Issue - meetings

Members were asked to consider and determine the continued fitness of

combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597 due to the driver videoing a police incident involving a female which had been captured on Stockton Councils Public Space CCTV.

Combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597 and his representative Mr Siddique attended the meeting and were given the opportunity to make representation.

Sergeant 2315 Smith, of Cleveland Police attended the meeting as a witness and was given the opportunity to make representation.

Committee papers and reports had been provided to all relevant parties prior to the meeting as well as additional documents submitted by Mr Siddique.

The report detailed the following:

- The CCTV referral

- a police officer witness statement

- a PCSO witness statement

- copies of dialogue between combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597’s representative Mr Siddique and Licensing Officers

- notes relating to a phone call between Mr Siddique and officers

- a copy of a letter sent to combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597 inviting him for an interview

- a copy of a complaint made against a police officer by combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597

- a copy of a written response and e mail to interview questions

- a copy of a travel document to Saudi Arabia which was not signed by combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597.

The Chair introduced everyone present and explained the procedure to be followed during the hearing.

Combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597’s representative, Mr Siddique made an application for deferment of the Committee hearing until the outcome of combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597’s ongoing complaint to Cleveland Police was known. Mr Siddique submitted that, in his view, the outcome of the complaint may change the weight that the Committee would give to the officer’s evidence.

The Committee felt that it was important to determine the matter, particularly as the licensing team’s investigation had begun in January 2026, and had not been resolved, despite extensive correspondence between Mr Siddique and the licensing team. The Committee noted that their focus was on combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597’s conduct, and whether they deemed him to be a fit and proper person, rather than the conduct of a police officer. The Committee determined that the application for deferment should be refused and the hearing proceeded.

Combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597 and his representative Mr Siddique appeared before the Committee for Members to determine what action to take and whether on the balance of probabilities combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 140597 remained a fit and proper person to hold a combined hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licence with this authority following the receipt of evidence indicating he had videoed a police incident involving a female and which had also been captured on Stockton Councils Public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12