Great coverage of this on the newspaper's site. There's even a poll, and at the moment around 90% think the driver's licence should have been revoked before the brawl.
The brawl episode seemed to have made the local and national press when it happened last year, but no sign of any mention of it on here.
What I can't understand though is how the backstory has all come to light now, since the licence was revoked last year, and magistrates dismissed the driver's appeal in February this year, as far as I can make out.
Brawl taxi driver had THREE previous complaints against himhttps://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/d ... eo-1776778One woman passenger was allegedly asked 'invasive questions' by the cabbieA Derby taxi driver has been stripped of his licence after having a catalogue of complaints made against him.
The driver was filmed by a passer-by fighting with another driver. The video of the fight, which took place in Westbury Street in the Stockbrook area of the city, went viral and was viewed over 100,000 times last September.
Now Derbyshire Live can reveal the brawl was the FOURTH time a complaint had been made about the man, who worked in Derby despite being licensed in Erewash.
On November 2015, he was allegedly involved in a road rage incident with another driver and in September 2016 a female passenger said that he reportedly asked her creepy questions about being alone and about her boyfriend.
In October 2016, a fare complained about him reportedly being rude to passengers but he kept his licence until the brawl video emerged in 2017.
Erewash Borough Council said the first three incidents were "isolated complaints" which required no further action.
But licensing officers had warned the driver that his licence would be reviewed if any similar issues were received.
And a month after the viral video emerged, Erewash's licensing panel revoked his licence because they felt his explanation of the brawl events was “inadequate and contradictory”.
The council said that as soon as it was notified that the driver had been involved in a physical altercation, the Drivers Licensing Panel moved quickly to revoke his licence.
The panel members were not satisfied that he was a "fit and proper person" to hold a hackney carriage/private hire vehicle driver’s licence.
Despite this ruling, the taxi driver decided to appeal against the case at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court in February this year but magistrates refused to give him back his licence and upheld the council’s decision.
Taxi drivers are able to be licensed elsewhere and still drive in Derby after the national deregulation of taxis more than two years ago. And many drivers have gone outside the city for their licence due to increased charges and the introduction of a points-based assessment scheme here.
Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, chair of Erewash Borough Council's Drivers Licensing Panel, said: “The overriding consideration has to be the safety of the public. That is paramount. As such, it is our duty to ensure, as far as possible, that those licensed to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles are suitable persons.
"We take this very seriously and, while we took into account the explanations given by this driver, the decision was a clear one – that his licence be revoked.
"This decision was backed by Southern Derbyshire Magistrates when they dismissed the driver’s appeal earlier this year.
“We carry out licence and criminal conviction checks on our drivers every year – we are one of the few local authorities to do these annual checks rather than every three years.
“When our licensing team receive any complaint about a driver, that complaint is considered and, if appropriate, the driver interviewed. In this case there had been isolated complaints, including one received by the police, where the police took no further action.
"However, our licensing team warned the driver that his licence would be reviewed if any similar issues were received. Consequently, when we were made aware of the filmed altercation involving this driver we rightly took action very quickly.”
This is how the taxi driver lost his licenceTaxi driver receives his licenceHe received his licence in April 2013.
First incidentOn November 2, 2015, he was allegedly involved in a road rage incident which involved tailgating and flashing his lights at another driver, which resulted in both drivers getting into a verbal confrontation.
Second incidentOn September 19, 2016, a lone female passenger made a complaint to the police that he reportedly made her “uncomfortable” after a series of “invasive questions” about her being alone and regarding her partner.
Third incidentOn October 9, 2016, a member of the public stated the driver had been "very rude to passengers" and became uncomfortable when asked who he worked for.
Borough council warns driverErewash Borough Council told the driver his licence may be reviewed if further complaints were received.
Final strawThe viral video emerges of the driver fighting in Westbury Street in the Stockbrook area on September 25 2017.
The video goes viral and is investigated by Erewash Borough Council and Derby City Council.
Driver is approached again by councilErewash Borough Council interviews the driver about the fight and previous incidents. He is told his suitability as a taxi driver would need to be considered by the council's Drivers Licensing Panel.
Council revokes his licenceOn October 25, 2017, the Drivers Licensing Panel meets.
His licence is revoked after it is stated he is considered to be "a potential threat to female passengers" and his explanations of the brawl incident was "inadequate and contradictory".
Driver attempts to appeal against the decisionThe driver takes the appeal to Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court in February this year but fails in his bid.
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