Ashford taxi driver loses appeal against revocation of taxi driver’s licence

Margate Magistrates Court heard an appeal against the revocation of a taxi driver’s licence by Ashford Borough Council.

In evidence presented by the council on Friday 22 November 2024, the court heard that the driver, Mr Tashil Hashemi, who had held a licence since 2011, had become the authority’s “most complained about driver”.

Council representatives told the court that Mr Hashemi had a history of complaints and allegations made against him, including:

• rude and abusive language / behaviour towards customers, security staff on NHS premises, and civil enforcement officers,
• refusal of fares,
• poor driving standards, including driving without due care and attention,
• using a taxi rank as a parking space outside of a shop premises also occupied by the driver, and,
• obstructive behaviour towards Licensing Officers.

The council’s Regulatory Sub-Committee had therefore taken the decision, in January 2024, to revoke his driver’s licence.

The court heard that Mr Hashemi appealed against the council’s decision on the basis that he did not agree that he could not be considered ‘fit and proper’ to continue to hold a licence.

Mr Hashemi represented himself during the hearing, with assistance from a ‘McKenzie Friend’ (a person who provides assistance to an individual representing themselves in a court case. The McKenzie Friend is not a legal professional, but rather a layperson who can offer practical support to the unrepresented litigant).

Mr Hasemi failed to convince the court that he should have been considered fit, with some of the behaviours such as an attempt to prevent a duly-authorised Licensing Officer from inspecting his hackney carriage being picked up by the District Judge.

In summing up, the Judge was complimentary of the investigation by the Ashford Borough Council Licensing team, the council’s processes in dealing with the case, and ultimately found that they too could not be satisfied that the driver was a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a taxi driver’s licence.

The court dismissed the appeal, with Mr Hashemi ordered to pay £4,000 costs to the council within 28 days.