FIT AND PROPER
TAXI PASSENGERS FORCED OUT OF VEHICLE IN WARWICKSHIRE AS DRIVER HAD NO INSURANCE
An unlicensed vehicle which was full of passengers was stopped by police in Warwickshire. According to CoventryLive, police caught the driver red-handed collect- ing fares for transporting a full load of people to work. And the driver was found to have no
insurance and was therefore acting as an unlicensed driver. Police said the passengers were com- pletely unaware that they were not covered by his actions. Officers subsequently seized the vehi- cle and ironically, Warwickshire Police suggested the driver get a taxi home.
TAXI DRIVER’S LICENCE SUSPENDED FOR OVERCHARGING PASSENGERS DURING BRISTOL FESTIVAL
A taxi driver who tried to overcharge passengers during Tokyo World Music Festival in Bristol has had their licence suspended for six months. According to the Bristol Post, the driver was pulled over after a problem was spotted with their cab’s ‘taxi’ roof sign, as part of road side checks carried out by police during the festival in Eastville Park in September 2021. It was discovered that he had failed to
use the meter for a fare within Bristol boundaries, and tried to overcharge the customers. He was given a six-month suspension on his licence after a report was taken to the Bristol City Council’s public safe- ty and protection committee. Councillor Nicola Beech, cabinet mem- ber with responsibility for regulatory services, said: “The majority of taxi drivers in Bristol provide an excellent
service, and spot checks help us main- tain those good standards. “Taxis are a vital part of a sustainable transport network, and we want every- one choosing to travel by taxi in Bristol to be reassured they will have a safe and fair journey.” The driver now has 21 days to appeal the decision. If they do not appeal, the six-month suspension starts after the appeal period has ended.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE CABBIES LOSE LICENCES OVER RAPE AND DRUG DEALING CLAIMS
Three Brighton and Hove taxi drivers have lost their licence in the past four months after they were accused of breaking the criminal law. Brighton and Hove News reports that one was accused of rape, another was suspected of drug dealing and a third was convicted of breaching a non- molestation order. Councillors spoke of their relief that officials had revoked the drivers’ licences even though in two cases they were only the subject of allegations. Cllr Dee Simson said that she was pleased to see a licence revoked rather than suspended when a driver was accused of a serious crime.
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She said: “Only a short time ago … we saw, in relation to drugs and rape, the licences were suspended – innocent until proven guilty. “It’s good to see here a couple of things where the licence has been revoked when there’s suspected drugs issues and an allegation of rape.” Cllr Clare Moonan asked for the criteria for reinstating licences. She also asked in what circumstances the council would never allow a driver to have a licence again.
She said: “Some of the reasons for revoking a licence are very serious. Even if they are convicted and serve their sentence, would they be reinstat-
ed if they reapplied?” She was told that taxi drivers had to prove that they were “fit and proper” persons to hold a licence through DBS checks. The only circumstances when a licence “might” be reinstated after a serious crime had occurred was if police con- tacted the council to say that the individual had been exonerated or wrongly arrested. But if a driver was acquitted by a court – or the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evi- dence to prosecute – this might not result in a licence being automatically reinstated.
MARCH 2022
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