A taxi driver whose actions following the horrific Southport knife attack have been scrutinized has had his license revoked. Gary Poland, who transported the perpetrator to the scene, waited approximately 50 minutes before contacting the authorities after dropping off the then-17-year-old assailant, Axel Rudakubana. The attack on July 29, 2024, resulted in the tragic deaths of nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, with eight other children and two adults sustaining injuries.
Taxi Driver’s Actions Under Review Following Southport Attack
The Southport Inquiry, which investigated the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, concluded that the killings “could and should have been prevented” had various agencies taken appropriate measures to intervene. Evidence presented during the inquiry revealed that Mr. Poland, an experienced private hire driver, departed the vicinity of the attack after hearing screams and witnessing children fleeing the premises. He stated that his decision to leave was prompted by hearing what he believed to be “four or five gunshots.” He described observing young children, aged six and seven, “stampede for their lives” within moments of Rudakubana’s assault.
However, the inquiry heard that instead of immediately alerting emergency services, Mr. Poland made two phone calls to a friend and proceeded to pick up another fare. A transcript from one of these calls, presented at a prior hearing, indicated Mr. Poland’s statement: “He just f****** shot everyone ain’t he?” It was only after returning home that he eventually contacted the police to provide information about the teenager he had transported, according to reports. His conduct subsequently became the focus of a licensing investigation by the local authority.
Driver Expresses Regret Over Delayed Police Report
In previous testimony, Mr. Poland acknowledged his lapse in judgment, stating, “I consider that I should have called police earlier.” He expressed deep remorse, adding, “In hindsight, I wish I had done and it’s something that I do think about every day, what I should have done and how this is my fault because I drove him there. I should have checked on the welfare of the children and helped.” He explained his fear at the time, recounting, “I thought there was a gunman shooting at people and I believed this to be the person who I had just been shouting at to pay me a fare and threatened to call the police, so I did believe that I was in danger of being a target.” He reiterated his regret, “I regret not helping the children. Their screams were harrowing and I can still hear them when I think back to that day.”
Sefton Council Revokes Taxi License
A spokesperson for Sefton Council confirmed that Mr. Poland no longer possesses a taxi driver’s license. “Mr Poland no longer holds a taxi driver licence following a review into his fitness to hold it by the local authority. The council found he did not meet the appropriate standards,” the spokesperson stated. Mr. Poland’s appeal against the council’s decision to revoke his private hire license was unsuccessful.
Mark Toohey, Sefton Council’s head of taxi licensing, informed the inquiry that drivers are provided with opportunities to present their case. “We have a licensing panel and a driver such as Mr Poland would be invited to make representations and supply any information that he thought was relevant to support him before any decision was made,” he explained.
Inquiry Recommendations for Taxi Drivers
The decision to revoke Mr. Poland’s license comes as government officials respond to the initial findings of the Southport Inquiry. Sir Adrian Fulford, the chairman of the inquiry, concluded that the murders were preventable had agencies acted upon numerous warning signs. The inquiry highlighted that Rudakubana had extensive contact with various services, including police, counter-terrorism units, youth justice, social care, and the NHS, in the years preceding the attack.
Among Sir Adrian’s key recommendations is a proposal to mandate that licensed taxi drivers promptly report serious crimes they witness during their work. The recommendation suggests that failure to do so could jeopardize their license. “The Department for Transport should require local authorities to ensure that all licensed taxi drivers have a clear duty promptly to report any significant criminal activity they witness while working. This duty should form part of mandatory training, and a failure to report such activity, subject to individual circumstances, should place the driver’s licence at risk,” the report stated.
The Department for Transport has indicated its intention to implement this recommendation by late 2027. Meanwhile, Mr. Poland’s taxi driver’s license with the authority covering Southport has been officially terminated.
Government Response to Inquiry Findings
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood addressed the inquiry’s findings, stating, “The Southport Inquiry identified fundamental failings, across many of our public services, in the years leading up to July 2024. These devastating failures led to the senseless killing of three young girls and violent attacks on others.” She conveyed her condolences to the victims’ families and affirmed the government’s commitment to rectifying the identified issues. “My thoughts today are first and foremost with the families and friends of Bebe, Elsie and Alice and all the victims of that awful day. We owe it to them to right these wrongs. For that reason, we have accepted Sir Adrian’s recommendations for central government in full. My department will now drive this work across government, with the urgency it deserves. We will do whatever is needed to protect the public.”
The Southport Inquiry is scheduled to reconvene for a preliminary hearing next week, with the second phase of its proceedings set to commence in London in September.
