BROOMING JOBS: Two taxi drivers face licensing action after refusing passenger destinations

Two taxi drivers who refused to take potential passengers home to Southway could be facing legal action.

Plymouth taxi licensing officers carried out test purchase rides of hackney carriages over the last month. Of 17 tested, two refused to take the test purchasers home to Southway.  

The officers carried out the operations following an increase in complaints about drivers refusing long journeys from the city centre.

The drivers will be interviewed under caution in relation to offences under the Town Police Clause Act 1847 for refusing journeys without reasonable excuse.   

Pending the outcome of any court case, they could then face the Taxi Licensing Committee so that members can review whether they consider the drivers to be a fit and proper person to continue to hold a taxi licence.

A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “The vast majority of our licensed taxi drivers look after their customers and make sure they get home safely. All our drivers are vetted, enhanced DBS checked, have had safeguarding and ambassador training, for instance.

“Unfortunately we have received some complaints about drivers refusing to take customers to outer parts of the city or overcharging and some hackney carriage drivers not using their meter.“