Luton Council has successfully defended its decision to revoke a hackney carriage drivers licence after an incident in which a lone female passenger was locked inside a taxi driver’s vehicle and only released once an inflated fare had been paid.
The case, which was heard at St Albans Magistrates Court on 4 September, concerned Mr. Mohammad Razak of Waller Avenue, Luton, whose hackney carriage driver’s licence was revoked in October 2024
Mr Razak appealed the council’s decision to immediately revoke his licence. However, the district judge upheld the council’s decision, ruling that the driver’s actions had left the passenger distressed and trapped, and therefore Mr Razak was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
Councillor Hazel Simmons, Leader of Luton Council, said: “We take the safeguarding of the public extremely seriously and do not tolerate any form of violence, intimidation, or abuse, particularly towards women and girls. We are pleased that the decision to revoke the licence was upheld, which reinforces our commitment to ensuring that only safe and responsible drivers are licensed and that people feel safe when using taxis in Luton.”
As this was an immediate revocation, Mr. Razak has not been permitted to drive members of the public since October 2024.
