Private hire licence application REFUSED over non-fatal strangulation allegations on wife
- Perry Richardson
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
A local authority licensing committee has refused an application for a private hire driver licence after concluding that an applicant posed a risk to the travelling public following an alleged non-fatal strangulation on his wife.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee on 6 January 2026 following consideration of a report submitted by the Director of Place.
According to the published minutes, the application related to an individual seeking a licence to drive a private hire vehicle. The applicant attended the meeting and was given the opportunity to address councillors before a decision was reached.
Members unanimously voted to refuse the application. The motion, proposed by Councillor Moncado-Sears and seconded by Councillor Donaghy, was supported by all councillors present, with no votes against and no abstentions.
Councillors ruled an applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence following consideration of a 2022 domestic assault arrest
In reaching its decision, the committee considered an incident in 2022 in which the applicant was arrested following a complaint made by his wife alleging assault and non-fatal strangulation. While the complainant later indicated that she did not wish to pursue the matter, councillors determined that, on the balance of probabilities, a serious incident had taken place.
The minutes state that the applicant denied the allegation. However, the committee found this denial not to be credible and attached weight to the nature of the arrest and the circumstances outlined in the report before them.
Councillors also recorded explicit concern about the potential risk to passengers should a licence be granted. The committee concluded that there was reasonable cause to refuse the application on public safety grounds, applying the statutory “fit and proper person” test used in taxi and private hire licensing decisions.
The refusal means the applicant is not permitted to drive a licensed private hire vehicle. Any future application would be expected to be assessed against the authority’s licensing policy and guidance in force at that time, including consideration of past conduct and safeguarding risks.
