Taxi drivers warned over behaviour - The Stratford Observer

Taxi drivers warned over behaviour

Stratford Editorial 4th Nov, 2014 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

TAXI drivers will not be allowed behind the wheel in Stratford district if they fail to meet required standards of behaviour.

That is the clear message from Stratford District Council, which issues licences to drivers, after magistrates upheld a decision to revoke a licence.

Paul Gardner of Blackwell, Shipston, appeared before Warwickshire Magistrates Court to appeal against the council’s decision to revoke his dual Hackney carriage and Private Hire driver’s licence following complaints about his behaviour.

The 44 year-old’s conviction for a public order offence of harassment, three separate complaints from passengers in his taxi, and verbally abusing members of council staff, resulted in him being deemed not a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold a dual driver’s licence.




The court upheld the district council’s Licensing Panel’s decision and ordered him to pay £2,000 towards costs.

Coun Gillian Roache, the council’s community safety spokeswoman, said: “We welcome the result of this case and the confirmation that the District Council’s decision to revoke this man’s licence was the right one.


“A taxi driver is in a very key position of trust and we take any allegation of any kind very seriously. The protection of the travelling public is of paramount importance to the district council and we will continue to prosecute people who put members of the public at risk.

“People have the right to expect a courteous and safe driver and the court’s decision sends a strong signal in support of that.”

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