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| Autistic boy's father accuses council in row over convicted taxi driver | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A father has criticised a council for continuing to licence a taxi driver who was convicted for unlawfully restraining his autistic son. | A father has criticised a council for continuing to licence a taxi driver who was convicted for unlawfully restraining his autistic son. |
| He said the driver had tied up his son with "bungee cords" while taking him to and from a Lancashire school. | He said the driver had tied up his son with "bungee cords" while taking him to and from a Lancashire school. |
| Two months after the man's conviction in August 2013 for assault, his new taxi licence application was approved by South Ribble Borough Council. | Two months after the man's conviction in August 2013 for assault, his new taxi licence application was approved by South Ribble Borough Council. |
| The council said it would review the reasons behind that decision. | The council said it would review the reasons behind that decision. |
| Verbal abuse | Verbal abuse |
| The father, who cannot be identified, said the driver would regularly transport his son - then aged 13 - and an escort to a specialist school in 2012. | The father, who cannot be identified, said the driver would regularly transport his son - then aged 13 - and an escort to a specialist school in 2012. |
| He told the BBC the driver would pick up the boy from his home, drive around the corner and tie him to the car seats. | He told the BBC the driver would pick up the boy from his home, drive around the corner and tie him to the car seats. |
| The 13-year-old would then be untied near the school before he was dropped off, his father said. | The 13-year-old would then be untied near the school before he was dropped off, his father said. |
| He added that the school's deputy head teacher noticed "there was violence going on while he was being untied" and that the driver was "verbally abusing my son". | He added that the school's deputy head teacher noticed "there was violence going on while he was being untied" and that the driver was "verbally abusing my son". |
| A supply escort on 28 November 2012 complained about the driver's behaviour to Lancashire County Council, which had contracted him to transport the boy. | A supply escort on 28 November 2012 complained about the driver's behaviour to Lancashire County Council, which had contracted him to transport the boy. |
| The father claimed the council said it would investigate but the same driver was sent the next day when it is alleged he again tied up the boy. | The father claimed the council said it would investigate but the same driver was sent the next day when it is alleged he again tied up the boy. |
| Call for suspension | Call for suspension |
| He described South Ribble Borough Council's decision to grant a new cab licence to the driver as "appalling". | He described South Ribble Borough Council's decision to grant a new cab licence to the driver as "appalling". |
| "The first thing I would like to see happen is that this taxi driver has his licence suspended - he's still taking vulnerable people this week around South Ribble." | "The first thing I would like to see happen is that this taxi driver has his licence suspended - he's still taking vulnerable people this week around South Ribble." |
| A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said it had not employed the driver since his conviction. | A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said it had not employed the driver since his conviction. |
| South Ribble Borough Council recently suspended two workers after a separate review found allegations that two children were sexually exploited by taxi drivers were not dealt with adequately. | South Ribble Borough Council recently suspended two workers after a separate review found allegations that two children were sexually exploited by taxi drivers were not dealt with adequately. |
| Councillor Margaret Smith, leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: "Our biggest priority is to protect the public. | Councillor Margaret Smith, leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: "Our biggest priority is to protect the public. |
| "We are currently undergoing a full review of every aspect of our licensing policies and procedures, to ensure that the service is effective going forward." | "We are currently undergoing a full review of every aspect of our licensing policies and procedures, to ensure that the service is effective going forward." |