Taxi sector 'let down' as 15 drivers lose licences in 2 years

A Freedom of Information request to Southampton City Council revealed that 15 drivers have had their taxi licences snatched since January 2023 as the direct result of customer complaints.

Some 368 complaints were lodged in 2023 with a further 604 coming in 2024, with this number included those placed against both hackney carriage and private hire drivers.

Perry McMillan, a Unite the Union Shop Steward with a taxi licence in Southampton, said he feels that those who have lost their licenses have "let us all down".

The former Southampton City Council councillor said: "We always get across to our cabbies to be on their best behaviour and to keep the standards high.

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"It’s always disappointing to hear a cab driver has his license revoked. However, we work under a strict code of being fit and proper, and if a person isn’t doing their job properly, it’s totally understandable for the council to take their license."

Perry also made it clear that there are big differences between self-employed hackney carriage drivers who wait in ranks and private hire employees who work for bigger companies.

Perry McMillan, Unite the Union Shop Steward. Hackney carriage drivers say they are only licensed to work in Southampton, not under any other council's jurisdiction.

But private hire drivers can work anywhere they like, though Perry believes they lack the local knowledge to do so effectively.

"They don’t know the area, they’re looking at their sat navs, thinking I’m out of my area so I’ll cut down this road because I’m out of my area and won’t get in trouble," Perry explained. 

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"Other cab drivers then think if he’s doing it then I’ll do it. It’s dropping the standards."

One of the 972 complaints since 2023 was concluded with one driver being sent on an Awareness Course.

Some 66 drivers were given warnings while 12 had their licenses temporarily suspended.

There are 1,851 drivers currently licensed by Southampton City Council.

'It's a warzone out here'

The taxi rank on Above Bar Street in Southampton city centre. (Image: Alex Cooper) His sentiment was shared by Mustafa Mohammed, 45, who has been a taxi driver for 13 years.

Mustafa said private hire drivers "are not trained people" and "are not professional".

"Why should I do 2 or 3 different tests every year, and they do the same job as I do," he told the Echo.

"These days we really struggle, I've had only two jobs this morning. With £16, what am I going to do?"

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Mohammed Azram, 41, who has 10 years of experience, said that those losing their licence "probably weren't road legal".

"If drivers neglect that, drivers become a liability and we can't afford to be a liability," he said.

"Their cars are not even fit for purpose. I wish I was still doing security. We're up against coaches, shuttle bus most of the customers should be getting in a taxi.

"Most of the drivers don't speak English, there's only a few of us British taxi drivers and we’re the ones that speak up. It's a war zone out here."