Taxi driver Loses Licence For Inappropriate Behaviour

He lost his licence for inappropriate behaviour towards a lone female he was transporting from Cambridge to Ely.  

42-year-old Tariq Mehmood from Rampton Drift, Longstanton, first appeared before South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee in December 2021, after being referred by a Licensing Officer.
 
This came after the Council received a complaint from a member of the public who had been travelling on their own with Mr Mehmood in his private hire vehicle during a late-night journey from Cambridge to Ely in October 2021.

The complainant said that, as soon as the journey started, Mehmood started making comments about how “gorgeous” she was, questioned her relationship status, and when she revealed she had a boyfriend, told her to leave him and he would look after her. He also asked her to get into the front passenger seat next to him several times.

The passenger felt so vulnerable during the journey that when Mehmood insisted on getting her phone number, she gave it to him. He then called her and told her to save his number. Because of this, and his other behaviour, the passenger recorded some audio during part of the journey. When this audio was played back, Mehmood could be heard saying that she had broken his heart when she wouldn’t get into the front seat.

Mehmood attended a Council interview but denied all the allegations, including the comment he was recorded making. When the audio was played back to him, he said he couldn’t remember saying it.

His private hire licence was immediately revoked on the grounds of public safety and the South Cambridgeshire District Council Taxi Licensing Appeals Panel refused his appeal at a hearing in December 2021.

Mr Mehmood then appealed to the Magistrate’s Court, where a hearing took place on 19 May 2022. The Court decided that on the balance of probabilities he was not a fit and proper person, and the appeal was dismissed. The court awarded the Council £800 in costs.