A HEREFORD taxi driver has been suspended by Hereford-shire Council following his conviction for a racially-aggravated public order offence involving another taxi driver.

Hereford magistrates, who heard the case following a complaint made to police about Clive Goodwin by a fellow taxi driver, imposed a two-year community order with 200 hours compulsory unpaid work, compensation and a fine.

Herefordshire Council has a statutory duty to ensure that all hackney and private hire drivers are deemed fit and proper persons to hold such a licence, and the decision was taken to suspend Mr Good-win's licence following his conviction, in order to protect public safety.

A review of Mr Goodwin's suspension will take place at the next regulatory committee meeting, at which councillors will vote to decide if he meets the fit and proper test and so qualifies to have the suspension lifted.

Claire Berrow, licensing officer for Herefordshire Council, said: "We take very seriously all relevant convictions and we take a hard line on drivers who are convicted during the term of their licence.

"Taxi drivers are warned that it is a condition of their licence that they notify the taxi licensing unit if they are involved in any incident which is likely to lead to caution or conviction.

Such incidents include pending investigations in which the police are involved."