Issue - meetings

To determine a private hire/hackney carriage driver’s licence.

Items 4 and 5 were dealt with in tandem.

The Enforcement Officer gave a summary of the reports.

On 20 April 2019, the Council received an email from Essex Police reporting that the Police had received a report from a female who alleged that she had been in a taxi where the driver had offered her money for sexual favours. The alleged victim did not provide a witness statement to the Police as she was unwilling to go through the procedure and to go to Court. She had consumed alcohol on the evening but did not appear to be heavily intoxicated and was able to communicate with the Officers when they saw her. The morning after the journey the female passenger did post a message on a local crime page on Facebook warning other customers about travelling with the driver.

The complainant attended the Council Offices on 29 April 2019 and met the Enforcement Officer who assisted her in supplying a witness statement. She confirmed that she got in the front of the vehicle and recognised the driver who she knew to be a taxi driver around Saffron Walden. She told him where she wanted to be dropped off and he proceeded to drive. The driver then offered her money in return for sexual favours.

The complainant then said the driver drove very slowly along her road almost on purpose. She asked how much the fare was as she could not see a meter and he told her it was £5. She stated that she did not have quite enough and paid him just over £4 and she would give him the rest when she sees him on the taxi rank, which he apparently agreed to. The driver was still allegedly very persistent and the complainant said she would think about it so that she could get out of the vehicle. She then claimed that she went to exit the vehicle but it was locked and he then grabbed her tight arm and said he would wait. The driver then allegedly asked if she had his number and she said no and he gave her his business card with his phone number on.

When she got in her house she spoke to members of her family and decided to call the Police who attended soon after. She confirmed that she photographed the business card and emailed it to the Police.

The driver attended a meeting with the Enforcement Officer and the Environmental Health Manager Protection on 30 April 2019, to discuss the allegations. The driver confirmed that he did pick up the passenger from outside the Old English Gentleman pub and transported the passenger home about five minutes later. The driver said that the fare was £5 and whilst in the car the passenger realised that she had no money in her purse. The driver said that she tried to leave without paying. When she attempted to leave the driver claimed that he told her to pay and she became  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4