Private hire driver has licence suspended after returning from Pakistan and failing to self isolate

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A private hire driver who lives in Bolton and works in Bury, has had his licence suspended after returning from a trip to Pakistan and failing to self isolate.

The unnamed driver completed 12 private hire trips during a period when he should have been in quarantine, and then when challenged by a licensing officer, lied, claiming that he was not working.

Bury Council‘s licensing committee heard that the driver returned back from Pakistan on 13 October. On his return, he was expected to self-isolate for 14 days, but instead returned to work.

A report presented to the licensing committee said: ‘The officer phoned and asked him whether he was working, he replied ‘no’.

'She asked if he was aware that he should be self isolating for 14 days, he replied that he was aware.

'The officer then contacted the client’s operator, who confirmed that the driver had worked on October 15 and provided booking records to show that he completed 12 jobs between 5pm and 10.30pm.

'She called again and asked him why he had just lied when asked whether he had been working.

'He replied that he had a negative test so he could go to work.

'The officer advised him that a negative test made no difference to the fact that he must be self isolating and that as well as obstructing an officer he had also put members of the public at risk.'

The driver was issued a fixed penalty for failing to follow COVID-19 self isolation government guidelines, after a report was made to Greater Manchester Police Bolton Covid Unit.

Bury’s taxi and private hire licensing committee suspended the driver from operating as a private hire driver for six months with immediate effect.