Stockton-on-Tees grants one taxi driver application but rejects a second based on past conduct and policy thresholds
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 10
Two private hire driver applications were reviewed by the General Licensing Committee on 25 March 2025. The cases raised different issues around police involvement, historic convictions and the interpretation of local policy, resulting in contrasting outcomes.
The first application considered came from an individual, who sought the reinstatement of a combined hackney carriage and private hire licence after revocation in June 2024. The original revocation followed the applicant’s arrest in May 2024 on serious allegations, including causing grievous bodily harm, assault and engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour in a family relationship.
A common law disclosure notice had been received by the council from Cleveland Police, along with details of the applicant’s arrest and bail conditions. However, the committee was also presented with a letter from Cleveland Police confirming that no further action had been taken following the investigation.
The applicant denied the allegations throughout and had maintained his innocence since the time of his arrest. To support his case, he provided several forms of evidence, including WhatsApp messages with his ex-wife, bank statements and a translated audio recording of a conversation.
After reviewing the documentation and questioning the applicant during the hearing, members determined that he had demonstrated honesty and transparency. The committee concluded that there was insufficient evidence to uphold the concerns that had led to the original revocation and that, on balance, the applicant was a fit and proper person to be licensed.
The licence was granted, conditional on the applicant completing all remaining stages of the application process. The committee reminded the applicant that holding a licence was a privilege and that any future conduct bringing the council into disrepute could lead to revocation.
The second case involved an application from an individual who sought a private hire driver licence but had two recent DVLA endorsements. These related to driving without a full licence and driving without insurance, both recorded on 4 January 2022, for which he received eight penalty points and a fine of £660 in July 2022.
According to the council’s licensing policy, major traffic offences such as these require a four-year conviction-free period before an application can normally be granted. This meant that, under policy, the earliest eligible date would be July 2026.
During the hearing, the applicant explained the background to the convictions. He said he had only a provisional licence at the time and was helping an unwell friend by delivering food. The applicant told officers that he was unaware of the requirement to be accompanied as a learner driver. He added that he had worked as a taxi driver for five years in his home country and wanted to pursue the same profession in the UK.
The applicant also completed a drug screening test at the time of interview, which returned a negative result.
Despite this, the committee found that there were no exceptional circumstances that would justify a departure from policy. Members expressed concern that the offences involved both driving alone as an unlicensed driver and being uninsured, which are considered serious safety risks. They noted that the four-year threshold in the policy was clear and had not yet elapsed.
The application was therefore refused.
