Poisons Act 1971

The responsible licensing authority must not grant a licence to a person, or renew a licence granted to a person, unless satisfied that the person is a fit and proper person to hold the licence.

The responsible licensing authority must not grant a licence to a person, or renew a licence granted to a person, if the responsible licensing authority must, under the regulations, refuse to grant or to renew, respectively, the licence.

The responsible licensing authority may refuse to grant to a person a licence, or to renew a licence granted to a person, if – the person has been found guilty of an offence that, in the opinion of the responsible licensing authority, makes the person unsuitable to be involved in any activity authorised by, or associated with, the licence; or the responsible licensing authority may, under the regulations, refuse to grant or to renew, respectively, the licence.

The regulations may make further provision for the circumstances in which the responsible licensing authority may refuse, or is required to refuse, to grant a licence to a person or to renew, or to refuse to renew, a licence granted to a person.

A relevant licensing authority is to give to the applicant for a licence or the renewal of a licence, written notice of the decision of the authority to grant or renew, or to refuse to grant or renew, the licence and, if the authority refuses to grant or to renew the licence, written reasons for the refusal.