.jpg)
FIT AND PROPER: South Cambridgeshire PHV driver keeps licence after council reviews racism and misogyny incident that led to police departure
South Cambridgeshire District Council has taken no further action against a private hire driver whose licensing status was reviewed following an incident involving racist and misogynistic conversation.
The council’s Licensing Review Panel met on 23 September to determine whether the individual remained a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver licence. After hearing representations from the driver and a licensing officer, the three-member panel decided, on the balance of probabilities, that the driver continued to meet the required standard.
The minutes do not provide details of what was said during the incident. They do, however, state that the matter had resulted in the driver leaving the police force and that it occurred in a social environment where the driver believed they were among people regarded as friends and family.
According to the panel’s recorded reasons, the driver told councillors they would not engage in that type of conversation with somebody travelling in their vehicle whom they did not know well or have a close relationship with. The panel also recorded that the incident was a one-off and had not been repeated.
Councillors were told the driver had served for 17 years in the police force, including work within multi-ethnic communities. The minutes state that no other racial or misogynistic complaints had been made against the individual during that period. The panel also considered that the driver had demonstrated remorse and found their verbal evidence credible.
In reaching its decision, the panel considered Section 51 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Department for Transport’s Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards and South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. It also considered the licensing officer’s report, legal advice and oral evidence from the driver.
Despite deciding that no licensing action was necessary, councillors issued a firm statement about the standards expected from licensed drivers. The panel said racism and misogyny were “completely unacceptable and reprehensible”, adding that council licence holders were expected to treat members of the public with dignity and respect and that discrimination would not be accepted.
