Issue - meetings

For Members to consider the conduct of a Private Hire / Hackney Carriage (Joint) Driver in respect of additional information which was disclosed on his Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Certificate at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

The Sub-Committee resolved to adjourn the hearing in order to allow further enquiries to be made of the Chief Constable and to allow the driver to produce his Solicitor’s correspondence with North Wales Police relating to the ongoing challenge which may be of assistance to the Sub-Committee.

The Licensing Officer presented the report to consider the conduct of a Private Hire/Hackney Carriage (Joint) Driver in respect of additional information disclosed on his Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Certificate at the discretion of the Chief of Police.  The report detailed the key considerations involving the reasons for the hearing, the written representation provided by the licence holder and relevant sections of the Council’s adopted guidance on the treatment of convictions, cautions and other recorded sanctions.  Prior to the meeting, the Licensing Officer had also shared with the panel a press article relating to the licence holder’s conduct on a previous occasion.

In response to questions from the panel and Solicitor, the licence holder provided clarification on events leading up to his decision to initiate contact with the Police.  The licence holder accepted that he had engaged in communications in an adult chat room but denied sending any videos or images and denied that the communications amounted to criminal conduct.  The licence holder did not know who had complained to the Police or why they would do so.  He was unable to explain why the messages were said to have included his telephone number although mentioned that such information may be in the public domain.  He said that whilst he co-operated with the Police, he chose to give a “no comment” interview in accordance with advice from his Solicitor. The Police investigation of the allegations made against the licence holder concluded that no further action would be taken against him.

Following that outcome, the licence holder said that retention of the disclosure on his Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) form had caused him considerable distress.  Whilst he accepted that the Licensing Authority could have regard to relevant information disclosed at the discretion of the Chief Constable, he reiterated that there were no charges, convictions or cautions arising from the Police investigation and was subject to ongoing legal challenge through his Solicitor.  The licence holder explained the circumstances of the newspaper report and said that it did not relate to the information disclosed in the DBS.

When asked by the Chairman if he wished to make further representations, the licence holder thanked the panel for their consideration and urged them to take account of the facts; that the information had remained on his DBS form despite the outcome of the Police investigation.  He spoke about his willingness to provide reassurance to the panel in order to move on from what had been a difficult period in his life.

When the Chairman was satisfied that all relevant questions had been raised, he asked that the licence holder and the Licensing Officer leave the meeting to enable the panel to reach a decision.

5.1       Determination of the Application

In determining the application, the panel took into account all written and verbal representations together with the Council’s Guidance on the Treatment of Convictions, Cautions, Criminal Charges or other recorded sanctions and the Statutory  Disclosure Guidance.  The panel considered the options available  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5