealers: licensing and regulation.
  • s.32 Itinerant metal dealers.
  • s.33E Metal dealer to keep records for each place of business
  • s.33D Form of records
  • s.36 Appropriate licence required.
  • s.40 Market operators’ licences. s licence
  • s.43 Window cleaners’ licences.
  • s.45C Statements of policy in relation to sexual entertainment venues
  • s.45H General functions of a civic licensing standards officer
  • s.45 Control of sex shops.
  • s.63 Functions of regional and islands councils in relation to processions. The local authority
  • ... and 11 more duties

Offences and penalties 46

  • s.5 Rights of entry and inspection.
  • s.6 Powers of entry to and search of unlicensed premises.
  • s.7 Offences, etc.
  • s.10 Taxi and private hire car licences.
  • s.14 Signs on vehicles other than taxis.
  • s.20 Regulations relating to taxis and private hire cars and their drivers.
  • s.21 Offences.
  • s.24 Second-hand dealers’ licences.
  • s.25 Disposal of stock-in-trade.
  • s.26 Sellers of second-hand goods: offences etc.
  • s.27F Powers of constables and authorised officers
  • s.27 Functions of the court in relation to second-hand dealers convicted of offences.
  • s.27D Provision of information to holder of knife dealer's licence
  • s.27L Offences by partnerships
  • s.27G Power to inspect documents
  • s.33A Acceptable forms of payment for metal
  • s.34 Offences relating to metal dealing.
  • s.35 Functions of the court in relation to metal dealers convicted of offences.
  • s.38 Boat hire licences.
  • s.44 Additional activities.
  • ... and 26 more offences and penalties

Powers 32

  • s.3A Mandatory licence conditions
  • s.13 Taxi and private hire car driving licences.
  • s.18 Appeals in respect of taxi fares.
  • s.19 Taxi stances.
  • s.27E Knife dealers' licences: warrants to enter, search and seize articles
  • s.27A Knife dealers' licences
  • s.27K Effect of forfeiture order
  • s.27J Forfeiture orders
  • s.37A Exemptions
  • s.39 Street traders’ licences.
  • s.41 Public entertainment licences.
  • s.45E Mandatory licence conditions
  • s.59 Powers of arrest and apprehension.
  • s.61 Protection of insecure premises.
  • s.70 Powers of chief constable regarding rewards.
  • s.72 Rights to compensation.
  • s.86F Retention of relevant property by Scottish Police Authority
  • s.86E Disposal of relevant property.
  • s.88 Installation of pipes through neighbouring property.
  • s.91 Installation of lights in private property.
  • ... and 12 more powers

Definitions 26

  • s.3B Standard licence conditions
  • s.3 Discharge of functions of licensing authorities. the relevant date
  • s.8 Interpretation of Parts I and II. authorised civilian employee chief constable licence
  • s.13A Persons disqualified by reason of immigration status
  • s.23 Interpretation of sections 10 to 22. taxi private hire car hire car
  • s.27P Sales and dispatches in different local authority areas
  • s.27H Sections 27E to 27G: interpretation relevant article authorised officer
  • s.27N Remote sales of knives etc.
  • s.33B Acceptable forms of payment: meaning of “bank or building society account” bank or building society account bank authorised deposit-taker
  • s.33C Requirement to keep records
  • s.37 Interpretation of sections 28 to 36. itinerant metal dealer metal metal dealer
  • s.42 Late hours catering licences. food
  • s.45G Civic licensing standards officers
  • s.45D Deemed grant of applications
  • s.45A Licensing of sexual entertainment venues: interpretation Sexual entertainment venue sexual entertainment display of nudity
  • s.45F Standard licence conditions
  • s.78 Crown application of Part VI.
  • s.79 Interpretation of Part VI. chief constable finder previous owner
  • s.86J References in this Part to “chief constable”. chief constable
  • s.86 Interpretation and Crown application of this Part. chief constable
  • ... and 6 more definitions

Exemptions 16

  • s.2 Licensing authorities.
  • s.9 Application of sections 10 to 27 and 38 to 44.
  • s.16 Journeys in England and Wales by vehicles and drivers licensed under this Act.
  • s.22 Exemptions
  • s.27R Offences in relation to knife dealers' licences: exceptions
  • s.41A Indoor sports entertainment licences.
  • s.51B Extreme pornography: excluded images
  • s.51C Extreme pornography: defences
  • s.52C Section 52B: proof of exceptions
  • s.62 Notification of processions.
  • s.80 Application of Part VII to property.
  • s.86A Application of Part VIIA to property.
  • s.94 Disused petrol containers.
  • s.99 Power to enter, execute works and recover expense.
  • s.117 Exclusion orders.
  • s.120 Savings for Crown and other rights.