Have your say on gambling policy

Under the Gambling Act 2005, councils are required to publish a licensing policy which must be reviewed every three years.

The new policy is due to come into effect on January 31, 2016, and before then the council is consulting on the revised version.

The consultation will run until October 9, 2015. All comments will then be taken into consideration before the final policy is approved by full council on November 19.

The main principles of the policy are to ensure that:

-Gambling is prevented from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime

-Gambling is conducted in a fair and open way

-Children and other vulnerable persons are protected from being harmed or exploited by gambling

Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “Residents may be surprised by the amount of premises which require a gambling licence of permit. These include casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, pubs, clubs and amusement arcades.

“The revised licensing policy which the council is bound by law to produce covers many different areas and takes into account all amendments since we produced our last policy.

“We are consulting all relevant parties for their views on what is a very important document.”

For more information about gambling licences, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/licences

And to have your say on the consultation, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations