Taxi driver loses licence after filming police arrest

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 00:19 · Archive

A Stockton taxi driver lost his private hire licence after filming police officers arresting a woman over an alleged robbery.

A taxi driver who held a private hire licence since 2022 lost his right to continue after a Stockton Council licensing committee hearing. The incident occurred earlier this year when the driver filmed police officers arresting a woman over an alleged knifepoint robbery in Hardwick. CCTV footage showed the driver arriving at the scene, exiting his vehicle, and beginning to film on his mobile telephone. This led to what the committee minutes describe as 'an animated exchange' between the driver and a police officer.

A police officer told the committee that the woman was 'incredibly intoxicated' and that her clothing was coming into disarray as she resisted arrest. The officer said he attempted to stand between the woman and the taxi driver 'to protect her dignity', and questioned the appropriateness of filming her in that state. After the police vehicle departed, the driver knocked on another police vehicle window and recorded a further exchange with an officer.

The committee heard CCTV evidence showing a female resisting arrest with two police officers struggling to place her into a police vehicle. Three police vehicles were present at the time. The committee determined that the driver had 'involved himself' inappropriately in the police incident. They ruled they were unable to determine he was a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

How it is being reported

• Taxi driver refused private hire licence despite sexual assault allegation 'not proceeding'The motorist said he had a good record for 20 years, but councillors found 'inconsistencies' in information presented to themTeessideLive · 2 Nov, 00:01
• Taxi driver refused new licence despite saying police dropped sexual assault caseA taxi driver was unable to regain his private hire licence following a sexual assault allegation, despite pleading that the police had not proceeded with the case.The Northern Echo · 1 Nov, 12:00
• Cabbie stripped of licence after filming police arresting 'incredibly intoxicated' womanStockton Council's licensing committee had doubts about the motorist's conduct where he 'involved himself' in filming an arrest :: The driver said he 'felt compelled to record it'TeessideLive · 1 Nov, 00:01
• Taxi driver loses licence after filming police arrest of 'intoxicated' woman in townA taxi driver lost his private hire licence after a council committee heard how he had filmed police officers as they arrested a woman over an alleged robbery.The Northern Echo · 31 Oct, 17:30

In this story: Stockton Council · Hardwick · Stockton

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