Convicted rapist’s taxi licence sparks major council shake-up after missing DBS check uncovered
- Perry Richardson
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
Bracknell Forest Council has endorsed six recommendations aimed at strengthening taxi licensing governance after an internal investigation into how convicted rapist Diwan Khan was granted a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence.
The recommendations were noted and endorsed by the council’s Governance and Audit Committee on 17 June following a review commissioned by council leader Helen Purnell in March 2026. The investigation examined the timeline surrounding Khan’s taxi licence, whether licensing policies were followed, how external warnings were handled, the suspension and revocation of his licence, and previous licensing reviews.
The investigation concluded that, in most respects, licensing policies and procedures were followed. It also found no evidence that either Bracknell Forest Council or the shared Public Protection Partnership (PPP) had received concerns about Khan before his arrest on a separate offence in January 2024.
Following that arrest, his taxi driver’s licence was immediately revoked under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
However, auditors identified a significant failing during the original licensing process. The review found there was no evidence that Khan’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate had been seen before his licence was issued in January 2021. According to the investigation, had the certificate been checked, it is unlikely he would have met the criteria to be licensed.
Khan, aged 41 and from Bracknell, held a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence from January 2021 until it was revoked on 11 January 2024. He did not appeal the revocation. He later stood trial at Winchester Crown Court and was convicted of rape on 11 February 2026 before being sentenced on 30 April.
The investigation also considered Khan’s role as mayoral consort between May 2023 and January 2024. Council records showed he carried out no civic engagements during 2024.
The review noted there had been no formal requirement for councillors or mayoral consorts to undergo DBS checks when Khan took up the ceremonial position, although Bracknell Forest Council introduced mandatory DBS checks for councillors and mayoral consorts from October 2024.
Council leader Helen Purnell said she was “disappointed and saddened” that there was no evidence Khan’s DBS certificate had been checked before his taxi licence was granted.
Purnell said: “The investigation into the circumstances around Diwan Khan’s taxi licence and the subsequent actions following his arrest in January 2024, was instigated to provide clarity and transparency. It was also requested so that we have a firm understanding of where we need to put tighter controls and policies in place to protect residents and visitors from harm.
“I am disappointed and saddened to see there is no evidence that Khan’s DBS was checked prior to his licence being issued. If it had been checked then it is likely he would not have been given a licence.”
She added that the council would implement changes through recommendations arising from the investigation and other audits, alongside measures including a women’s and girls’ safety charter.
The six recommendations endorsed by the Governance and Audit Committee include carrying out a full audit of licensing to ensure improvements have been implemented, developing clearer reporting protocols for investigations, strengthening oversight arrangements for investigations involving shared services, considering whether senior statutory officers should be informed of risks and non-compliance identified during investigations, prioritising recommendations from an education and transport fleet audit, and considering further representations to government on cross-border taxi licensing.
