Recommendation 25

Amongst other requirements as part of the licensing process, applicants must give the police character references from two referees who must have known them for at least two years81 and be “of good character”.82 Police will contact at least one referee - whether by telephone, e-mail or home visit.83 Licence holders may change their referees between their original application and renewal. We have heard about several issues with the referee system, as it stands, which have been raised in written and oral evidence.