Skip to main content

Taxi updates

This page is for general updates for drivers, proprietors and operators who are licensed with Plymouth City Council

Safeguarding

Taxi Driver stops resident getting scammed

Quick thinking by a Plymouth private hire driver and one of our Customer Services Advisors has saved a vulnerable resident from being scammed out of more than £1,000.

The council received a call from the taxi driver who had concerns that an elderly lady was being scammed after she told him that a man claiming to be from the Council told her she needed to pay £1800 for work on her drains.  If you would like more information please watch this video

Taxi Licensing Committee Meetings

Public Safety is our priority and Members take any matters that are referred to them very seriously. 

There is a scheduled committee meeting every month for Members to consider new applications or to hear reports from Enforcement Officers and to consider whether a person is still ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence.  This could be following complaints, non-compliance with the Policy or legal requirements or from information we have received from external agencies. 

The minutes from each Committee meeting are published on our website, however limited detail may be provided if they are considered to be confidential: -

Recent Committee Appeal Cases

If someone is not happy with the decision made by the Members at the Taxi Licensing Committee, then they can appeal to the Magistrates Court within 21 days. 

The following cases have recently been heard due to an appeal:

Revoked taxi drivers appeal dismissed at Crown Court

A taxi driver who had his licence revoked has had an appeal against the decision dismissed by Plymouth Crown Court.

Hackney Carriage driver, Servet Bayar, 32, of Taunton Avenue, Plymouth had his licence taken away from him by the Council’s Taxi Licensing Committee in August 2018 following a series of complaints about overcharging, failure to negotiate a fare and abusive behaviour towards a passenger.  

A number of complaints were also received by the taxi licensing team following Mr Bayar’s revocation.  

The case was dismissed by Plymouth Magistrates Court in February 2019 leading Mr Bayar to appeal this decision in the Crown Court.

The Crown Court also dismissed the appeal and awarded partial costs of £1300 to the Council. 

The Judge HHJ Townsend, concluded that Mr Bayar did not reflect fully on his behaviour and was largely in denial that he had done anything wrong.  The Judge considered the number of complaints that have been received over a short period of time and applied the ‘safe and suitable’ test, concluding that Mr Bayar was not a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage driving licence and dismissed the appeal.

Councillor Sally Haydon, the Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety said:  “This is the second appeal by a taxi driver to the Crown Court in the last year and it’s reassuring to find that the judge agrees with decisions made by our committee members.

The Council’s prime consideration is public safety and we must ensure that taxi drivers are suitable to hold a licence.

“A significant number of people need to use taxis so we need to ensure all of our drivers and vehicle owners comply with the law and provide a safe and comfortable journey.

To report an issue about a taxi or private hire driver/vehicle visit our website.

Revoked taxi drivers appeal dismissed at Crown Court

A taxi driver who had his licence revoked has had an appeal against the decision dismissed by Plymouth Crown Court.

Hackney Carriage driver, Kenan Aktas of Elliot Road, Prince Rock, had his licence taken away from him by the Council’s Taxi Licensing Committee in June 2018 following a series of complaints about his standard of driving and overcharging customers. 

These complaints included reports about speeding in a built up area which made passengers ‘terrified’; and an occasion where he was driving too fast requiring him to brake hard to avoid going through red lights on more than one occasion.

The case was dismissed by Plymouth Magistrates court on 17 January 2019 leading Mr Aktas appealed the decision in the Crown Court.

On Friday, the Crown Court also dismissed the appeal and awarded full costs of £3,223.09 to the Council.

Recorder Mr Andrew Langdon QC concluded that having considered the evidence a fresh and whilst appreciating the stress that Mr Aktas had been under, there was no tolerance for poor driving. 

The Judge had applied the “safe and suitable” test and concluded that that Mr Aktas’ licence was rightly revoked by the Taxi Licensing Committee. 

Councillor Sally Haydon, the Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety “This is a very good result and gives confidence that the decisions made by members are the right decisions when it comes to the council’s main aim which is protecting the public.

“Taxis are a vital component of the public transport system that provides a door-to-door service which is relied upon by a significant number of users.

“For many visitors the journey they make in a licensed vehicle will play a significant part in forming an initial perception of the city and so our licensed drivers play an important role in the future economic success of the city as a business and visitor destination specifically in the build up to Mayflower 400.

“We therefore want to ensure all of our drivers and vehicle owners are complying with the law and are providing a safe and comfortable journey.”

To report an issue about a taxi or private hire driver/vehicle visit the complaints section our website.

Recent Prosecutions

Private hire driver banned from driving for no insurance

A private hire driver who picked up and ferried passengers while not insured has been disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £500.

Driver Grzegorz Sliwka (39) of Cranbourne Avenue, Lipson, was found guilty at Plymouth magistrates to two charges of driving without insurance over two periods 17 July to 23 August and 30 August to 17 September last year.

In total he made 581 journeys carrying fare paying passengers during periods when he did not have any vehicle insurance for his private hire vehicle.

The case was bought following an investigation by the Council’s taxi licensing team who were awarded £1,000 towards their costs of the case. Sliwka was also ordered to pay a £32 victim charge.

The court was told that having valid motor vehicle insurance is fundamental to all drivers and licensed drivers in particular should be aware of the potential for harm, which could be caused by failing to have adequate motor vehicle insurance cover in place.  Was this actually said in court?

The Council will now review the status of his private hire driver licence at the next Taxi Licensing Committee hearing.   

Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety said:  “Most of us would be really worried if we realised we were travelling in a car which was not insured, so it’s doubling shocking to learn that this was a professional licensed driver who failed to have his vehicle insured.

 “Our taxi licensing team exist to ensure that all passengers who use taxi or private hire vehicles can do so knowing that they are safe and that they are abiding by laws which are there to protect us. We can and do investigate issues.”

To report an issue about a taxi or private hire driver/vehicle visit out complaints page.

National Court Cases

McNutt V Transport for London

A taxi driver has lost an appeal over his conviction of an offence under the Equality Act 2010 of making an additional charge for a disabled person in a wheelchair.  Full details can be found at England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions.

Updates

Don’t forget to read your drivers handbooks as they contain a lot of information and a section on Frequently Asked Questions.  If you can’t locate your copy then please see our Taxi policy guidance and byelaws page.

Taking Wheelchair passengers

Taxi’s are a vital service to enable wheelchair users to be taken directly from their home to their destination.  You are providing a very important service and we thank drivers for providing a great service.  Unfortunately, we have received a number of complaints recently involving drivers refusing to take wheelchairs.  Please read the section in your drivers handbooks which cover this in detail and refer to our transporting wheelchair users page. 

There are very few situations where you can refuse a wheelchair.  If you have a medical condition that prevents you from doing so then you must apply for a medical exemption.  If you require an exemption, please read the wheelchair exemption guidance and complete the application form which can be found on our tell us of any changes page.

You must not charge any additional costs for taking a wheelchair and must not start the meter until the passenger has been strapped in securely. 

You cannot refuse an electric wheelchair without a reasonable excuse for doing so e.g. the wheelchair is too heavy or too big to fit in your vehicle.  There are a number of electric wheelchairs that are the same size as a standard wheelchair and these should not be refused.

Please ensure you all know how to secure a wheelchair properly.  This would have been included in your NVQ training.  It should also be included in your vehicle manufacturer handbook or if not, then you must find out from the manufacturers of your straps or from a competent person.  

Taking Guide Dogs

You cannot refuse to take a guide dog unless you have a medical exemption. 

Tell us of any changes

Please ensure you let us know if you have changed address or operator or if you have received any points or convictions on your licence.  Please complete the online forms on our tell us of any changes page.