Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged earlier this week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
Taxi driver Gerard Glaister, from Workington, was arrested by Cumbria Police on 8 August 2024 and has been charged in connection with posting racially motivated offensive content online. The charge relates to sending a communication of an indecent or grossly offensive nature, which is racially aggravated due to the content of the posts. He is scheduled to appear at Carlisle Crown Court on 13 August 2024.
Upon receiving this information from Cumbria Police, Cumberland Council conducted an immediate and thorough review of the driver's hackney carriage licence. Given the severity of the charges, and under the delegated powers provided to the Council, the decision was made to revoke the driver's licence with immediate effect in the interest of public safety.
A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: “This action sends a clear and strong message that we will not tolerate any behaviour that threatens the safety, dignity, or trust of our community. The nature of these charges is deeply concerning, and we have acted swiftly to remove this individual from a position of public responsibility. Those involved in criminal activities will be held accountable.”
The Council’s Licencing department reassures the public that the safety and well-being of residents are paramount, and it will continue to enforce stringent standards to ensure that all licensed taxi drivers in Cumberland meet the highest levels of conduct.
They added: “Public safety is our top priority, and we will not hesitate to take immediate action when it is at risk. We stand firm against any form of discrimination and will continue to work closely with the Police to uphold these standards.”