OUR revelations today that taxi drivers in Worcester are hiding criminal convictions from the licensing authorities for up to three years are extremely worrying.
The city council – the body that approves licenses for drivers – is bringing in tough new penalties as a result of the hidden convictions.
These will see drivers who have failed to report a conviction to the council having to re-take their license test. If they pass they will then only get a one-year licence rather than the normal three-year one.
We wonder whether these sanctions are tough enough.
The rules for taxi drivers in Worcester are quite clear. If a licensed driver receives a criminal conviction it has to be reported to the council within seven days.
Yet we report today that a large number of drivers who are hauled up before the council’s licence renewal sub-committee have failed to declare convictions.
While the number of drivers appearing before the sub-committee is small it cannot be right that those who have effectively lied to keep their licence should then get the chance to continue serving the public.
We now have a scenario in which people using taxis in Worcester have no idea whether their driver is a convicted criminal.
The city council is to be congratulated for taking a stance on this issue. But we question whether the action being taken is tough enough to ensure public confidence.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel