Issue - meetings

Members were asked to consider and determine the continued fitness of Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 who was previously under investigation by North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and was currently suspended from driving licensed vehicles.

Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 attended the meeting and was given the opportunity to make representation.

Committee papers and reports had been provided to all relevant parties prior to the meeting. 

The report detailed the following:

. A copy of a disclosure detailing the arrest of Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 for the alleged drugs offences.

. A copy of an Officer delegated decision and suspension letter relating to Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792.

. A copy of an updated disclosure from Cleveland Police.

. A copy of an interview plan with planned questions for Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792, and a copy of the summary transcript during interview with Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792.

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

Members of the Council’s General Licensing Committee considered all of the information before them, full details of which appeared before the Members in their agenda and background papers.

The Committee understood that the matter before them was to determine the continued fitness of Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 as detailed within the Officers Committee report.

The Committee heard that the disclosure from Cleveland Police confirmed that Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 was arrested by police on 26th July 2022, for the alleged offences of:-

•           2 x ‘Produce controlled drug – class B – cannabis’; and

•           ‘Facilitate the acquisition/acquire/possess criminal property’; and

•           ‘Participate in the criminal activities of an on organised crime group’.

The Committee were told that it was alleged that Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 was involved in the production of cannabis, was suspected to have assisted Albanian organised crime groups to send money out of the UK and booking flights for Albanian’s using false identification.

The Committee heard that due to the seriousness of the allegations, Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792’s drivers’ licence was suspended on 23rd August 2022. Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 appealed this decision to the Magistrates’ Court. The Committee were advised that the appeal was determined on the 6th January 2023; Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792’s appeal was unsuccessful.

The Committee were told that on 9th November 2023, an update was received confirming that the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) were not taking any further action against Combined Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver – 103792 in relation to the matters for which he was arrested.

The Committee heard that as per standard procedure, a copy of the police file was requested from NEROCU  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29