Resignations after male councillors vote for rapist taxi driver to keep license
Summary
Four male councillors on the Highland Council licensing committee resigned after they voted to let a taxi driver, who was convicted of raping an 18-year-old passenger, keep his operator’s licence. The decision caused public criticism and concern about women’s safety, leading to the resignations and a suspension of one councillor.Key Facts
- David Brown, a taxi driver, was jailed for over six years for raping an 18-year-old passenger in December 2023.
- Brown’s taxi driver’s licence was suspended in January 2024 after his conviction.
- His operator’s licence, which allows the use of his vehicle for a taxi business, was voted to be kept by six male councillors, while four female councillors voted against it.
- Following public backlash, the committee chairman Sean Kennedy and three other councillors resigned from the licensing committee.
- Willie MacKay also resigned as a councillor, and John Grafton was suspended by the Scottish Liberal Democrat group.
- Police Scotland opposed allowing Brown to retain his operator’s licence.
- The licensing committee met in private, with options to take no action, suspend, or revoke the licence.
- Councillors who voted to keep the licence said they were assured Brown would not drive a taxi again and that the decision was made based on information they had at the time.
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