{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/licensing-act-2003/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/licensing-act-2003/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/17",
  "legislation_title": "Licensing Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/licensing-act-2003",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "General duties of licensing authorities",
  "text": "(1) A licensing authority must carry out its functions under this Act (“licensing functions”) with a view to promoting the licensing objectives.\n(2) The licensing objectives are—\n(a) the prevention of crime and disorder;\n(b) public safety;\n(c) the prevention of public nuisance; and\n(d) the protection of children from harm.\n(3) In carrying out its licensing functions, a licensing authority must also have regard to—\n(a) its licensing statement published under section 5, and\n(b) any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 182.\n(4) In carrying out its licensing functions, a London licensing authority must also have regard to the licensing policy statement published by the Mayor of London under section 8A.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 4(4) inserted (29.6.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(5), Sch. 26 para. 3 (with s. 102, Sch. 26 para. 21)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/17/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T17:08:59.105892+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}