Taxi driver has licence revoked after '˜nuisance phone calls' to Polegate driver

The taxi driver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received nine disciplinary penalty points from Wealden District Council’s licensing sub-committee, who revealed that British Transport Police had been forced to install a CCTV camera at Polegate Station to monitor drivers at the rank.

The sub-committee was told he had already received six penalty points in 2015 after a complaint concerning misconduct over fares.

This brought the driver’s total tally of points over the limit of 12, which then requires the sub-committee to consider whether he should keep his licence or not.

The meeting of the Wealden Licensing Sub-Committee heard how the driver had harassed another driver at the Polegate Station taxi rank by making anonymous nuisance calls.

British Transport Police also installed a CCTV camera to monitor the drivers at the rank due to the ‘ongoing behaviour of some of the drivers’ – said a Wealden District Council spokesperson.

This will be used to monitor any further complaints.

Councillor Nigel Coltman, chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee, said, “We make it clear to all Wealden taxi drivers that it is important to respect their colleagues who are providing the same service and to follow taxi rank etiquette.

“However, the behaviour of this individual fell far short of what we expect from a licensed taxi driver. It involved anti-social behaviour, harassment and an investigation by Sussex Police.

“We expect all Wealden drivers to behave in a professional and courteous way, both to their customers and their fellow drivers.”

The banned driver has the right to appeal against the Licencing Sub-Committee’s decision to a Magistrates’ Court.

Only if a case is heard by the Magistrates’ Court can the driver be named.

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