Issue - meetings

To review the Dual (Hackney Carriage/Private Hire) Driver Licence application submitted by Mr V.S.

Having considered the matter carefully and taking into account all the relevant factors, it was RESOLVED that the application by Mr V.S. for a Dual Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver Licence be refused.

In reaching this decision, and on the evidence provided at the hearing, the Committee considered that:

·           In accordance with Paragraph 5.3.1 of the Licensing Officer’s report in respect of the SBC Convictions Policy regarding Dishonesty, drivers of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles are expected to be persons of trust.  Members of the public entrust themselves to the care of drivers both for their own safety and for fair dealing.  Passengers may include especially vulnerable people.  For these reasons, a serious view is taken of any convictions involving dishonesty, with fraud being one of the specific offences;

·           In accordance with the SBC Convictions Policy, and under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a fraud conviction is never spent;

·           As a result of your Mr V.S.’s conviction, he was prepared to allow the potential for another person to present a danger to passengers by virtue of him undertaking the spoken English test on behalf of a third party;

·           Mr V.S. made no admission of guilt to the proposed allegation of fraud prior to the matter being presented to the Crown Court; and

·           The nature of Mr V.S.’s fraud offence was such as to undermine public confidence in SBC and bring into disrepute the licensing procedures for all taxi drivers.

The Committee, having applied the SBC Convictions Policy, therefore concluded that Mr V.S. is not a fit and proper person to hold a Dual Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver Licence.