Convicted criminals being given taxi licences
November 19, 2010
Convicted criminals are being granted licences to drive taxis in Guildford, an investigation by the Surrey Advertiser can reveal.
Offences such as soliciting a woman for prostitution, possession of an offensive weapon, battery and inappropriate behaviour towards schoolgirls are on drivers’ records at Guildford Borough Council.
Council policy allows convicted murderers to apply for licences, as long as their crimes are more than 10-years-old.
Past motoring convictions also featured on licensed drivers’ records, including driving while disqualified, driving with no licence or insurance, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to wear a seatbelt.
This year alone, drivers with convictions for being drunk, using threatening or abusive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery and theft have appeared before councillors.
Of the 47 cases that were brought before the licensing sub-committee during the past five years, half were granted a licence or allowed to continue to be a licence holder.
More than one-in-three drivers with convictions went on to have taxi licences granted, 36% in total, while an additional 13% had their licences only temporarily suspended.
Bob Mattock, licensing services manager at Guildford Borough Council, said the authority’s approach to granting taxi licences was largely taken from Department for Transport guidelines.
“We have got a clear policy of who would be considered by the licensing sub-committee, who would ask pretty searching questions,” he said.
“Some examples are those who have committed offences such as theft or deception, benefit fraud, burglary, handling or receiving stolen goods or forgery.
“They would have to have an extremely good reason to then have a licence granted.
“We give each person an opportunity to discuss the case and then we do a ‘fit and proper’ test. Essentially, this asks ‘would you allow your children to travel in the back of the cab?’.
“Everyone deserves a second chance and that chance might only be granted for one year, rather than the normal three years.”
The council has a policy not to consider licences for set periods of time after an offence has been committed.
“We do have a policy for people who have committed murder, manslaughter or death by dangerous driving – 10 years should have passed,” said Mr Mattock.
Anyone who receives a conviction or a motoring offence during the lifetime of their licence is required to declare it to the council within seven days. Each time a licence is renewed, a fresh Criminal Records Bureau check is carried out.
“We believe the people we grant licences to fit the bill,” said Mr Mattock. “We are very conscious of the responsibility, and the requirements of the travelling public.”
Guildford Hackney Association chairman David Williams-Wynn said he believed the taxi service in Guildford was “second to none” and that public perception of drivers was more of a problem.
Mr Williams-Wynn said: “Taxi drivers are seen as the lowest of the low but I don’t think there’s anything for the public to worry about here.
"I’ve got daughters and I would make sure they always get into a taxi off the rank or ring for one.
“If a young woman does that, immediately her name goes down and what time she called and which driver she’s gone with.
“Just make sure it’s a proper hackney carriage.
“An easy way to tell is if it’s got a top light, and all drivers have ID badges and licences.”
Source; http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/20825 ... i_licences
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