Taxi driver licence approved despite past criminal conviction after committee review
- Perry Richardson
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
A taxi driver licence has been approved by councillors despite a previous conviction for handling criminal property, after the applicant was deemed a fit and proper person under licensing rules.
Stockton Borough Council’s General Licensing Committee considered the case, reviewing an application for a combined hackney carriage and private hire driver licence from an individual whose Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check revealed a relevant dishonesty offence.
The applicant had previously been convicted of concealing, disguising or transferring criminal property, for which he received a suspended sentence and community service. The conviction meant the application initially fell outside the council’s standard licensing policy.
During the hearing, the applicant explained the circumstances surrounding the offence, stating he had recently arrived in the UK at the time and had accepted a delivery job without fully understanding the legal implications. He told councillors he had been asked to transport a package he believed contained cash, adding that such practices were more common in his country of origin.
Councillors grant licence following assessment of applicant’s history, rehabilitation and compliance with policy thresholds
The committee heard that the applicant had cooperated fully with police during the investigation, with officers accepting his account of events. Members also explored aspects of his background, including past substance misuse, which the applicant said was limited to his younger years and no longer an issue.
Councillors noted that nearly seven years had passed since the offence and that the applicant would fall within the council’s policy guidelines for dishonesty convictions from early February 2026. The timing of the application was therefore a key factor in the committee’s deliberations.
The applicant told the panel he was seeking stable employment to support his unwell wife and build a better life, emphasising that he had learned from his past mistakes and was committed to working within the law.
After considering all evidence, the committee concluded the applicant had demonstrated sufficient rehabilitation and remorse. Members determined that he met the threshold of being a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
The licence was approved subject to standard checks, with councillors specifying it should only be issued after the date on which the conviction would no longer fall outside policy guidelines.
The decision highlights how licensing authorities assess historical convictions alongside evidence of rehabilitation, with time elapsed since offences and cooperation with authorities playing a significant role in determining suitability for taxi and private hire work.
