Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Kate Lally

This many taxi drivers had their licences revoked last year - why?

Almost forty taxi drivers and cabbies in Sefton had their licences revoked last year.

According to figures given at the council's licensing meeting this week, 38 drivers lost their licences in 2018/19.

Part of a council report reads: "The panel is also convened to consider reports and allegations of misconduct by existing licence holders.

"In 2018/19 the panel considered 68 cases in which 10 licences were allowed to remain in force, one was reinstated on appeal (after being revoked), two were suspended and 38 were revoked."

It also came to light during the meeting that taxi applications in the borough have almost doubled in the past two years.

Documents on Sefton Council's website say: "Typical reasons for refusing or revoking a licence include the possession or supply of drugs, theft, violence, offensive weapons, sexual offences and driving offences including drink & drug driving."

Last month, a Sefton driver became the 114th cabbie or private hire operator to be arrested for drink or drug driving in Merseyside in a twelve month period.

The figures - which showed more than three arrests per day on average - prompted Merseyside Police to reissue a warning to cabbies and private hire drivers that taking drugs and driving could result in losing their job, being imprisoned and even them or someone else dying.

Sefton Council says it takes such offences very seriously.

Documents on the authority's website state: "A serious view is taken of any motoring conviction for driving, attempting to drive, being in charge of a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to supply a specimen.

"More than one ‘live’ conviction of this type would generally prevent a person from being licensed for five years after the restoration of their DVLA driving licence." 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.