56 Luton taxi drivers have criminal convictions MORE than 50 Luton taxi drivers are picking up passengers despite having criminal convictions ranging from assault to drug possession.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that 56 Hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers currently licensed by Luton Borough Council have criminal records.
Convictions are for a number of offences including public order offences, offences which contravene bail terms, possession of drugs, fraud, theft offences – encompassing all manner of offences from minor theft to burglary, and perverting the course of justice.
Perhaps most alarmingly, some of the 56 taxi drivers with criminal convictions were charged with driving offences and offences against the person – a term which covers all levels of assault charge.
At its last meeting, the council’s licensing panel granted a licence for an applicant who had been interviewed by police on four separate occasions in 2009 in relation to criminal damage, common assault, verbally abusing a police officer, being abusive towards a parking attendant, speeding, affray and other offences.
His licence was granted after the panel heard he was remorseful and had made significant efforts to improve himself.
At the same meeting, another driver had his licence revoked after the panel heard he used a mobile phone while driving, failed to report an accident in which his vehicle was damaged, and been involved in a dangerous pursuit along Leagrave Road and Marsh Road, frightening a woman and putting other road users in danger.
A Town Hall spokesman said: “Applications that do not meet the council’s Convictions Policy are referred to the Taxi and Private Hire Panel by the Licensing Service.
“Every application is considered on its merits and the applicant has the opportunity to make representations to the panel on why they think that they are a fit and proper to drive the public of Luton.
“The panel considers all the relevant matters submitted in private. Licensing officers are not involved in the decision-making process.”
“The council undertakes Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau and DVLA checks in addition to the information supplied to assess whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a driver’s licence.
“To assess the information received, the council has a convictions policy, which is applied equally to each and every applicant.”
Luton Borough Council currently has 1,541 licensed drivers on its books and turned down 38 out of 85 applications from convicted criminals to legally become a taxi driver between January 1 2010 and January 27 this year.
A further 15 licensed taxi drivers had their licence revoked as a result of a criminal conviction.
A current driver’s licence is valid for two years.
source:
http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/ ... -1-3606793
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