Cornwall dual taxi driver has licence REVOKED after alleged cocaine arrest, accident and drug possession
- Perry Richardson
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A Cornwall hackney carriage and private hire driver has had his licence revoked with immediate effect after being arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs and possession of a controlled substance, following a collision involving stationary vehicles.
Cornwall Council’s Urgent Driver/Operator/Vehicle Sub-Committee met in Bodmin on 13 November and ruled that the driver, was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence and that there was “reasonable cause” to revoke it in the interests of public safety.
According to minutes of the meeting, members were told the driver had been arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs after an incident in which his taxi collided with stationary vehicles. Police reported that he had also been arrested for possession of a controlled substance and that he had admitted to taking cocaine, although the driver disputed this account during the hearing.
Committee members heard that the driver claimed to have found the cocaine inside his vehicle and said he had been confused during the incident, adding that he did not recall making statements alleged by police. He confirmed he had not yet been charged, as toxicology results were still pending. Despite this, councillors noted that the standard of proof required for licensing decisions is different from the criminal threshold and focuses primarily on risk to the public.
Cornwall Council removes driver from the road after panel rules he is not fit to hold a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licence
The panel highlighted that the driver had failed to notify the council of his arrest, a requirement set out in the conditions of his licence. Members considered this a serious omission when combined with the nature of the allegations and the circumstances of the collision.
After weighing the driver’s explanation against the police evidence, councillors assessed whether they would be comfortable allowing someone they care for to be driven by the licensee at any time. They concluded they would not, citing statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards and the need to protect public safety.
The committee ultimately ruled that there was reasonable cause to revoke the licence under Section 61(2B) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, applying the revocation with immediate effect due to the risk they believed continued driving would pose.
