Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

• Citation: 1982 c. 45
• Sections: 254

Section 1 Application of Parts I and II of this Act.

This Part of this Act shall have effect with respect to the licensing of the activities for which licences are required under Part II of this Act.

Section 2 Licensing authorities.

(1) For the administration of licensing in relation to the activities in connection with which licences are required under Part II of this Act there shall be a licensing authority for the area of each local authority .

(2) The licensing authority shall be the local authority within whose area the activity is, or is to be, carried on.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) above, a local authority shall not be exempt from any requirement to have a licence or any other obligation under this Part or Part II of this Act and a licensing authority shall have power to entertain and dispose of an application by a local authority for a licence or in respect of a licence held by them.

Section 3 Discharge of functions of licensing authorities.

(1) For the purpose of the discharge of their functions under this Part of this Act, every licensing authority must—

(a) consider each relevant application made to them within the period of 3 months beginning with the relevant date , and

(b) subject to the following provisions of this section, reach a final decision on the application within the period of 6 months beginning with the end of the 3 month period referred to in paragraph (a).

(1A) In subsection (1) “ the relevant date ” means—

(a) the date on which the application is made, or

(b) if, on that date, the licensing authority is prevented from considering the application by paragraph 2(2) or 3(2) of Schedule 33 to the Finance Act 2021 (which contain requirements to be complied with before applications may be considered), the date on which the licensing authority ceases to be so prevented.

(2) On summary application by the licensing authority within the 6 month period referred to in subsection (1) above, the sheriff may, if it appears to him that there is good reason to do so, extend that period as he thinks fit.

(3) The applicant shall be entitled to be a party to a summary application under subsection (2) above.

(4) Where the licensing authority have failed to reach a final decision on the application before the expiry of—

(a) the 6 month period referred to in subsection (1) above, or

(b) such further period as the sheriff may have specified on application under subsection (2) above,

the licence ... shall be deemed to have been granted , renewed or, as the case may be, varied ... on the date of such expiry ....

(4A) A licence deemed to have been granted or renewed under subsection (4) is—

(a) in the case of a temporary licence, to remain in force for the duration of the period sought in the application (up to a maximum period of 6 weeks), or

(b) in any other case, to remain in force for the period of one year.

(4B) A variation of the terms of a licence deemed to have been granted under subsection (4) is to have effect for the remaining period of the licence.

(4C) Subsections (4) and (4B) do not affect—

(a) the powers of revocation under section 7(6)(a),

(b) paragraph 8(5) of Schedule 1 (which relates to renewals of existing licences),

(c) the powers of variation under paragraph 10 of that Schedule, or

(d) the powers of suspension and revocation under paragraphs 11 and 12 of that Schedule.

(5A) The deemed grant, renewal or variation of the terms of a licence under subsection (4) is, for the purposes of Schedule 1, to be treated as a decision of the licensing authority to grant, renew or vary the terms of a licence.

(5B) For the purposes of this section, a “relevant application” is an application under paragraph 1, 7 or 10 of Schedule 1.

Section 3A Mandatory licence conditions

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by order made by statutory instrument prescribe conditions to which licences granted by licensing authorities under this Act are to be subject.

(2) Different conditions may be prescribed under subsection (1)—

(a) in respect of different licences, or different types of licence,

(b) otherwise for different purposes, circumstances or cases.

(3) No order may be made under subsection (1) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

(4) Subsection (1) does not affect any other power of the Scottish Ministers under this Act or any other enactment to prescribe conditions—

(a) to which licences granted by licensing authorities under this Act are to be subject, or

(b) to be imposed by licensing authorities in granting or renewing licences under this Act.

(5) The following conditions are referred to in this Part and Part 2 of this Act as “mandatory conditions”—

(a) conditions prescribed under subsection (1),

(b) conditions prescribed under any power referred to in subsection (4), and

(c) conditions imposed, or required to be imposed, by any provision of this Part or Part 2 of this Act.

(6) In this section and section 3B, references to licences granted by licensing authorities include references to—

(a) licences renewed by licensing authorities, and

(b) licences deemed by virtue of section 3(4) to be granted or renewed by licensing authorities.

Section 3B Standard licence conditions

(1) A licensing authority may determine conditions to which licences granted by them under this Act are to be subject.

(2) Conditions determined under subsection (1) are referred to in this Part and Part 2 as “standard conditions”.

(3) Different conditions may be determined under subsection (1)—

(a) in respect of different licences, or different types of licence,

(b) otherwise for different purposes, circumstances or cases.

(4) A licensing authority must publish, in such manner as they think appropriate, any standard conditions determined by them.

(5) Standard conditions have no effect—

(a) unless they are published, and

(b) so far as they are inconsistent with any mandatory conditions.

(6) Subsection (1) is subject to paragraph 5(1A)(a) of Schedule 1 to this Act.

Section 4 Further provisions as to licensing.

Schedule 1 to this Act (which contains further provisions as to licensing and regulation in relation to the activities in connection with which licences are required under Part II of this Act) shall have effect.

Section 5 Rights of entry and inspection.

(1) Without prejudice to any other provision of this Act, an authorised officer of the licensing authority , an authorised civilian employee ... or a constable may, for the purposes specified in subsection (2) below, at any reasonable time—

(a) enter and inspect any premises, vehicle or vessel used or to be used for an activity in relation to which a licence is in force or has been applied for under this Act;

(b) require production of and inspect any equipment, plant, apparatus or stock-in-trade which is or is to be kept or used in connection with any such activity;

(c) require production of and inspect any records or other documents required by or under this Part or Part II of this Act to be kept by the holder of the licence and take copies of or extracts from any such record or document.

(2) The purposes referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a) where a licence is in force—

(i) seeing whether the terms of the licence are being complied with and, if they are not, obtaining information in respect of such non-compliance;

(ii) obtaining information relevant to the question whether the terms of the licence should be varied under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to this Act or whether the licence should be renewed or, under paragraph 11 or 12 of that Schedule, suspended or revoked ; or

(b) where the grant of a licence has been applied for, obtaining information relevant to the question whether the application should be granted.

(3) Any person who—

(a) being a person for the time being in charge of any premises, vehicle or vessel, fails without reasonable excuse to permit a constable , an authorised civilian employee or an authorised officer of a licensing authority ... who, in pursuance of subsection (1) above, demands to do so to enter or inspect the premises, vehicle or vessel or obstructs the entry thereto of a constable or such an employee or officer, in pursuance of that subsection;

(b) being a person in respect of whom powers are exercised under subsection (1) above, on being required under that subsection to do so by a constable , an authorised civilian employee or an authorised officer of the licensing authority ... , fails without reasonable excuse to produce any equipment, plant, apparatus or stock-in-trade or to permit a constable or such an employee or officer, in pursuance of that subsection, to inspect any equipment, plant, apparatus or stock-in-trade;

(c) being a holder of a licence, on being required by a constable , an authorised civilian employee or an authorised officer of the licensing authority ... , in pursuance of subsection (1) above, to produce any records or other document required by or under this Part or Part II of this Act to be kept by the holder of a licence, fails without reasonable excuse to produce them;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale .

(4) An authorised officer of a licensing authority , an authorised civilian employee or a constable may require any person who the officer , employee or constable has reasonable ground to believe is carrying on an activity which requires to be licensed to produce his licence within 5 days of being required to do so.

(5) Any person who, having been required under subsection (4) above to produce a licence, fails without reasonable excuse to do so within the period of 5 days specified in that subsection shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale .

(6) An authorised officer of a licensing authority or authorised civilian employee ... shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsection (1) or (4) above until he has produced his authorisation—

(a) in relation to the exercise of powers under subsection (1)(a) above, to the person for the time being in charge of the premises, vehicle or vessel; and

(b) in any other case, to the person in respect of whom the powers are to be exercised.

(7) A constable who is not in uniform shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsection (1) or (4) above until he has produced his identification—

(a) in relation to the exercise of powers under subsection (1)(a) above, to the person for the time being in charge of the premises, vehicle or vessel; and

(b) in any other case, to the person in respect of whom the powers are to be exercised.

Section 6 Powers of entry to and search of unlicensed premises.

(1) If a justice of the peace or sheriff is satisfied by evidence on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that—

(a) an activity in respect to which a licence under this Act (other than a knife dealer's licence) is required is being carried on in any premises, vehicle, or vessel; and

(b) no such licence is in force,

he may grant a warrant authorising any constable to enter and search the premises, vehicle or vessel specified in the warrant.

(2) A constable may use reasonable force in executing a warrant granted under subsection (1) above.

(3) A constable who is not in uniform shall produce his identification if required to do so by any person in or upon any premises, vehicle or vessel which the constable is about to enter, is entering or has entered under the powers conferred under subsection (1) above, and if he has been so required to produce his identification, he shall not be entitled to enter or search the premises, vehicle or vessel or, as the case may be, remain there or continue to search the premises, vehicle or vessel until he has produced it.

(4) Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to permit a constable in pursuance of a warrant granted under this section to enter and search any premises, vehicle or vessel or who obstructs the entry thereto or search thereof by a constable shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale .

Section 7 Offences, etc.

(A1) Any person who without reasonable excuse does anything for which a licence is required under section 27A without having such a licence is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;

(b) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine or both.

(1) Any person who without reasonable excuse does anything for which a licence is required under any provision of Part II of this Act other than section 27A without having such a licence shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction

(a) in a case where the licence so required is a metal dealer's licence, an itinerant metal dealer's licence or a public entertainment licence, to a fine not exceeding £20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both; and

(b) in any other case, , to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale .

(2) If a condition attached to a licence is not complied with, the holder of the licence shall, subject to subsection (3) below, be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction

(a) in a case where the licence is a public entertainment licence and the condition is attached under section 41(3)(b) of this Act, to such fine or imprisonment as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above (or to both); ...

(aa) in a case where the licence is a knife dealer's licence, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; ...

(ab) in a case where the licence is a metal dealer's licence or an itinerant metal dealer's licence, to such fine or imprisonment as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) (or to both), and

(b) in any other case, , to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale .

(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) above to prove that he used all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

(4) Any person who, in making an application under this Part of this Act to the licensing authority, makes any statement which he knows to be false or recklessly makes any statement which is false in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction,

(a) in a case where the application is for a knife dealer's licence, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; and

(b) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale .

(5) Any person who, being the holder of a licence—

(a) fails without reasonable excuse to notify the licensing authority of a material change of circumstances in accordance with paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 1 to this Act;

(b) without reasonable excuse makes or causes or permits to be made any material change in any premises, vehicle or vessel in contravention of paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 1 to this Act;

(c) fails without reasonable excuse to deliver his licence to the licensing authority in accordance with paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 1 to this Act,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding, in the case of an offence under paragraph (a) or (b) above, level 3 on the standard scale , and in the case of an offence under paragraph (c) above, level 1 on the standard scale .

(6) Where a holder of a licence is convicted of an offence under section 5 (other than subsection (5) thereof), 6 or this section, the court by which he is convicted may, in addition to any other penalty which the court may impose, make an order in accordance with one or both of the following paragraphs—

(a) that the licence shall be revoked;

(b) that the holder of the licence shall be disqualified from holding a licence for a period not exceeding 5 years.

(7) Where the holder of a licence is convicted of an offence under this section, an extract of such conviction and sentence (if any) shall, within 6 days after the date of the conviction, be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the licensing authority which granted the licence.

(8) A person may appeal against an order under subsection (6) above in the same manner as against sentence and the court which made the order may, pending the appeal, suspend the effect of the order.

(9) A person may, at any time after the expiry of the first year of his disqualification under subsection (6) above, apply to the court which ordered the disqualification to remove it, and, on such application, the court may by order remove the disqualification as from such date as may be specified in the order or refuse the application, and, in either case, may order the applicant to pay the whole or any part of the expenses of such application.

(10) Where an offence is alleged to have been committed under subsection (2) above by an employee or agent named in a licence, proceedings in respect of that offence may be instituted against the joint licence holder who is the employer of the employee or principal of the agent, whether or not proceedings have been instituted against the employee or agent.

Section 8 Interpretation of Parts I and II.

In this Part and in Part II of this Act except where the context otherwise requires—

...

“ authorised civilian employee ” means a person—

appointed by the Scottish Police Authority under section 26(1) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8); and

authorised by the chief constable for the purposes of sections 5 and 11 of this Act;

“ chief constable ” means the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland;

...

“ licence ” means a licence granted under this Part and Part II of this Act, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“ premises ” includes land.

Section 9 Application of sections 10 to 27 and 38 to 44.

(1) Sections 10 to 27 (except section 20), any regulations made under the said section 20, and sections 38 to 43 (except section 41A) of this Act and any order made under section 44(1)(a) of this Act (which sections regulations and order are in this section called the “optional provisions”) shall have effect in the area of a licensing authority only if and insofar as the authority have so resolved in accordance with subsections (2) to (8) below.

(2) A licensing authority may, in accordance with this section, resolve that, as from a day specified in the resolution (which must not be before the expiration of the period of nine months beginning with the day on which the resolution was made) any activity provision for the licensing and regulation of which is made by the optional provisions shall require to be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Act relating to that activity and shall be regulated by those provisions.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, a resolution under this section may be made—

(a) in relation to all or any of the activities referred to in subsection (2) above;

(b) in relation to the whole or any part of the area of the licensing authority;

(c) in relation to—

(i) all classes of an activity referred to in any of the optional provisions; or

(ii) all such classes subject to exceptions; or

(iii) any particular such class or classes.

(4) A licensing authority may not make a resolution under this section relating to any of the activities provision for the licensing and regulation of which is made in sections 10 to 23 of this Act (that is to say the operation of a vehicle as a taxi, the operation of a vehicle as a hire car, the driving of a taxi and the driving of a hire car) unless it relates to all these activities.

(5) A resolution made under this section by the licensing authority relating to—

(a) the activity provision for the licensing and regulation of which is made in sections 24 to 27 of this Act (that is to say the carrying on of business as a second-hand dealer) shall specify the particular class or classes of that activity which shall thereby fall to be licensed and regulated;

(b) the activity provision for the licensing of which is made in section 41 of this Act (that is to say the use of premises as a place of public entertainment) shall specify the place or places, or class or classes thereof, which shall thereby fall to be licensed.

(6) A licensing authority shall not make a resolution under this section unless they have—

(a) published in a newspaper or newspapers circulating in their area the terms of the proposed resolution together with a notice stating—

(i) that they intend to make the resolution; and

(ii) that representations about the resolution may be made in writing to the authority within 28 days of the first publication of the notice; and

(b) considered any representations so made.

(7) A licensing authority, before proceeding to make a resolution under this section, may make such modifications to the proposed resolution as they think fit in the light of representations made to them about it provided such modifications do not extend its scope.

(8) The licensing authority shall, as soon as they have made a resolution under subsection (2) above, publish in a newspaper or newspapers circulating in their area—

(a) the terms of the resolution so made; together with

(b) a notice stating—

(i) that with effect from the date specified as that on which the resolution comes into effect it will be an offence under section 7(1) of this Act to do without a licence whatever the resolution specifies as being an activity requiring to be licensed; and

(ii) that applications for licences in respect of the activity will be considered by the authority after the expiry of one month after the date of the making of the resolution.

(9) A resolution under this section may be varied or rescinded by a subsequent resolution made in like manner except that, in relation to the time when it takes effect, a resolution under this subsection—

(a) varying a resolution under this section so as to reduce its scope; or

(b) rescinding a resolution under this section

shall take effect on such date as may be specified in it being any date subsequent to the making of the resolution.

(10) Anything which must or may be done under or by virtue of Part I or this Part of this Act may, at any time after the making by the licensing authority of the resolution, be done so far as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving full effect to the resolution at or after the time it takes effect but no application for a licence in respect of an activity requiring to be licensed in consequence of the resolution shall be considered by the authority until the expiry of one month after the making of the resolution.

Section 10 Taxi and private hire car licences.

(1) A licence, to be known as a “taxi licence” or, as the case may be, a “ private hire car licence ”, shall be required for the operation of a vehicle as—

(a) a taxi; or

(b) a private hire car.

(2) A licensing authority shall not grant or renew a taxi licence or private hire car licence unless they are satisfied that the vehicle to which the licence is to relate is suitable in type, size and design for use as a taxi or private hire car, as the case may be, and is safe for that use, and that there is in force in relation to the vehicle such a policy of insurance or such security as complies with Part VI of the Road Traffic Act 1972.

(3) Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, the grant of a taxi licence may be refused by a licensing authority for the purpose of limiting the number of taxis in respect of which licences are granted by them if, but only if, they are satisfied that there is no significant demand for the services of taxis in their area which is unmet.

(3A) Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1, the grant of a private hire car licence may be refused by a licensing authority if, but only if, they are satisfied that there is (or, as a result of granting the licence, would be) overprovision of private hire car services in the locality (or localities) in their area in which the private hire car is to operate.

(3B) It is for the licensing authority to determine the localities within their area for the purposes of subsection (3A) and in doing so the authority may determine that the whole of their area is a locality.

(3C) In satisfying themselves as to whether there is or would be overprovision for the purposes of subsection (3A) in any locality, the licensing authority must have regard to—

(a) the number of private hire cars operating in the locality, and

(b) the demand for private hire car services in the locality.

(4) A vehicle shall, for the purposes of subsection (2) above, be treated by a licensing authority —

(a) as being suitable in type, size and design if it complies with regulations in that regard made by the Secretary of State under section 20(2) of this Act in respect of their area ; and

(b) as not being so suitable if it does not so comply.

(5) A taxi licence or private hire car licence shall extend to the operation of a vehicle substituted for the vehicle in respect of which the licence was granted or, as the case may be, last renewed if the licensing authority are as respects the substitute vehicle satisfied as to the matters specified in subsection (2) above, and where a taxi licence or private hire car licence extends under this subsection to a substitute vehicle, subsection (6) below shall not apply in respect of the vehicle replaced by the substitute vehicle.

(6) Subject to subsection (5) above, the holder of a taxi or private hire car licence shall within 28 days of his selling or otherwise disposing of the vehicle to which the licence relates deliver to the licensing authority his licence and any licence plate or other thing which has been issued by the licensing authority for the purpose of indicating that the vehicle is a taxi or, as the case may be, private hire car, and if without reasonable excuse he fails to do so he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale .

Section 11 Inspection and testing of vehicles.

(1) The holder of a taxi or private hire car licence shall present the taxi or private hire car for inspection and testing by or on behalf of the licensing authority within such period and at such place as they may by notice reasonably require.

(2) An authorised officer of a licensing authority (as respects a taxi or private hire car licensed for the area of the authority) , an authorised civilian employee or a constable shall have power at any reasonable time to inspect and test, for the purpose of ascertaining its fitness, a licensed taxi or private hire car or, for the purpose of testing its fitness or accuracy, any taximeter and if he is not satisfied as to the safety of the taxi or private hire car for the carriage of passengers or as to the fitness or accuracy of the taximeter he may by notice in writing—

(a) require the holder of the taxi or private hire car licence to make the taxi, private hire car or taximeter, as the case may be, available for further inspection at such reasonable time and place as may be specified in the notice;

(b) suspend the licence until such time as an authorised officer of the licensing authority , an authorised civilian employee or a constable is so satisfied:

Provided that, if an authorised officer , employee or constable is not so satisfied before the expiration of a period of 28 days from the date of the suspension of the licence, the said licence shall, by virtue of this subsection, be deemed to have been suspended by the licensing authority under paragraph 11 of Schedule 1 to this Act.

Section 12 Fees for taxi and private hire car licences.

A licensing authority shall charge such fees in respect of taxi and private hire car licences and applications for such licences as may be resolved by them from time to time and shall seek to ensure that the total amount of such fees is sufficient to meet the expenses incurred by them in carrying out their functions under sections 10 to 23 (other than section 19) of this Act in relation to such licences.

Section 13 Taxi and private hire car driving licences.

(1) A licence, to be known as a “taxi driver’s licence” or, as the case may be, a “private hire car driver’s licence”, shall, subject to subsection (2) below, be required for driving or otherwise having charge of a taxi or private hire car.

(2) A private hire car driver’s licence shall not be required by the holder of a taxi driver’s licence for driving or otherwise having charge of a private hire car whilst in operation as such.

(3) A licensing authority shall not grant a licence to any person under this section unless that person has held, throughout the period of 12 months immediately prior to the date of his application, a licence authorising him to drive a motor car issued under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1972 or a licence which would at the time of his application entitle him to such a licence without taking a test, not being a provisional licence.

(3A) A licensing authority shall not grant a licence to any person under this section unless the authority is satisfied that the person is not disqualified by reason of the person's immigration status from driving a taxi or private hire car.

(3B) Section 13A makes provision for the purposes of subsection (3A) about the circumstances in which a person is disqualified by reason of the person's immigration status from driving a taxi or private hire car.

(3C) In determining for the purposes of subsection (3A) whether a person is disqualified by reason of the person's immigration status from driving a taxi or private hire car, a licensing authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

(4) A licensing authority may, at any time, for the purposes of satisfying themselves that he is physically fit to drive a taxi or, as the case may be, private hire car, require an applicant for or holder of a taxi driver’s licence or private hire car driver’s licence to submit to medical examination, at their expense, by a medical practitioner nominated by them.

(5) A licensing authority may require an applicant for a taxi driver’s licence or a private hire car driver's licence to take a test of his knowledge of the area to which the licence is to relate, of the layout of roads in that area and such other matters relating to the operation of a taxi or, as the case may be, private hire car as the authority consider desirable, and the authority may refuse to grant a licence to a person who does not satisfy them that he has adequate knowledge of any of these matters.

(6) If a person holding a licence under this section ceases for any reason to be authorised by law to drive on a road . . . the vehicle to which the licence relates, the licence shall cease to have effect.

Section 13A Persons disqualified by reason of immigration status

(1) For the purposes of section 13(3A) a person is disqualified by reason of the person's immigration status from driving a taxi or private hire car if the person is subject to immigration control and—

(a) the person has not been granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or

(b) the person's leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom—

(i) is invalid,

(ii) has ceased to have effect (whether by reason of curtailment, revocation, cancellation, passage of time or otherwise), or

(iii) is subject to a condition preventing the person from driving a taxi or private hire car.

(2) Where a person is on immigration bail within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 10 to the Immigration Act 2016—

(a) the person is to be treated for the purposes of this section as if the person had been granted leave to enter the United Kingdom, but

(b) any condition as to the person's work in the United Kingdom to which the person's immigration bail is subject is to be treated for those purposes as a condition of leave.

(3) For the purposes of this section a person is subject to immigration control if under the Immigration Act 1971 the person requires leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.

Section 14 Signs on vehicles other than taxis.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, there shall not be displayed on or in a private hire car any word, sign, notice, mark, illumination or other feature which may suggest that the vehicle is available for hire as a taxi.

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to any licence plate or other thing issued by the licensing authority for the purpose of indicating that the vehicle to which it relates is a private hire car or in relation to any sign required by virtue of section 21 of the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971.

(3) Any person who—

(a) drives a vehicle in respect of which subsection (1) is contravened; or

(b) causes or knowingly permits that subsection to be contravened in respect of any vehicle,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale .

Section 15 Operation of taxis outside licensing areas.

(1) A licensing authority, with the agreement of another licensing authority, may name destinations or classes of destinations in the area of the other authority and, with the agreement aforesaid, fix scales under section 17 of this Act for journeys from their area by taxis licensed by them to such destinations or classes thereof.

(2) The conditions to which a taxi or taxi driver’s licence are subject shall continue to apply while the taxi or its driver is engaged in such a journey.

(3) Nothing in this section or in Part I of this Act enables a condition to be imposed in a taxi driver’s licence requiring him to make any journey to a destination outside the area in respect of which he is licensed.

Section 16 Journeys in England and Wales by vehicles and drivers licensed under this Act.

In section 75 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (saving for certain vehicles from requirements of Part II of that Act as to private hire vehicles), after subsection (2) there shall be inserted—

(2A) Where a vehicle is being used as a taxi or private hire car, paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of section 46(1) of this Act shall not apply to the use or driving of the vehicle or the employment of a person to drive it if—

(a) a licence issued under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for its use as a taxi or, as the case may be, private hire car is then in force, and

(b) the driver holds a licence issued under section 13 of that Act for the driving of taxis or, as the case may be, private hire cars.

In this subsection, “ private hire car ” and “ taxi ” have the same meaning as in sections 10 to 22 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

Section 17 Taxi fares.

(1) The fares for the hire of taxis in any area and all other charges in connection with the hire of a taxi or with the arrangements for its hire shall be not greater than those fixed for that area under this section and section 18 of this Act.

(2) The licensing authority must fix scales for the fares and other charges mentioned in subsection (1) within 18 months beginning with the date on which the scales came into effect.

(3) In fixing scales under subsection (2), the licensing authority may—

(a) alter fares or other charges,

(b) fix fares or other charges at the same rates.

(4) Before fixing scales under subsection (2), the licensing authority must review the scales in accordance with subsection (4A).

(4A) In carrying out a review, the licensing authority must—

(a) consult with persons or organisations appearing to it to be, or to be representative of, the operators of taxis operating within its area,

(b) following such consultation—

(i) review the existing scales, and

(ii) propose new scales (whether at altered rates or the same rates),

(c) publish those proposed scales in a newspaper circulating in its area—

(i) setting out the proposed scales,

(ii) explaining the effect of the proposed scales,

(iii) proposing a date on which the proposed scales are to come into effect, and

(iv) stating that any person may make representations in writing until the relevant date, and

(d) consider any such representations.

(4B) In subsection (4A)(c)(iv) “the relevant date” is a date specified by the licensing authority falling at least one month after the first publication by the authority of the proposed scales.

(4C) After fixing scales under subsection (2), the licensing authority must give notice in accordance with subsection (4D).

(4D) The licensing authority must—

(a) set out, and explain the effect of, the scales as fixed,

(b) notify the persons mentioned in subsection (4E) of—

(i) the date on which the scales as fixed are to come into effect, and

(ii) the rights of appeal under section 18.

(4E) Those persons are—

(a) all operators of taxis operating within their area, and

(b) the persons and organisations consulted under subsection (4A)(a).

(5) Notice shall be given for the purposes of subsection (4D)(b) above by—

(a) its being sent by recorded delivery letter to the last known addresses of the persons and organisations referred to in subsection (4E) above so as to arrive there, in the normal course of post, not later than seven days after the scales are fixed under subsection (2) above; or

(b) personal service of the notice upon those persons within that time.

Section 18 Appeals in respect of taxi fares.

(1) Any person mentioned in subsection (1A) may, within 14 days of notice being given under section 17(4C), appeal against those scales to the traffic commissioner for the Scottish Traffic Area as constituted for the purpose of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.

(1A) Those persons are—

(a) any person who operates a taxi in an area for which scales have been fixed under section 17(2), and

(b) any person or organisation appearing to the traffic commissioner to be representative of such taxi operators.

(2) The traffic commissioner may hear an appeal under this section notwithstanding that it was not lodged with him within the time mentioned in subsection (1) above.

(3) On an appeal ... under subsection (1) above, the traffic commissioner may—

(a) confirm or alter the scales; or

(b) ... decline to proceed—

(i) at any stage in the appeal, if he considers the case for the appellant is not representative of the view of a substantial proportion of the operators of taxis operating in the area of the licensing authority;

(ii) if less than two years have elapsed since he decided an appeal against a decision of the same authority in respect of the same scale, and he considers it inappropriate that he should consider the matter again.

(4) An appeal under this section shall have the effect of suspending the decision referred to in subsection (1) above until the date when the appeal is abandoned or, as the case may be, when notice is given to the appellant advising him of its disposal.

(5) Where he alters scales under subsection (3)(a) above, the traffic commissioner may substitute a different date for the coming into effect of these scales.

(6) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument make rules as to procedure in relation to appeals under this section.

(7) The decision of the traffic commissioner on an appeal under this section shall be final.

(8) The traffic commissioner shall give notice of his decision in writing to the appellant and to the licensing authority and notice shall be given to the appellant by—

(a) its being sent by recorded delivery letter to his last known address or, as the case may be, to them so as to arrive, in the normal course of post, not later than five days after his decision; or

(b) personal service of the notice on the appellant within that time.

(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10) A licensing authority shall pay the expenses incurred under this section by the traffic commissioners in relation to appeals under this section.

(11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 18A Publication and coming into effect of taxi fares

(1) Following the fixing of scales by a licensing authority under section 17(2), the licensing authority must—

(a) determine the date on which the scales are to come into effect, and

(b) publish the scales in accordance with subsections (3) to (5).

(2) The scales may come into effect no earlier than seven days after the date on which they are published.

(3) The licensing authority must—

(a) give notice of the scales by advertisement in a newspaper circulating in its area, and

(b) specify in that advertisement the date on which the scales are to come into effect.

(4) The authority must give notice of the scales—

(a) where no appeal has been lodged under subsection (1) of section 18, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the period of 14 days mentioned in that subsection,

(b) where such an appeal has been lodged, as soon as practicable after the determination of the appeal.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), an appeal is determined on the date on which the appeal is abandoned or notice is given to the appellant of its disposal.

Section 19 Taxi stances.

(1) A licensing authority may, after consultation with persons or organisations appearing to them to be, or be representative of, the operators of taxis operating in their area, appoint stances for taxis for the whole or any part of a day in any road within their area or on any land owned by the authority, or, with the consent of the owner, on any land owned by him.

(2) A licensing authority may—

(a) erect and illuminate signs;

(b) cause lines or marks to be made on roads;

indicating the limits of taxi stances.

(3) A licensing authority may from time to time, after consultation as mentioned in subsection (1) above, vary the number of taxis permitted to be at each stance and alter the position of such stances or revoke the appointment thereof.

(4) Before appointing any stance for taxis or varying the number of taxis permitted to be at each stance, the licensing authority shall give notice to the chief constable of the area in which the stance is situated and shall also give public notice of the proposal by advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating in their area and shall take into consideration any objections or representations in respect of such proposal which may be made to them in writing within 28 days of the first publication of such notice.

(5) Nothing in this section shall empower a licensing authority to appoint any taxi stance so as unreasonably to prevent access to any premises or, without the consent of the roads authority , to appoint any taxi stance on any road or erect or illuminate any sign there or cause any line or mark to be made on any road . . .

Section 20 Regulations relating to taxis and private hire cars and their drivers.

(1) Notwithstanding paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 1 to this Act, the Secretary of State may by regulations provide that licensing authorities shall, in relation to taxi, private hire car, taxi drivers’ or private hire car drivers’ licences, impose such conditions or classes of conditions as may be prescribed in the regulations and shall not impose such other conditions or classes of conditions as may be so prescribed and may provide that such conditions shall be imposed or, as the case may be, shall not be imposed for different areas or classes of areas; and different conditions or classes of conditions may be prescribed in relation to different categories of taxi or private hire car.

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations ... prescribe types, sizes and designs of vehicles for the purposes of section 10(4) of this Act and, in doing so, may prescribe different types, sizes or designs of vehicles in respect of different areas.

(2A) Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (2) above, regulations under those subsections may make such provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient in relation to the carrying in taxis of disabled persons (within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 ) and such provision may in particular prescribe—

(a) requirements as to the carriage of wheelchairs, guide dogs, hearing dogs and other categories of dog;

(b) a date from which any such provision is to apply and the extent to which it is to apply; and

(c) the circumstances in which an exemption from such provision may be granted in respect of any taxi or taxi driver,

and in this subsection—

“ guide dog ” means a dog which has been trained to guide a blind person;

“ hearing dog ” means a dog which has been trained to assist a deaf person; and

“ other categories of dog ” means such other categories of dog as the Secretary of State may prescribe, trained to assist disabled persons who have disabilities of such kinds as he may prescribe.

(2AA) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such provision as appears to them to be necessary or expedient in relation to the carrying in private hire cars of disabled persons (within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 ) and such provision may in particular prescribe—

(a) requirements as to the carriage of guide dogs, hearing dogs and other categories of dogs;

(b) a date from which any such provision is to apply and the extent to which it is to apply; and

(c) the circumstances in which an exemption from such provision may be granted in respect of any private hire car or private hire car driver,

and in this subsection “ guide dog ”, “ hearing dog ” and “ other categories of dog ” have the same meaning as in subsection (2A) above.

(2AB) Regulations under subsection (2AA) above may provide for the creation of offences and for making offenders liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2AC) Regulations under subsection (2AA) above shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) or (2) above shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Section 21 Offences.

(1) If any person—

(a) operates, or permits the operation of, a taxi within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed, or

(b) picks up passengers in, or permits passengers to be picked up by, a private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed,

that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale .

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply to the operation of a taxi or private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if the request for its hiring was received by its driver (otherwise than in a public place from the person to be conveyed in it, or a person acting on his behalf, for a journey beginning there and then) whilst—

(a) in the area or in that part thereof in respect of which its operation and its driver are licensed;

(b) engaged on hire on a journey which began in that area or part or will end there; or

(c) returning to that area or part immediately following completion of a journey on hire.

(3) Subsection (1)(b) above does not apply to the operation of a vehicle within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if there are in force—

(i) in respect of the vehicle, a licence under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (licensing of hackney carriages) or section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (licensing of private hire vehicles); and

(ii) in respect of its driver, a licence under section 46 of the said Act of 1847 (licensing of hackney carriage drivers) or, as the case may be, section 51 of the said Act of 1976 (licensing of drivers of private hire vehicles).

(3A) Subsection (1)(b) above does not apply to the operation of a vehicle within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if there are in force—

(a) in respect of the vehicle, a licence under section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998; and

(b) in respect of its driver, a licence under section 13 of that Act.

(4) If any person, being the holder of a taxi licence or private hire car licence in respect of a vehicle, permits another person who does not have a current taxi driver’s licence or private hire car driver’s licence, as the case may be, to operate the vehicle as a taxi or, as the case may be, a private hire car he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale .

(5) If any person demands fares or other charges in respect of the hire of a taxi or for the hire of a private hire car which is fitted with a taximeter in excess of the scales established under sections 17 and 18 of this Act, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale .

(6) If any person without good cause breaks the seal on a taximeter or operates or drives a taxi or private hire car knowing that the seal on its meter has been broken, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or to both.

(7) If any person, without reasonable excuse, causes or permits any vehicle other than a taxi to wait on any stance for taxis during any period for which that stance has been appointed by a licensing authority under section 19 of this Act, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale .

(8) Notice of the effect of subsection (7) above shall be indicated by such traffic signs as may be prescribed as authorised for the purpose by the Secretary of State in pursuance of his powers under section 54 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967.

Section 22 Exemptions

(1) Nothing in sections 10 to 21 (with the exception of subsection (7) of section 21) of this Act shall—

(a) apply to a vehicle used for bringing passengers or goods within and taking them out of an area in respect of which the vehicle is not licensed as a taxi or a private hire car in pursuance of a contract for the hire of the vehicle made outside the area if the vehicle is not made available for hire within the area;

(b) apply to a vehicle while it is being used in connection with a funeral or wedding;

(c) apply to any vehicle while it is being used for carrying passengers under a contract for its exclusive hire for a period of not less than 24 hours.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify further circumstances in which sections 10 to 21 (with the exception of subsection (7) of section 21) are not to apply.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2)—

(a) may make transitional, transitory and saving provision,

(b) are subject to the negative procedure.

Section 23 Interpretation of sections 10 to 22.

(1) In sections 10 to 22 of this Act—

“ taxi ” means a hire car which is engaged, by arrangements made in a public place between the person to be conveyed in it (or a person acting on his behalf) and its driver for a journey beginning there and then; and

“ private hire car ” means a hire car other than a taxi within the meaning of this subsection.

(2) In subsection (1) above, “ hire car ” means a motor vehicle with a driver (other than a vehicle being a public service vehicle within the meaning of section 1(1)(a) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981) which is, with a view to profit, available for hire by the public for personal conveyance.

(3) Notwithstanding that a vehicle in respect of which there is a licence for its operation as a taxi is, on any occasion, engaged as a hire car otherwise than in the manner referred to in subsection (1) above, the enactments relating to its operation as a taxi, and to the driving of it as such (including any such enactments in this Act) shall nonetheless apply in relation to it; and that other manner of engagement on that occasion shall not of itself cause the operation or driving of the licensed taxi to be regarded for the purposes of this Act as the operation or driving of a private hire car within the meaning of subsection (1) above.

Section 24 Second-hand dealers’ licences.

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, a licence, to be known as a “ second-hand dealer’s licence ”, shall be required for carrying on business as a second-hand dealer.

(2) In this section and in sections 25 to 27 and 36 of this Act “ second-hand dealer ” means a person carrying on a business as a dealer in second-hand goods or articles of any description.

(3) A second-hand dealer’s licence shall not be required for carrying on—

(a) the business of a pawnbroker (that is to say, a person who, under a regulated agreement under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, takes an article in pawn);

(b) a business as a wholesale dealer purchasing exclusively from second-hand dealers licensed under this Act;

(c) the business of a charity (that is to say, a body which is entered in the Scottish Charity Register);

(d) a business as a dealer in second-hand goods or articles incidentally to another business not being that of a dealer in such goods or articles;

(e) a business either of financing the acquisition of goods by means of hire-purchase agreements, conditional sale agreements or credit sale agreements (as defined in section 189(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974) or of financing the use of goods by means of hiring agreements.

(4) Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, a licensing authority may, after consultation with the chief constable, attach conditions to a second-hand dealer’s licence requiring the keeping of records in relation to the dealer’s stock-in-trade; and conditions so attached may, without prejudice to the authority’s power under this subsection, include provision as to—

(a) the information to be included in these records;

(b) their form;

(c) the premises where they are to be kept; and

(d) the period for which they are to be kept.

(5) A second-hand dealer acquiring a second-hand motor vehicle for the purpose of its re-sale in the course of his business shall keep a record of the mileage reading on the vehicle’s odometer when he acquired it.

(6) Any person who contravenes subsection (5) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale .

(7) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (6) above to prove that he used all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

Section 25 Disposal of stock-in-trade.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below and section 27 of this Act, a second-hand dealer shall not dispose of any item of his stock-in-trade until the expiry of 48 hours (excluding any time on Saturdays or Sundays) after he acquired it.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall not apply to any article acquired by the dealer in a public roup and disposed of by him without being brought to his place of business.

(3) A licensing authority may, on granting a second-hand dealer’s licence or at any time thereafter, on application by the dealer and after consultation with the chief constable, order that subsection (1) above shall not apply to the disposal by the dealer of any item, or any specified item or class of items, of his stock-in-trade or any specified part of it.

(4) An order under subsection (3) above may—

(a) be made subject to such conditions as the authority think fit;

(b) relate to stock-in-trade or items thereof still to be acquired by the dealer to whom the order relates; or

(c) be varied or revoked at any time by the licensing authority.

(5) In subsection (3) above, “ specified ” means specified in an order under that subsection.

(6) A holder of a second-hand dealer’s licence may appeal to the sheriff against a decision of the licensing authority under this section and paragraph 24(3) to (9) and (11) and (12) of Schedule 1 to this Act shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to an appeal under this subsection.

(7) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale .

Section 26 Sellers of second-hand goods: offences etc.

(1) Any person who, when selling anything to a second-hand dealer, gives the dealer a false name or address shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale .

(2) If anything is offered to a second-hand dealer in the course of his business and he has reason to believe that it has been stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained he may, subject to subsection (3) below, detain the person offering it and a constable may arrest that person and take possession of it.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) above authorises a second-hand dealer to detain a person longer than is reasonably necessary for obtaining the attendance of a constable.

(4) No civil liability shall arise as a result only of the detention in good faith of a person under subsection (2) above.

Section 27 Functions of the court in relation to second-hand dealers convicted of offences.

(1) Where a second-hand dealer is convicted of an offence relating to second-hand dealing, the court by which he is convicted may make any order which it is competent to make under section 7(6) of this Act and an extract of such conviction and sentence (if any) shall, within 6 days after the date of the conviction, be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the licensing authority which granted the licence.

(2) Where a second-hand dealer is convicted—

(a) of an offence relating to second-hand dealing; or

(b) of an offence which in the opinion of the court is an offence involving dishonesty,

the court may, in addition to any other order which it is competent to make, order that he shall not dispose of any second-hand goods acquired by him until the expiry of a period of 7 days after their acquisition.

(3) In making an order under subsection (2) above, the court shall specify a period not exceeding 2 years for which it is to remain in force, but the court may revoke such an order at any time on the application of the person to whom it relates.

(4) Any person who fails to comply with an order made in relation to him under subsection (2) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or to both.

Section 27A Knife dealers' licences

(1) A licence, to be known as a “knife dealer's licence”, is required for carrying on business as a dealer in any article mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) Those articles are—

(a) knives (other than folding pocket knives whose blades do not exceed 3.5 inches (8.91 centimetres) in length or knives designed for domestic use);

(aa) daggers (other than kirpans or skean dhus whose blades do not exceed exceed 3.5 inches (8.91 centimetres) in length);

(b) knife blades (other than those designed for domestic use);

(c) swords;

(d) any other article—

(i) which has a blade; or

(ii) which is sharply pointed,

and which is made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person.

(3) A knife dealer's licence shall, in addition to specifying the activity which the dealer engages in, specify the premises in or from which the activity is to be carried on.

(4) In subsections (1) and (3), “ dealer ” means a person carrying on a business which consists wholly or partly of—

(a) selling;

(b) hiring;

(c) offering for sale or hire;

(d) exposing for sale or hire;

(e) lending; or

(f) giving,

to persons not acting in the course of a business or profession any article mentioned in subsection (2) (whether or not the activities mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (f) are carried out incidentally to a business which would not, apart from this section, require a knife dealer's licence).

(5) In subsection (4), “ selling ”, in relation to an article mentioned in subsection (2)—

(a) includes—

(i) selling such an article by auction;

(ii) accepting goods or services in payment (whether in part or in full) for such an article; but

(b) does not include selling (by auction or otherwise) such an article by one person on behalf of another;

and “ sale ” is to be construed accordingly.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (4), an article is not to be treated as being exposed for sale if it is exposed for sale (by auction or otherwise) by a person other than the owner.

(7) The Scottish Ministers may by order modify subsection (2) so as to—

(a) add articles or classes of article;

(b) amend descriptions of articles or classes of article;

(c) remove articles or classes of article.

(8) The Scottish Ministers may by order—

(a) modify subsection (4) so as to modify the definition of “dealer”;

(b) specify descriptions of activity which are not to be taken to be businesses for the purposes of that subsection (or that subsection as modified).

(9) The power in subsection (8)(a) includes in particular power to add descriptions of business.

Section 27B Applications for knife dealers' licences: notice

(1) A licensing authority must cause public notice to be given of every application made to them for the grant or renewal of a knife dealer's licence.

(2) Sub-paragraph (8) of paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 applies to the giving of public notice under subsection (1) as it applies to the giving of public notice under sub-paragraph (7) of that paragraph.

Section 27C Knife dealers' licences: conditions

(1) In granting or renewing a knife dealer's licence, a licensing authority—

(a) must attach to the licence such conditions as are specified (in particular or in general) by order by the Scottish Ministers;

(b) may, without prejudice to section 3B and paragraph 5 of Schedule 1, attach to the licence different conditions in relation to different articles or different classes of article;

(c) may, without prejudice to that section and paragraph, attach to the licence conditions for or in connection with—

(i) the keeping of records by the holder of the licence;

(ii) the storage of articles mentioned in section 27A(2); and

(iii) the display of such articles.

(2) An order under subsection (1)(a) may provide for different conditions to apply to different articles or different classes of article.

Section 27D Provision of information to holder of knife dealer's licence

(1) Subsection (2) applies where the holder of a knife dealer's licence (“the dealer”)—

(a) is required by the licence to obtain information of a type specified in the licence from a person; and

(b) the dealer requests (whether orally, in writing or otherwise) the information from the person.

(2) A person, or any person acting on behalf of the person, who knowingly or recklessly provides false information in response to a request under subsection (1)(b) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Section 27E Knife dealers' licences: warrants to enter, search and seize articles

(1) Subsection (2) applies if a justice of the peace or sheriff is satisfied by evidence on oath that—

(a) subsection (3) applies; and

(b) subsection (4) or (5) applies.

(2) The justice of the peace or sheriff may grant a warrant authorising a constable or an authorised officer—

(a) to enter and search the premises specified in the warrant; and

(b) to seize and remove any relevant article.

(3) This subsection applies if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person (the “suspect”) is carrying on in any premises an activity in respect of which a knife dealer's licence is required under section 27A.

(4) This subsection applies if no knife dealer's licence is in force in respect of the activity.

(5) This subsection applies if a knife dealer's licence is in force in respect of the activity but there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the suspect has failed, or is failing, to comply with a condition of the licence.

Section 27F Powers of constables and authorised officers

(1) A constable or an authorised officer may use reasonable force in executing a warrant granted under section 27E(2).

(2) Where a constable who is not in uniform is about to enter, is entering or has entered any premises under the powers conferred under section 27E(2) he must, if required to do so by a person in or upon the premises, produce his identification.

(3) Where an authorised officer is about to enter, is entering or has entered any premises under the powers conferred under section 27E(2) he must, if required to do so by a person in or upon the premises, produce his authorisation.

(4) If a constable has been required to produce his identification under subsection (2) he is not entitled to enter or search the premises or, as the case may be, remain there or continue to search the premises until he has produced it.

(5) If an authorised officer has been required to produce his authority under subsection (3), he is not entitled to enter or search the premises or, as the case may be, remain there or continue to search the premises until he has produced it.

(6) Any person who—

(a) fails without reasonable excuse to permit a constable, or an authorised officer, acting in pursuance of a warrant granted under section 27E(2) to enter and search any premises; or

(b) obstructs the entry to, or search of, any premises by a constable or an authorised officer so acting,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(7) Any relevant article which has been seized and removed under a warrant granted under section 27E(2) may be retained until the conclusion of proceedings against the suspect.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (7), proceedings in relation to a suspect are concluded if—

(a) he is found guilty and sentenced or otherwise dealt with for the offence;

(b) he is acquitted;

(c) proceedings for the offence are discontinued;

(d) it is decided not to prosecute him.

(9) In this section, “ suspect ” is to be construed in accordance with section 27E(3).

Section 27G Power to inspect documents

(1) Subsection (2) applies where—

(a) a constable or an authorised officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an activity in respect of which a knife dealer's licence is required under section 27A is being carried on; and

(b) no such licence is in force in respect of the activity.

(2) The constable or authorised officer may—

(a) require a relevant person to produce any records or other documents connected with the activity,

(b) inspect any such records or documents, and

(c) take copies of, or extracts from, any such records or documents.

(3) A relevant person who—

(a) is required under subsection (2) to produce records or documents; and

(b) fails without reasonable excuse to do so,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(4) Before exercising the power conferred by subsection (2)—

(a) a constable who is not in uniform must produce his identification to the relevant person;

(b) an authorised officer must produce his authorisation to the relevant person.

(5) For the purposes of this section, a person is “relevant” if the constable or authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the person has access to the records or documents.

Section 27H Sections 27E to 27G: interpretation

(1) In sections 27E and 27F—

“ premises ” includes a vehicle or vessel;

“ relevant article ” means an article mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2) of section 27A.

(2) In sections 27E to 27G, “ authorised officer ” means an officer of a licensing authority authorised by the authority for the purposes of section 27E, 27F or, as the case may be, 27G.

Section 27J Forfeiture orders

(1) Subsection (2) applies where a person (“the offender”) is convicted of an offence under subsection (A1) or (2) of section 7 in relation to a relevant article—

(a) seized by virtue of a warrant granted under section 27E(2); or

(b) in the offender's possession or control at the relevant time.

(2) The court by which the offender is convicted may make an order for forfeiture (a “forfeiture order”) in respect of the relevant article.

(3) The court may make a forfeiture order—

(a) whether or not it also deals with the offender in respect of the offence in any other way; and

(b) without regard to any restrictions on forfeiture in any enactment.

(4) In considering whether to make a forfeiture order, the court must have regard to—

(a) the value of the relevant article; and

(b) the likely financial and other effects on the offender of the making of the order (taken together with any other order that the court contemplates making).

(5) In this section—

“ relevant article ” means an article mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2) of section 27A;

“ relevant time ” means—

the time of the offender's arrest for the offence; or

the time of his being cited as an accused in respect of the offence.

Section 27K Effect of forfeiture order

(1) A forfeiture order under section 27J(2) operates to deprive the offender of any rights he has in the property to which it relates.

(2) The property to which a forfeiture order relates must be taken into the possession of the police.

(3) The court by which the offender is convicted may, on the application of a person who—

(a) claims property to which a forfeiture order relates; but

(b) is not the offender from whom it was forfeited,

make an order (a “recovery order”) for delivery of the property to the applicant if it appears to the court that he owns it.

(4) An application under subsection (3) must be made—

(a) in such manner as may be prescribed by Act of Adjournal; and

(b) before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the forfeiture order was made.

(5) An application may be granted only if the applicant satisfies the court that—

(a) he had not consented to the offender's having possession of the property; or

(b) he did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the offence was likely to be committed.

(6) If a person has a right to recover property which, by virtue of a recovery order, is in the possession of another, that right—

(a) is not affected by the making of the recovery order at any time before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the order is made;

(b) is lost at the end of that period.

(7) The Scottish Ministers may by order make provision for or in connection with the disposal of property forfeited under a forfeiture order in cases where—

(a) no application under subsection (3) has been made before the end of the 6 month period beginning with the day on which the forfeiture order was made; or

(b) no such application has succeeded.

(8) An order under subsection (7) may in particular make provision for—

(a) dealing with any proceeds from the disposal;

(b) investing money; and

(c) auditing accounts.

Section 27L Offences by partnerships

Where an offence committed by a partnership under—

(a) section 5 (in so far as the offence relates to a knife dealer's licence);

(b) section 7 (in so far as the offence so relates);

(c) section 27D;

(d) section 27F; or

(e) section 27G,

is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a partner, the partner as well as the partnership is guilty of the offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Section 27M Appropriate licence required

Where a person carries on a business which—

(a) by virtue of section 24 requires a second-hand dealer's licence; and

(b) by virtue of section 27A requires a knife dealer's licence,

the person requires the appropriate licence in respect of each activity.

Section 27N Remote sales of knives etc.

(1) This section applies where, in connection with the sale of an article mentioned in section 27A(2)—

(a) the premises (the “relevant premises”) from which the article is dispatched in pursuance of the sale are not the same as those where the order for the article is taken (the “sale premises”),

(b) the relevant premises are in Scotland, and

(c) the sale premises are not in Scotland.

(2) For the purposes of this Act the sale of the article is to be treated as taking place on the relevant premises.

Section 27P Sales and dispatches in different local authority areas

(1) Subsection (2) applies where, in connection with the sale of an article mentioned in section 27A(2)—

(a) the relevant premises are situated in the area of a local authority, and

(b) the sale premises are situated in the area of another local authority which, by virtue of section 2(2), is the licensing authority in respect of the taking of the order for the article.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, the sale of the article is to be treated as taking place—

(a) on the relevant premises, and

(b) on the sale premises.

(3) In this section, “ relevant premises ” and “ sale premises ” have the same meanings as in section 27N.

Section 27Q Duty to avoid conflict between conditions of licences

(1) Subsection (2) applies where an application is made to a licensing authority for the grant or renewal of a second-hand dealer's licence by the holder of a knife dealer's licence issued by that authority.

(2) In granting the application, the licensing authority must not impose any condition which conflicts, or is inconsistent, with a condition of the knife dealer's licence.

(3) Subsection (4) applies where an application is made to a licensing authority for the grant or renewal of a knife dealer's licence by the holder of a second-hand dealer's licence issued by that authority.

(4) In granting the application, the licensing authority must, in accordance with paragraph 10 of Schedule 1, vary the terms and conditions of the second-hand dealer's licence to avoid any conflict or inconsistency with the terms or conditions of the knife-dealer's licence.

Section 27R Offences in relation to knife dealers' licences: exceptions

The Scottish Ministers may by order provide that an offence under—

(a) section 5 (in so far as the offence relates to a knife dealer's licence);

(b) section 7 (in so far as the offence so relates);

(c) section 27D;

(d) section 27F; or

(e) section 27G,

is subject to such exceptions as may be specified in the order.

Section 27S Orders under sections 27A to 27R

(1) Any power conferred by section 27A(7), 27A(8), 27C(1)(a), 27K(7) or 27R to make orders is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a statutory instrument containing an order under any of those sections is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

(3) A statutory instrument containing an order under section 27R may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Scottish Parliament.

Section 28 Metal dealers: licensing and regulation.

(1) A “ metal dealer’s licence ”, shall be required for carrying on business as a metal dealer.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) A metal dealer’s licence shall, in addition to specifying the activity which he engages in, specify the premises in or from which the activity is to be carried on.

Section 29 Metal dealers’ exemption warrants.

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