Kirklees Council’s “draconian” Fitness and Suitability Policy is under review as drivers call for change following a successful appeal.

The policy, which was slammed as ‘pure racism’ by taxi drivers fearing for their livelihoods at a council meeting last year, can lead to licences being revoked if more than six penalty points are accumulated. The council said the policy aims to ensure ‘the safety of the travelling public.’

Taxi drivers urged the council to review their policy when last October, a member of the West Yorkshire Drivers’ Association successfully appealed against the council’s decision to revoke their licence in line with its Fitness and Suitability Policy.

The driver won the case, had their licence reinstated and was awarded full costs of £1,800. Since then, the council has put the policy up for review, though Councillor Will Simpson (Labour, Denby Dale) says this decision was unrelated to the case, and had already been decided in Autumn last year.

Yasar Ahmed, from the West Yorkshire Drivers’ Association, said: “In the recent few months before the Consultation of Kirklees Council’s suitability policy for Private and Hackney Drivers, it was always met with reluctance to change and review the terms of the current draconian and unfair policy. 

“No other driver-led organisation is required to resign after acquiring six points on their licence. No other driver-led organisation is required to provide a “good conduct” certificate from another country of destination if a driver has to travel on holiday or in many cases sort out bereavement services as many elder relatives of the drivers live outside of the UK. 

“We are forced to take a stand and use our democratic right to urge Councils to retake a look at the policy as no other profession other than the Police, Prison Service or Armed Forces is required to take such stringent measures. We are working-class men and women just trying to make a living. We can’t continue to be held in such inflexible guidance when no other driver profession is.”

According to the current policy, a licence holder must be “a fit and proper person.” Their suitability is determined following a detailed examination of their character. If an applicant does not fulfil the required criteria, legislation states that a licence must not be granted.

The policy is based on standards by the Department for Transport which describes taxis and private hire vehicles as a “high-risk environment.”

That guidance states: “In terms of risks to passengers, this can be seen in abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults facilitated and, in some cases, perpetrated by the trade and the number of sexual crimes which involve taxi and private hire drivers.”

As a result of the policy, campaigners for the taxi trade explained that drivers in Kirklees, the majority of whom are Asian, are being “stereotyped as sex predators.”

In March last year, campaigner Akooji Badat was concerned that drivers in Kirklees were being tarnished by the cases of child sexual exploitation that took place in Rotherham and Rochdale involving taxi drivers.

On the decision to review the policy, Councillor Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees said: “The current Fitness and Suitability Policy related to the licensing of private hire and hackney carriage drivers has been in place since August 2019. It is normal practice for this policy to be reviewed every three years which was highlighted at a meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee members in July 2022. A further meeting of this committee in Autumn last year agreed to consult on a revised policy, given its last review date.

“Results of the consultation will provide insight into public opinion on the proposed changes to the policy as well as giving respondents an opportunity to give their views on whether any further changes are required. We encourage people to take part in the consultation which is live now till 15 February via https://online1.snapsurveys.com/kirklees-policy.”