NOT FIT AND PROPER: Private hire driver licence refused after texting passenger asking if they was single
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A local authority licensing committee has refused an application for a private hire driver licence after complaints the driver contacted a passenger to ask them if they was single.
The decision was taken by Bolton Council’s Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee on 18 November 2025. Members voted unanimously to refuse the application following consideration of a report submitted by the Director of Place and representations made by the applicant in person.
Councillors were told that the case centred on inappropriate behaviour towards a passenger, including unsolicited text messages asking if she was single, followed by further contact after a complaint had been made. The applicant accepted that his actions were wrong.
The committee also noted that the applicant had failed to attend mandatory safeguarding training despite receiving reminders. At the time of the hearing, there was no evidence that the training had been completed, which members regarded as a significant compliance failure for someone seeking to work in the private hire sector.
Councillors reject application after finding the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver licence.
Further concerns were raised about licensing breaches, including plying-for-hire by returning to pick up the complainant without a booking through his licensed operator. The committee was advised that such activity would invalidate private hire vehicle insurance and represents a serious breach of licence conditions.
A motion to refuse the application was proposed and seconded, with all councillors present voting in favour. No action was taken in relation to the applicant’s vehicle licence, as the matter before members related solely to the driver application.
In setting out its reasons, the committee concluded there was reasonable cause to refuse the licence on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver licence at this time.
