Dudley Council has taken a series of private hire drivers off the roads after its taxi committee found they were not 'fit and proper' to hold a licence. The committee's work throughout 2025 has revealed shocking cases, including individuals attempting to operate cabs without a valid driving licence.
Drivers Lose Licences Over Serious Offences
The council's Taxi and Private Hire Committee meets regularly, often in private to protect applicants' identities, to review licences and new applications. Minutes from its 2025 meetings, however, detail a pattern of serious misconduct leading to revocations.
In one case from March, a driver referred to as SM had his licence revoked after a review. Councillors discovered his DVLA driving licence had been withdrawn and he had failed to declare an ongoing case at Birmingham Magistrates' Court. The committee rejected his explanations and acted 'in the interests of public safety'.
Similarly, in April, driver AA lost his private hire licence. The decision was based on his numerous offences, a failure to declare them, and the fact his DVLA licence had been revoked.
Dishonesty and Inappropriate Conduct Lead to Bans
The committee's scrutiny extends beyond driving offences to issues of character and honesty. In February, an application from AM was rejected due to previous convictions for dishonesty, which he did not declare on his form. Councillors were unimpressed by his explanation and deemed him unfit.
Behaviour towards passengers also came under the spotlight. In July, a driver known as MAR was deemed unsuitable after he failed to adequately explain allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female passengers and 'plying for hire' illegally.
That same month, driver YM was refused a licence renewal after committing a serious offence by submitting false documents to the ride-hailing company Uber. Again, public safety was cited as the paramount reason.
A Stern Warning to the Trade
While the committee revoked several licences, the records show that other drivers were allowed to keep theirs after review, but were given stern warnings about their future conduct. This underscores the committee's role in both enforcement and setting standards for the local taxi trade.
The series of decisions highlights the rigorous process Dudley Council employs to ensure only safe and trustworthy individuals are permitted to ferry the public. The committee continues to meet behind closed doors, vetting all applicants and existing licence holders against the strict 'fit and proper' person test.
