• Implementation in time for Flat and Apprentice licence renewals on 18th March
• Owners to follow later in 2010
Following the introduction of enhanced suitability criteria announced in November 2009 relating to Licensed Trainers, the British Horseracing Authority has introduced similar suitability criteria for all Licensed Jockeys. These enhanced criteria are the next step in the Authority’s on-going review of the entire licensing process, which by 2012 will see a move towards online licence applications and potentially an end to the traditional annual renewal process for licences.
The Authority will be actively enforcing the suitability criteria for all licence types and, where appropriate, opposing applications from those individuals who fail to comply.
Oliver Codrington, Head of Compliance and Licensing for the Authority, said:
“This is another important step for the Authority to take and we remain on course to review suitability criteria for all licence types through 2010 and those relevant to Ownership registration – the criteria is in place to ensure that those who wish to be licensed and participate in the sport, understand that there are clear and effective criteria to satisfy in order to do so.”
Kevin Darley, Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys’ Association, said:
“The PJA has been in dialogue with the BHA and supports the need for clearer licensing criteria in order to maintain the high standards expected of licensed individuals for the benefit of the sport.”
For more information please contact Paul Struthers, Media Relations Manager, on 020 7152 0166 or 07966 590105.
Notes for Editors:
1. The criteria will also apply to Jump Jockeys and Conditionals when their licences are renewed in September
2. More details can be found at: stage.britishhorseracing.com/resources/licensing/
3. The enhanced criteria, extracted from the general guidance notes for an application for a licence, are below:
GENERAL SUITABILITY (‘FIT AND PROPER’)
1. In considering any application, the Licensing Committee must be satisfied, taking into account any fact or matter that it considers appropriate, that the applicant is suitable to hold a licence.
2. The Licensing Committee expects full and frank disclosure from the applicant, who is required to disclose all matters known to him/her and those which he/she can be expected to discover by making enquiries. Failure to do so will be a relevant factor in the assessment as to an applicant’s honesty and integrity.
3. A person whose conduct, behaviour or character is not in accordance with that which, in the opinion of the Licensing Committee, should be expected of a licensed person, may not be considered suitable and therefore may be refused a licence.
4. In some cases a single factor may lead to the conclusion that someone is not suitable, whereas in another case the determination of whether someone is not suitable may depend upon the cumulative assessment of a number of matters.
5. It is not possible to produce a definitive list of all matters that would be relevant to a particular application. This document should be considered a guide as to the sorts of considerations that the Licensing Committee will have in mind when making such an assessment.
6. The criteria to which the Licensing Committee will have regard in assessing honesty and integrity include the following:
6.3 Whether the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offence in Great Britain, or a foreign jurisdiction, excluding offences which are spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and in the case of foreign offences, such as may be appropriate. Particular consideration will be given to offences of dishonesty, fraud and those relating to sexual conduct, violence, animal welfare and health and safety.
6.4 Whether the applicant is the subject of any proceedings of a criminal nature, has been charged in connection with any alleged criminal offence or is aware of circumstances which may lead to his/her being so charged.
6.5 Whether the applicant has been the subject of any adverse finding by a judge in any civil proceedings, or has settled civil proceedings brought against him/her relating to any matter which could reasonably be said to materially affect his/her suitability to hold a licence.
6.6 The applicant’s record of compliance with the regulatory requirements of the Authority or its predecessors, of any other Turf Authority or of a regulator of any other sport in which he/she has participated or has been otherwise involved.
6.7 Whether the applicant has been candid, open and truthful in all his/her dealings:
6.7.2 with the Authority in relation to the present or relevant past licence applications; and
6.7.3 with any other Turf Authority or other sports regulator.
6.8 Whether or not the applicant has been dismissed from any previous employment or position of trust or has been asked to resign or resigned on grounds connected with his/her honesty or integrity.
6.9 Whether an applicant has been convicted of, or dismissed or suspended from employment for drug or alcohol abuses or other abusive acts or has other lifestyle or social issues, which are likely either to:
6.9.2 Impair significantly his/her ability to safeguard the welfare of any horse or meet the regulatory requirements of the Authority; or
6.9.3 Render the applicant a threat to the health, welfare or safety of others involved in horseracing, or to the integrity of the sport.
6.10 Whether the applicant has engaged in conduct or there are circumstances which may render the applicant susceptible to pressure from persons seeking to corrupt horseracing and whether the applicant is likely to or may engage in such conduct.
6.11 An applicant’s fitness and propriety includes assessment of the fitness and propriety of those with whom he/she is or may be associated or connected with in their personal or business dealings. For example, if the applicant is known to have associated with person(s) who are considered by the Authority to pose an unacceptable risk to the integrity of horseracing, that matter will be taken into account and its ultimate relevance to his/her suitability will be assessed in the light of the applicant’s attitude to the association.
6.12 The Licensing Committee has a policy of not granting a jockey’s licence to a person actively engaged as, or otherwise associated with, a Bookmaker, having made the judgement that such a close financial interest, potentially in conflict with his interest as a jockey, is likely to diminish public confidence in the integrity of racing.
