Friday 08 November 2013
Media Enquiry from Nigel Baudains, Guernsey Press:
How long have CRB checks been required? Do they have to be done annually?
Are they a requirement of the department or the Police? How much are drivers charged for them?
If anybody applies for a taxi driver licence today, what sort of thing regarding a criminal record could preclude them from getting one?
What would happen to somebody who had a previous criminal record and held a licence to drive taxis prior to CRB checks becoming compulsory?
Who decides whether a licence should be granted or revoked?
Environment Department response:
The Environment Department must satisfy itself that an applicant is a fit and proper person before it can determine whether or not to grant or renew a Permit to Drive a Public Service Vehicle (PSV). Similarly, the Department may at any time revoke, suspend or vary a permit and shall do so if in the opinion of the Authority the holder of the permit is not, by reason of his conduct or health a fit and proper person to hold such a permit. The Department will take into account an individual's criminal record, medical fitness and any conduct or behaviour in the existence of their existing licence, when considering whether or not a permit holder is a fit and proper person.
These issues are detailed in the Department's Policy relating to the Refusal, Grant, Suspension, Revocation and Variation of a Permit to Drive a Public Service Vehicle and includes issues such as serious motoring offences, offences relating to violence/drunk or disorderly behaviour and offences of a sexual nature.
Criminal records checks are undertaken by the Department every three years and have formed a part of the licensing process for many years. Since 2010 these assessments have been carried out to the "enhanced" standard of check. Prior to this, checks were undertaken to the "standard" level.
The current charge for these checks is £58.
The Department will review fit and proper status upon granting or renewal of a permit or at any such other time that the department becomes aware that a permit holder may have committed some act or offence that, should it be proven, would reasonably lead the department to conclude that the permit holder is not a fit and proper person. In such instances the Department would most likely consider suspending the permit pending the conclusion of any investigations.
Granting or renewal of non-contentious permits may be issued at Officer level with all other matters being determined by the Minister or any other member of the Board authorised in that behalf.
-ENDS-
