Taxi Driver Online

Cabbie who flouted forced marriage rules allowed to carry on working taxi ranks

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... e-15258204

Despite getting a suspended jail sentence at crown court, the driver was deemed to be a 'fit and proper' person by a licencing panel

A cab driver who admitted breaching a forced marriage protection order was allowed to carry on working the taxi ranks of Stockton.

The driver, who was not named due to legal reasons, did not have his licence revoked at a Stockton Council hearing in June.

The man had pleaded guilty to breaching a court order relating to a “forced marriage protection order” and was given a suspended jail sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

But later, when he appeared at Stockton Town Hall to see whether he’d get his licence taken off him, a panel of councillors deemed him to be a “fit and proper” person.

Details of what happened were revealed in minutes of Stockton Council’s Other Licensing Committee.

Press and public are barred from hearing details of the meetings under local government legislation which involves the “likely disclosure of exempt information”.

However, minutes are published at the following meeting - revealing what went on with names redacted.

The driver was joined by his brother at the hearing in June and papers revealed he defended himself saying “he was not taking the children to Pakistan for an arranged marriage”.

But when at court, he did plead guilty to breaching an order put in place to prevent those being threatened with a forced marriage from leaving the country.

Minutes from the meeting revealed the committee “took a very dim view” of the driver’s breach of the court order and noted the driver “had a disciplinary record” with the last matter dealt with in 2012.

Councillors agreed the driver be given a “severe written warning” and was reminded both the court and committee took any court order breaches “extremely seriously”.

However, the panel stopped short of revoking his licence altogether - cautioning him if he appeared in front of the committee again he “could be at risk” and reminding him to “behave in a fit and proper manner at all times”.

Drivers have to undergo tests and checks to see whether they’re a “fit and proper” person to ferry passengers in the borough - including an annual DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.

Councillors on the “other licensing committee” are often asked to adjudicate on licences when driver has picked up a conviction or is prosecuted for an offence.

It is illegal to drive a private hire or Hackney Carriage vehicle without an up-to-date licence and badge issued by Stockton Council.

we had one round here that kidnapped his daughter because she dated a non Muslim instead of accepting a chosen husband council let him keep his badge

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