Fareham private hire driver licence APPROVED despite missing overseas conduct certificate
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A private hire driver licence has been granted to an applicant despite the absence of a certificate of good conduct from overseas authorities, following a Fareham Borough Council licensing panel decision that cited an extensive period of good behaviour in the UK.
The ruling was made during a Licensing Panel meeting on 14 April 2026, where members considered the case of an applicant referred to as Mr B.
The panel heard that the applicant had been unable to obtain formal documentation from Sierra Leone and Gambia, despite attempts to do so. He explained that he had lived across Sierra Leone, Guinea and Gambia before arriving in the UK in 2000, having moved between countries from a young age after fleeing conflict.
Licensing policy typically requires applicants who have spent significant time abroad to provide a certificate of good conduct to verify their criminal history. However, in this case, the panel accepted that obtaining such documentation was not possible due to limitations within the relevant authorities.
Panel grants licence after ruling applicant’s 26-year clean UK record outweighs documentation gap
A key factor in the decision was the applicant’s record since arriving in the UK. The panel noted that Mr B had lived in the country for 26 years without any criminal convictions, describing this as a sustained period free from incident or concern.
On that basis, members determined the case to be exceptional and agreed to depart from standard policy requirements. The panel concluded that the applicant met the “fit and proper person” test under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
The decision reflects the discretion available to licensing authorities when assessing individual circumstances, particularly where strict policy application may not be proportionate.
The application was approved, granting the applicant a private hire driver licence, with a statutory right of appeal available to the Magistrates’ Court should any party wish to challenge the outcome.
