Taxi driver loses licence over illegal tobacco

Redcar and Cleveland Council said the taxi driver's details would be added to a national register

A taxi driver has been stripped of his licence after being linked to illegal tobacco and vape sales.

Redcar and Cleveland Council said trading standards officials had provided information about the driver previously being involved in selling the products from retail premises.

A spokesperson said the authority did not have any evidence this happened when they were a licensed driver.

Taxi drivers can lose their licence if they have a criminal conviction but can also have it removed if the council does not consider them suitable to hold one.

The authority said the driver had a private hire licence for the borough for four months before it was revoked.

"We do not have any evidence to suggest that any sale took place while the person was a licensed driver," a spokesperson said.

'Appeared disingenuous'

In 2022, the council implemented a new policy requiring taxi drivers to submit to criminal record checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service every six months, down from three years.

But, even if a taxi driver does not have a criminal record, the council can deem them not to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

In June, Stockton Council revoked the licence of a hackney carriage and private hire driver after allegations of sexual harassment and grooming emerged.

Police took no further action but the authority's licensing committee - working to a lower standard of proof - said he "appeared disingenuous" under questioning by council officers.

Decisions to revoke a licence can be appealed against in the magistrates courts.

Taxi drivers with a revoked licence cannot apply elsewhere as their details are added to a national register.