Posted on the 10th December 2025 in PHTM News
CORNWALL TAXI DRIVERS LOSE LICENCES AFTER DRUG DRIVING ARRESTS AND SPEEDING SPREE
Several taxi drivers in Cornwall have had their licences revoked or refused following serious misconduct, including being arrested for driving on cocaine and then smashing into cars, according to minutes from Cornwall Council's licensing sub-committees.
The council regularly holds meetings to hear pleas for new or renewed taxi licences, with urgent private meetings scheduled when offences have been committed.
An urgent driver sub-committee on November 13 heard details of two separate cases where drivers had their licences revoked “in order to promote public safety due to the conduct of the driver.”
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Driver A had been arrested for driving while unfit through drink/drugs and possession of a controlled substance. Police evidence stated that Driver A had been driving his hackney carriage when he "had driven into stopped vehicles" and “had admitted to taking cocaine.” The driver denied taking cocaine, claiming he had found the drug in his vehicle and was confused at the time.
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Driver B, who was not present, had their licence revoked for almost exactly the same reasons, including being arrested for driving while unfit through drink/drugs and possession of a controlled substance. Police stated that Driver B had been driving his taxi at the time, “admitted to taking cocaine” and was “found in possession of drugs in his vehicle.”
In both cases, members noted the drivers’ submissions that they had not yet been charged with an offence as they were awaiting blood test results.
Separately, on October 31, Driver E had his licence revoked with “immediate effect” after he failed a roadside drug test, testing positive for cannabis and cocaine. Councillors noted his submission that he was awaiting blood test results but felt the roadside failure was “serious and impacted on public safety.”
Other drivers faced consequences for different reasons:
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Driver D had his licence renewal refused after receiving “nine points for speeding within a one-month period.”The committee was concerned by this “pattern of behaviour,” noting that the nine points related to three separate occasions. Driver D had also “failed to notify the council of any of the endorsements” despite it being a licence condition and “accepted he was in the wrong and that he was sorry.”
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Applicant C was refused a new hackney carriage and private hire licence after HR Safeguarding stated they did not consider the applicant to be a suitable taxi driver. Councillors concluded that, based on the information, they would not “allow a person for whom they care... to travel alone in a vehicle driven by Applicant C at any time of the day or night.”
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