Posted on the 24th September 2026 in PHTM News

THE COUNCIL MIGHT BE LEGALLY RIGHT BUT IS IT FAIR?

Dear PHTM - I am hoping someone could give me some advice on a matter with our local licensing authority.

"We have a driver with a Hackney Carriage / Private hire badge. He has been licensed for approx 26 years with a clean record.

Driver was anonymously accused of interfering with a female minor. Driver was arrested and bailed pending police inquiry.

Driver was immediately taken off all taxi private hire work and our local authority immediately revoked his HC/PH drivers licence.

Police have now concluded their investigation and found allegation to be false, with no evidence and no case to answer.

We have applied back to our local authority to have his licence reinstated. Council have said his licence was revoked, so this driver will have to put in a new application for his licence which will cost £521.00 - His old licence had 18 months to run.

Was it legal for our Local licensing authority to revoke his licence or should they have suspended it pending police enquiry?"

David Lawrie , Director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association – NPHTA – https://www.nphta.co.uk said: “Unfortunately, the council is right. Due to the nature of the accusation, they were duty bound to revoke his licence and because his licence has been revoked it cannot be reinstated and therefore, he will have to apply for a new licence.

"However, under the circumstances if his DBS and medical are still valid it may be worth asking whether these can be accepted for the new application. Some councils may also waive certain requirements, such as repeating the knowledge test or safeguarding training. although they are not obliged to do this.”


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