Taxi Driver Online

I've kind of started not noticing these things at all, but headline and terminology is all over the place - TAXI DRIVER refused PRIVATE HIRE LICENCE, while it's actually a dual HCD/PHD badge.

The right at the end it says he was refused his PHD licence

And the headline also hints that it's a new application, while it's in fact an application for a grant after a revocation.

Anyway, unfortunately there's not a huge amount of detail here, and that's just left to the imagination


Taxi driver refused private hire licence despite sexual assault allegation 'not proceeding'

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... e-34839175

The motorist said he had a good record for 20 years, but councillors found 'inconsistencies' in information presented to them

A taxi driver was unable to regain his private hire licence following a sexual assault allegation, despite pleading that the police had not proceeded with the case.

The unnamed motorist applied for a hackney carriage and private hire driver's licence from Stockton Council. The licence was previously revoked by the council, "which related to an alleged offence of 'sexual assault'", say minutes of a licensing committee meeting.

He said he had agreed to pick up the accuser and one other person on the night of the alleged assault. He allowed the passenger to move into the front seat after the first part of the journey.

Asked why he did this, he "agreed that with hindsight he shouldn't have allowed it and would in future insist that all passengers remain seated in the back of the taxi. [The driver] assured members of the committee that the allegation had been unfounded and the police had not proceeded with the case," the minutes state.

"He also stated that he had been a driver for over 20 years with a good record prior to this incident."

Councillors on the licensing committee said they considered all the information before them and listened to what the driver said: "The committee felt they were not currently able to determine that [the driver] was a fit and proper person, as the committee was concerned about the inconsistencies between the information presented in the papers and what [he] had presented at the committee hearing."

They refused his application for the private hire driver's licence.

A tad disconcerting that the councillors should read anything into that. I mean, that makes it sound like it's a big deal allowing someone in the front. In fact, what's the thing with 'allowing' someone in the front at all

On the other hand, if he had actively invited a woman into the front then that might be a different matter, but...

(Although the precise scenario reads like she was in the back to start with, but moved into the front after her friend got out )