Taxi Driver Online

Quite a lot of reportage from the Stockton Council area about licensing decisions, so no surprise a summary document like this would be covered by the press.

And I think just about every case in the summary must be covered here in some shape or form, however briefly.

An interesting enough summary, though.

And even a successful magistrates' appeal

(And some of the stuff here rings a bell, and no doubt covered on here in longer pieces.)

And also the usual 'motorist' word from this journo


Taxi licences were revoked after arrests for rape, sexual assault, firearms and drugs, says report

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... r-34090345

A report to Stockton Council's licensing department showed a list of 26 decisions and action taken last year

Arrests for rape, sexual assault, firearms, stalking and drugs conspiracy led to drivers losing taxi licences.

A report to Stockton Council's general licensing committee gives a list of 26 decisions and action taken during 2025. It outlines seven licence suspensions, two of which was later reinstated, one request refusal, and two licences revoked and one licence refusal following a positive drug sample.

It says 47 screening tests were carried out "on a random or intelligence-led basis", looking for six illegal substances. Three returned positive lab results with samples containing THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, and one new applicant had an application refused.

There were three court appeals or prosecutions. In one case of unlicensed private hire advertising on Facebook, a test purchase was carried out and the driver was successfully prosecuted for unlicensed activity and using a vehicle without insurance.

A second case involved a motorist whose licence was revoked by the licensing committee for watching a video while driving, but the licence was reinstated after a successful appeal to magistrates' court. And a third driver had a licence revoked after an arrest and charge with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and a proceeds of crime offence, and an appeal to magistrates over the licence decision was dismissed.

According to the list of decisions, licences were revoked following arrests for sexual assault in two cases, firearms in one case and rape, stalking and coercive behaviour in another case. Another licence was revoked after a driver was arrested for indecent exposure, given 150 hours' community service and a £200 fine, and failed to disclose the arrest.

Other revocations came after a drink driving arrest, positive samples for THC, "historical intelligence of sexual assault investigations", "concerns over drinking habits and alcohol levels" and "failure to supply annual declaration and medical". New driver applications were refused because of a positive THC test, a failure to attend an officer interview or cooperate with an investigation, and accident damage to a hackney carriage.

In one case, involved CCTV in Thornaby town centre and a "potential weapon", a suspended licence was reinstated by the council's licensing committee.

In a separate report to the same committee dealing with a review of licensing policy, figures show the total number of licensed premises has decreased from 581 in 2024-5 to 572 in 2025-6, with eight fewer alcohol licensed premises and one fewer establishment licensed for "late night refreshment only". Proposed additions to the policy included support for drug safes to store suspected substances and programmes raising awareness and providing training on child exploitation.

I'd guess a 'request refusal' is an application refusal. Thus the same as the latter category, but the way it's phrased makes it sound like it's a different process