Hundreds of convicted criminals – including a rapist and paedophile – have been grantedtaxi licences by Manchester City Council, the Manchester Evening News (M.E.N) has revealed.
Findings show that a total of 292 licences were approved for those with a shady past between 2007 and 2013, with offences ranging from dangerous driving and violent behaviour, to sexual assault. Information sourced by the newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act, reveals that in 2007 a convicted rapist was passed as “being a fit and proper person to hold such a licence,” whilst another licensee had been found guilty of having sex with a boy under the age of sixteen.
Local Reaction
The news has shocked many of those in the industry, with Trafford-based Paul Brent of The National Taxi Association opposed to the decisions made by Manchester City Council. He commented: “For me, anybody with a proven sexual offence shouldn’t be moving vulnerable people and disabled children around. The city council should make it a policy that they don’t grant licences to sex offenders.”
A spokesman for the Council responded to the allegations stating: “We take certain kinds of offences, including dishonesty and sexual offences, incredibly seriously, and it’s very rare for people who have committed these offences to obtain a licence.” There are currently a number of factors which are taken into account when deciding whether or not a convicted criminal is granted a licence including the individual’s age, when the offence was committed and the date of conviction. The Council confirmed that no one currently on the sex offenders register is driving a taxi in the city. However, further steps are being taken in the form of a “root and branch” review to investigate how sex offenders had been granted licences in the past.
Moving forward
John Flanagan, a councillor for the City and Acting Executive Member for Licensing, is confident that Manchester City Council will tighten vetting procedures for drivers, but was taken aback at the findings. He said: “I was horrified when I saw these allegations in the M.E.N. We take them very seriously,” adding “There are over 6,500 drivers in Manchester who work hard for their families […] Am I confident they are decent people? Yes I am. But we can’t rest on our laurels.”
With the number of convicted criminal cabbies operating in the city in their hundreds, concern for those vulnerable people coming into contact with them – including children, disabled people, and lone women – is high. Cllr John Longsden, the chair of Manchester City Council’s Licensing Committee, made it clear that he is taking a firm line in light of the news: “Under our regime, anyone with a whiff of sexual impropriety will not be getting a licence or their existing one renewed.”