Taxi Driver Online

Saw this paywalled piece in the Glasgow Times initially, but looks like this is the same article in another title in the same publishing group, but not paywalled

Anyway, for what it's worth the badging local authority here edges onto the eastern part of Glasgow, or Greater Glasgow at least.

So makes a bit of a change from Glasgow, but not a million miles away.

Although his address is given as Helensburgh, which is actually in the neighbouring Argyll and Bute Council area. Apparently they had a referendum about it 30 years ago, and the good folks of Helensburgh decided to be part of Argyll and Bute rather than West Dunbartonshire.


West Dunbartonshire taxi driver stripped of licence

https://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/new ... d-licence/

A West Dunbartonshire taxi driver has lost his licence after being found with 4kg of drugs in his boot.

Gerald Murphy, 66, was stopped by officers from Cumbria Constabulary near junction 40 of the M6 at midday on November 22, 2025.

During a search of the vehicle, around 4kg of cannabis was located in the boot of his West Dunbartonshire licensed taxi inside a hoover box.

In addition, £750 of cash was recovered.

Mr Murphy, of East Clyde Street, Helensburgh, was arrested and appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates Court on November 24 where he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class B drug.

He offered no indication of plea to another offence of possessing criminal property - namely £750 in cash.

He was set to be sentenced on January 5 but the court date has since been rescheduled.

Police Scotland notified West Dunbartonshire Council of the conviction and called for Mr Murphy's licence to be suspended or revoked.

The force's Chief Constable says there are 'serious concerns' over public safety regarding his licence.

Addressing the council's licensing committee, Mr Murphy said: "I made a wrong choice. I felt a bit intimidated. I had two choices and I made the wrong one.

"I have never bothered the police before. I was completely out of my depth."

Mr Murphy confirmed this was his first offence of this nature to Councillor Pollok when asked.

Lawrence O'Neill, chair of the committee, said: "If you are of the opinion he is not a fit and proper person to hold the licence, the committee must consider if his license is suspended or revoked."

Following agreement, Mr Murphy was stripped of his Taxi Car licence, which was due to expire on March 6, 2027.

In addition, his taxi driver's licence was also revoked which was due to expire on June 30, 2026.

Mr Murphy's sentencing date has been rescheduled for February 20, 2026.

Interesting that he's been revoked rather than suspended. Have wittered on about this before, but I think it's common in Scotland to be suspended for unexpired period of the licence, which I'd guess is done for procedural convenience, and usually on the assumption that they won't reapply after the licence expires, or that it's easier just not to grant the reapplication after expiry.

But I suspect there's more info in the council papers. And that presumably that's why the expiry dates are mentioned in the piece above, which would of course be a slightly odd thing to mention if it was a piece about an English authority

Four kilos of cannabis with the intent to supply is a very serious matter.

I wonder if even if he kept his license, he would lose it again when he loses his liberty.

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IDFIMH