Agenda item

Conduct of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver

Report of the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer)

Minutes:

The subject of the decision:

 

The Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) asked the Panel to consider whether the licence holder (“D”) was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence.

 

Alternative options considered:

 

The Panel considered the options in paragraph 6.1 of the Director’s report but, having concluded that D was not a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence, the only suitable option was to revoke D’s licence.

 

The Panel was not satisfied that any of the alternative options, including issuing a warning or a suspension, would adequately serve the interests of the public.

 

The reason for the decision:

 

The Panel considered the Director’s report, the written and oral representations of D, the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and the relevant legislation.

 

The Panel noted that D had been licensed for approximately three years from 2011 to 2014.  The Panel also noted that, in 2017, D applied for a new hackney carriage and private hire driver licence with Hambleton District Council.  The application was referred to the Council’s Licensing and Appeals Hearings Panel on 1 August 2017 to consider the application and, in particular, a caution on D’s criminal record from 24 January 2015 for an offence of battery.

 

The Panel also considered the contents of the minutes of the hearing where it was determined that the incident in January 2015 had been an isolated incident and subsequently D’s application was granted.  The Panel noted that, at that hearing, D had expressed regret for his conduct during the incident and had later undertaken counselling and stress management.

 

The Panel noted that, on 26 January 2020, the Council received a complaint from a licensed hackney carriage driver in relation to an alleged incident involving D on 19 January 2020.  The complainant alleged that, on 19 January 2020, he arrived at D’s home address to collect a pre-booked fare, at which time, D had become verbally abusive and had threatened the complainant that there would be consequences if he did not leave the property.  The Panel noted from the complainant’s account that he had tried to reason with D but D then parked his own vehicle across the highway preventing the complainant from driving away with his passengers.

 

D informed the Panel that the incident occurred as a result of an argument between him and his partner, which had started as a minor disagreement that escalated over the course of the day.  D told the Panel that his partner had booked a taxi as she was in the process of leaving to return to her own home.  D told the Panel that he did not want her to leave as he wanted to talk to her to resolve the issue.  D also informed the Panel that he had asked the taxi driver to leave numerous times.  D informed the Panel that he could not recall using bad language but admitted he had blocked in the complainant’s vehicle to prevent his partner from leaving the property.  D stated that he had blocked in the complainant’s vehicle for 25-30 minutes before moving it and allowing the complainant and his passengers to leave.

 

The Panel noted that D had attended the Council offices on 29 January 2020 and informed the Licensing Enforcement Officer that he was wound-up, frustrated and angry.

 

The Panel acknowledged its duty to consider the potential impact of D’s character on passengers and other members of the public.  In doing so, the Panel is required to consider not only the individual’s behaviour whilst working in the licensed trade but the individual’s entire character, including, but not limited to, the individual’s attitude and temperament.

 

The Panel was concerned that, despite knowing that his partner had made arrangements to return home, D not only wanted her to stay but, by parking his vehicle across the road, he took active steps to prevent her from leaving.  The Panel acknowledged that D did not use physical restraint against his partner but it concluded that D’s conduct was wholly inappropriate.  The Panel noted that, throughout the investigation and the subsequent proceedings, there was never any suggestion that any other person present had reacted in an aggressive or confrontational manner towards D.  The Panel was concerned that D’s conduct could easily have led to a far more serious public order issue had it not been for the temperament of the other parties present.

 

D informed the Panel that he had spoken to the complainant on 20 January 2020 (the day after the incident) and had apologised for his behaviour and offered financial compensation for any missed fares.  The Panel noted that the complainant subsequently submitted his complaint on 26 January 2020.

 

The Panel noted that D’s partner had confirmed to the Council’s Licensing Enforcement Officer that, at the time of the incident, she had heard D shouting and that D had blocked in the complainant’s vehicle and had refused to move it when asked to.

 

The Panel noted that the complainant had sought to reason with D and, when he had been unsuccessful, he had contacted the police.  The Panel concluded that D had shouted at the complainant using verbally abusive language and that D had blocked in the complainant’s vehicle for at least 25 minutes.  The Panel was satisfied that D’s conduct towards the complainant was unprovoked, aggressive and continued for a sustained period of time.  The Panel concluded that D’s conduct was not in keeping with the Council’s expectations of a licensed driver.

 

D informed the Panel that he had taken over sole custody of his children and that his domestic situation was, at times, incredibly stressful.  The Panel noted that D was remorseful for the incidents that occurred in January 2020 and previously in 2015.  The Panel noted that licensed drivers are expected to demonstrate appropriate professional conduct at all times whether in the context of their work or otherwise.  The Panel noted that the Policy requires licensed drivers to be “courteous, avoid confrontation, not be abusive or exhibit prejudice in any way”.  The Panel concluded that D’s conduct was not in accordance with the Policy requirements.

 

D informed the Panel that, at the time of the incident, his adrenaline was running high.  However, he subsequently regretted his actions.  D told the Panel that the incident was a one-off and that he would ensure it would not happen again.  D also informed the Panel that, since the incident, he had begun to undertake counselling and stress management through a mental health charity.

 

The Panel that determined D’s application in 2017 was satisfied that D’s caution for battery came as a result of an isolated incident.  The Panel in the present case could not be so satisfied because D’s character and temperament had once again been brought into question.  The Panel noted that D had undertaken a course of stress management and counselling in 2015 and was undergoing a similar course of counselling following the incident in January 2020.

 

The Panel acknowledged that D had attempted to take steps to address any stress-related anger but it was concerned about his ability to sustain any behavioural changes.  The Panel was not satisfied that the steps taken by D to manage his behaviour would adequately address the concerns over his suitability to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence.

 

The Panel noted that, according to Council records, D was not the subject of any other complaints.  The Panel considered the contents of four character references provided by customers in support of D and a reference from D’s current employer.  The Panel accepted that D would have some positive experiences with customers and had a good reputation with his employer.

 

The Panel noted that licensed drivers are often required to deal with difficult customers and therefore must possess the necessary characteristics to ensure the safety of themselves, their passengers and other members of the public.  The Panel was concerned that, not for the first time, D had reacted in an aggressive and confrontational manner.

 

The Panel concluded that D was not a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence.

 

The decision:

 

Taking account of the above and having given appropriate weight to the evidence, the Panel was not satisfied that D was a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence.

 

The Panel was satisfied that the hearing to determine D’s application in 2017 should have served as a warning in relation to his future conduct.  On that basis, the Panel was not satisfied that a warning or suspension would adequately address its concerns and therefore resolved to revoke D’s licence for ‘any reasonable cause’ in accordance with section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.