Manchester City Council REFUSES private hire licence over undisclosed assault caution
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 27
A licensing panel at Manchester City Council has refused a new private hire driver licence application after identifying concerns around honesty and a recent assault caution.
The decision was made during a Licensing and Appeals Sub Committee hearing on 19 January 2026, where members considered the application of an individual. Proceedings were held in private due to the confidential nature of the evidence presented.
The Licensing Unit Officer told the panel that the applicant had received a recent caution for common assault, which remained within the council’s licensing guidelines. It was also noted that the applicant failed to disclose both the caution and a previously held private hire driver licence with another authority on their application.
During the hearing, CCTV footage of the incident leading to the caution was shown. The driver admitted there was “no excuse” for their actions, confirmed they had apologised to those involved, and said they had cooperated with police following the incident.
Licensing panel raises concerns over honesty and conduct in decision to reject applicant
In response to questioning, the driver acknowledged that the omission of the caution and previous licence from their application was deliberate, stating they believed the Licensing Unit would not discover the information.
The Licensing Unit Officer summarised that the case raised significant concerns regarding the applicant's honesty, particularly given the failure to disclose relevant information and the recency of the offence.
In reaching its decision, the panel considered the council’s policy and statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards. Members concluded that the driver had attempted to mislead the authority and that the assault caution, linked to their time as a driver, remained within the relevant guidelines.
The panel determined that the driver was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver licence and refused the application.
