Taxi Driver Online

50 taxi drivers in Kirklees have been stripped of their licences

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/wes ... n-16113353

And 14 are for alleged sexual offences and one for drugs

Fifty taxi drivers across Kirklees have had their licences revoked over the past four years, ExaminerLive can reveal.

A Freedom of Information request showed 14 revocations were of a sexual assault in nature and one was for a drugs offence.

It was not stated what the other revocations were over.

Kirklees Council has said the number amounts to around 2% of licensed drivers.

It said some of the sexual assault revocations had come from incidents believed to have taken place, rather than convictions in court.

Akooji Badat, of Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, and a taxi driver for 30 years, said he thought the recent grooming scandals have handed "too much power" to licensing officers at Kirklees Council.

He added: "I think it's terrible that taxi drivers, 95-99% of whom are Muslim, are being targeted by the authorities.

"The Muslims are being made scapegoats and that's having a reflection on taxi drivers, the majority of whom are just to go to work and make an honest living.

"I don't think we should be treated in this way."

Karl Battersby, strategic director for economy and infrastructure at Kirklees Council, said it closely monitored taxi licence holders and took a 'robust approach' to who was allowed to hold them.

He said: "We have a good relationship with the police and have police officers based within our team so we're able to draw on their intelligence information.

"The safety of our residents is our absolute priority and will take no risks when it comes to protecting people.

"Where we find a concern we will take the necessary action required and if that means revoking someone's licence, that's what we'll do.

"In the last four years we have revoked 50 licenses. However, it’s important to note that in the same period of time 213 new licenses and 3030 renewals have been issued.

"The revoked licenses amount to approximately two per cent of licensed drivers.”

35 out of the 50 were not for sexual or drugs matters, which does beg the question as to what.

Maybe some would have been medical matters, which is no slant on the council or the trade, but I wonder what the rest were down to.

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IDFIMH