Adrian Studd

When a premises licence, event or hospitality business is at stake, practical experience matters. Adrian Studd brings Complete Licensing clients more than four decades of policing, licensing and regulatory experience — including 31 years with the Metropolitan Police and extensive work as an independent licensing consultant and expert witness.

Today, Adrian is part of the specialist team at Complete Licensing, helping licensed premises, operators and event organisers understand risk, improve compliance and present clear, evidence-led cases at licensing hearings.

From the Metropolitan Police to the London 2012 Olympic Games

Adrian retired from the Metropolitan Police on 2 November 2012 after completing 31 years of service.

During his final year, he served as the Chief Inspector responsible for licensing at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He led the team supervising licensing compliance across Olympic venues, including the Olympic Park, while also ensuring that associated events were properly licensed, appropriately staffed and operated in accordance with licensing legislation and recognised good practice.

His work involved reviewing policies and procedures, working with venue management teams and helping to support the safe and effective delivery of one of the largest events ever staged in the United Kingdom. Adrian subsequently received an Assistant Commissioner’s Commendation for this work.

Between 2002 and 2012, Adrian served as an Inspector and later Chief Inspector within the Metropolitan Police Clubs and Vice Unit. His responsibilities included supervising the licensing team, supporting London boroughs dealing with problematic licensed premises and helping officers prepare evidence for premises licence reviews.

He also developed the Metropolitan Police’s “Safe and Sound” strategy, designed to improve customer safety and tackle violence, firearms-related crime and other serious incidents connected with licensed premises.

A national voice on the Licensing Act 2003

Adrian’s experience extends well beyond individual premises and local licensing authorities. Between 2004 and 2008, he represented the Metropolitan Police and supported the Association of Chief Police Officers’ national licensing work.

On 14 October 2008, Chief Inspector Adrian Studd appeared before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee during its examination of the Licensing Act 2003. The official parliamentary transcript records his evidence on police and local-authority cooperation, Temporary Event Notices, town-centre management and the practical operation of the licensing system.

The same evidence session can be viewed in the Parliament Live archive.

These parliamentary records provide independent confirmation that Adrian was contributing to licensing policy and practice at a national level — not simply enforcing licensing requirements at individual venues.

Supporting safer licensed premises and town centres

Adrian has been closely involved with initiatives intended to improve standards across the licensed trade.

National Pubwatch’s conference archive records Adrian, then a Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector, presenting “Reclaiming Our City Centres” and promoting effective partnership working between premises, police, local authorities and other agencies. His contribution is documented in the National Pubwatch 2003 and 2005 conference archive.

At the 2009 National Pubwatch Conference, Adrian represented the Association of Chief Police Officers on alcohol-related issues. He outlined a seven-part strategy encompassing responsible trading, properly planned town centres, proportionate licensing decisions, partnership working and effective enforcement. He also highlighted good-practice initiatives including Best Bar None, Purple Flag and proof-of-age schemes.

A later National Pubwatch newsletter from 2012 identifies Adrian as the Serious Crimes Directorate and Olympic Licensing Lead, updating conference delegates before the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Adrian has served on a Best Bar None board and is trained as both a Best Bar None and Purple Flag assessor. He was also responsible for licensing the Notting Hill Carnival for five years, with a focus on reducing violence, illegal alcohol sales and other licensing risks.

Expert evidence and licensing hearings

Since leaving the police, Adrian has advised licensed premises on crime and disorder, noise and nuisance, cumulative impact, sexual entertainment licensing, street drinking, age-restricted sales, betting, gaming and operational compliance.

His work frequently involves inspecting premises, analysing evidence, reviewing CCTV, assessing proposed policies and preparing independent reports for licensing committees and court proceedings.

Examples appearing in the public record include:

• A 2014 Southwark licensing decision in which the sub-committee required that recommendations made by Adrian be implemented.
• A 2025 Complete Licensing expert report for Garip Superstore, covering compliance concerns and remedial measures following a premises inspection.
• Buckinghamshire Council’s February 2026 hearing records, which identify Adrian Studd as an expert witness from Complete Licensing.

These records illustrate both the range of Adrian’s instructions and the evidence-based approach required when licensing decisions are being made in public.

Licensing support through Complete Licensing

Adrian’s value lies in combining a regulator’s understanding of the licensing objectives with practical knowledge of how hospitality venues and events operate.

Through Complete Licensing, he can assist with:

• Premises licence applications and variations
• Licensing reviews and expedited reviews
• Independent inspections and compliance audits
• Crime, disorder and security assessments
• Operational, welfare and dispersal policies
• Analysis of objections and responsible-authority evidence
• Expert reports and licensing-hearing evidence
• Ongoing measures designed to protect premises licences

Adrian is also a registered member of the Association of British Investigators, with listed services including compliance, interviewing, test purchasing and undercover investigations.

If your business is preparing a licence application, responding to a review or needs independent compliance advice, explore Complete Licensing’s expert-witness service or view its full range of licensing and compliance services.

With Adrian Studd and the wider Complete Licensing team, clients gain access to experience developed in policing, national licensing policy, major-event management and real licensing hearings.