Taxi Driver Online

There seems to have been a rash of similar articles from various parts of the country in past few months. Not that there's anything particularly new about this genre, but maybe there's a bit of copycatting going on at the moment...


Bedford taxi driver's licence revoked for ABH and “coercive and controlling behaviour"

https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/cou ... ur-5187410

Bedford Borough Council has taken disciplinary action against multiple taxi and private hire drivers following safety complaints, traffic offences, and failures to meet licensing standards between February and May this year.

A report presented to the General Licensing Committee last night (Thursday) revealed that one driver had their licence revoked with immediate effect after being charged with “coercive and controlling behaviour and actual bodily harm”.

In another case, a driver’s renewal application was refused after the council learned he had received a police caution for battery following a domestic incident, the second such case he had failed to disclose.

Another licence renewal was refused after a complaint that the driver had picked up passengers without a booking, which is a breach of private hire regulations.

The report added that the driver’s “denial and elaborate attempts to offer alternative explanations” compounded the seriousness of the offence.

There were also cases involving traffic incidents. One driver lost their licence after hitting a father and child at a junction, with the council citing failures in driving standards and reporting duties.

Two others were ordered to complete remedial training, including the Blue Lamp Taxi Driver Proficiency test, after poor driving complaints and collisions involving pedestrians.

Despite the disciplinary actions, the report shows that the majority of drivers followed the rules.

More than 60 new and renewed licences were granted between February and May, with officers carrying out assessments under Bedford’s Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The report was noted by the committee without questions or comments, after from councillor Lucy Bywater (Green, Castle and Newnham) thanking officers for their roles in enforcement.

That's maybe the most interesting one - at first it looked like he'd effectively lost his badge over next-to-nothing, but maybe if he'd owned up rather than denying it? Still looks a tad over the top, though

Maybe OTT, but how many times has he done it before and not got found out?

Not a clue, Roy. You may be right, but it sounds like only evidence of one incident, therefore unless it's a kangaroo court then that's the only evidence the committee can go on.

Unless, of course, the committee is a kangaroo court, which certainly wouldn't be surprising

The not reporting is the big one.

That seems to miff councils off more than most things.

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IDFIMH