Taxi drivers unhappy at permits for drug convicts
THERE is growing unease among taxi drivers that Environment's political board is granting taxi driving permits to people with serious drug-related convictions.
Guernsey Taxi Owners' Federation president Leon Gallienne, when told about the issue, said that members were concerned the department was 'lowering standards'.
It has also emerged that criminal records of taxi driver applicants are quickly destroyed by Environment.
The department said its board determines each application on its merits and gives consideration to a number of factors over past convictions in determining that a person does not present a danger to passengers.
But when pressed for further details over applications and convictions, Environment said all disclosures of past convictions or cautions were destroyed after each application was determined, due to data protection.
Mr Gallienne said that federation members had serious concerns over recent decisions.
'First and foremost, it is for the safety of the community,' he said.
'Over here we have advanced police checks. It should give the public confidence we are giving them a well-regulated, well police-checked body of drivers. This undermines that.
