4 in 10 of our taxi drivers have criminal records
SCOTS COUNCIL ADMIT... Violence, abuse and indecent exposure but most are driving offences
MORE than 40 per cent of taxi drivers in the Scottish Borders council area have criminal records.
Cabbies licensed by the council have convictions for domestic abuse and police assault. One has indecently exposed himself – twice.
A Borders taxi driver was convicted of carrying a pistol in public. Another drove over a golf course, causing criminal damage, and a third was convicted of wilful fire-raising. One cabbie had four assault convictions.
Figures released under freedom of information revealed that 155 of 385 taxi and private hire licences issued by Scottish Borders Council in 2017 went to people with criminal records – most for driving offences. A spokesman said all applications were referred to police and considered on their individual merits.
It emerged this year that more than 2200 people with criminal records are driving taxis or private hire cabs in Scotland. Drivers’ crimes included a fatal stabbing, sex attacks and firearms offences.
Police objected to hundreds of licence applications in 2017 but were over-ruled by councils on many occasions. Glasgow granted 62 licences despite police objections.
Aberdeenshire had 899 drivers out of 2013 with criminal records at the start of 2017. It was 288 out of 600 in North Ayrshire, 176 out of 400 in Stirling and 480 out of 731 in East Dunbartonshire. Most of the convictions were for minor road traffic offences.