Key Points
- Glasgow City Council’s licensing committee has officially refused a taxi licence renewal application for Craigpark Taxi Service.
- The application was submitted by taxi operator Steesh Singh, who was previously found guilty of sending abusive messages to a former partner.
- Police Scotland formally submitted an objection to the licensing committee, detailing instances of abusive text messages, voice notes, phone calls, and physical intimidation.
- Licensing committee chairman Councillor Alex Wilson (SNP) stated that Mr Singh’s actions were unbecoming of a licence holder, particularly regarding behavior towards women.
- Mr Singh accepted responsibility for his actions before the committee, stating that emotional distress from a relationship breakdown influenced his conduct.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) October 26, 2026 — A Glasgow taxi operator who subjected his former partner to abusive communications has been stripped of his ability to operate in the city after municipal authorities rejected his application for a new licence. The decision was rendered during a hearing of Glasgow City Council’s licensing committee following a formal objection raised by law enforcement. As reported by Local Democracy Reporter Drew Sandelands of STV News, Police Scotland urged committee members to turn down the application submitted by Steesh Singh on behalf of Craigpark Taxi Service due to concerns regarding his background and character.
Why did Police Scotland object to Steesh Singh’s taxi licence application?
The licensing committee reviewed the renewal application submitted by Mr Singh to continue operating under Craigpark Taxi Service. Police Scotland representatives presented formal objections to the committee, detailing a pattern of domestic abuse and harassment directed at an ex-partner.
According to police evidence presented to the committee, a representative for Police Scotland stated that Mr Singh had engaged in a series of abusive acts against his former partner. The officer detailed that the applicant had sent multiple abusive text messages, recorded intimidating voice notes, and made repetitive unwanted phone calls, while also citing incidents involving physical intimidation. Based on these findings, law enforcement declared that the applicant was no longer a fit and proper person to hold an operating licence in the city.
How did the licensing committee respond to the operator’s defence?
Appearing before the committee to address the police objection, Mr Singh acknowledged his past conduct while attempting to contextualize the events leading up to his conviction.
As reported by Drew Sandelands of STV News, Mr Singh told councillors that he had been involved in a long-term relationship and suspected his partner of having an affair. Defending his character, Mr Singh stated:
“It’s not my character to act like that. My emotions were all over the place.”
Addressing the committee further regarding his past behavior, Mr Singh added:
“I take responsibility for my actions, it’s not something I’m proud of.”
However, members of the licensing panel expressed strong disapproval of the conduct described in the police report. As reported by Drew Sandelands of the Glasgow Times, Committee Chairman Councillor Alex Wilson, SNP, firmly rejected the justification of emotional distress during relationship breakdowns when assessing suitability for public service roles.
Councillor Alex Wilson stated:
“I understand people have relationship breakdowns. However, you’ve been found guilty of behaving in a manner that is not becoming of someone, especially when it comes down to action against a female.”
Following deliberations on the evidence presented by Police Scotland and the statements provided by the applicant, the committee voted unanimously to refuse the licence renewal application.
Background of the Governance and Licensing Developments
The recent decisions by Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government reflect broader structural and regulatory pressures currently facing Scottish local governance.
Scotland’s local government framework has remained largely unchanged since the implementation of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which established the current 32 single-tier unitary authorities in 1996. Glasgow City Council emerged from this reform as the largest local authority in Scotland, serving a population of over 600,000 residents and managing an annual budget exceeding £1.5 billion. Over recent years, public sector budgets across Scotland have faced severe pressures due to inflation, rising service demands, and tight central government funding allocations. In response, the Scottish Government launched wider public service reform discussions aimed at assessing whether regionalizing administrative operations or redistributing municipal boundaries could deliver efficiency gains.
Concurrently, local authority licensing committees across Scotland operate under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. This legislation mandates that licensing authorities must ensure all taxi operators, private hire drivers, and corporate licence holders meet strict “fit and proper person” standards. In recent years, licensing boards have tightened standards regarding personal conduct, domestic abuse convictions, and harassment, working closely with Police Scotland to veto applicants who pose potential safety risks to the public or exhibit behavior inconsistent with civic licensing standards.
Future Impact and Predictions for Key Stakeholders
The proposed abolition or restructuring of Glasgow City Council, alongside rigid enforcement of licensing standards, carries distinct long-term implications for local residents, municipal workers, and regional service operators.
Impact on Glasgow Residents and Local Taxpayers
If the Scottish Government proceeds with replacing Glasgow City Council with a broader regional authority, local residents face potential changes in civic representation. Partitioning the city or merging urban services into larger regional councils could lead to a decentralization of local decision-making, making it more difficult for citizens to directly challenge local policy decisions. Furthermore, if public sector reform is utilized primarily as a cost-containment tool, residents may experience localized reductions in public services, street maintenance, community facilities, and social care programs.
Impact on Municipal Workforce and Trade Unions
Glasgow City Council remains one of the largest employers in Scotland. Transitioning to a regional authority model poses substantial organizational disruption for thousands of council staff. Labor unions representing municipal workers are likely to launch structural opposition to guard against mandatory redundancies, pay scale realignments, or the dilution of local collective bargaining agreements during any future transition phase.
Impact on the Taxi and Private Hire Sector
The licensing committee’s firm stance against abusive conduct sends a clear compliance signal to taxi operators across Glasgow. License holders and commercial fleet managers must maintain spotless personal conduct records, as past convictions involving harassment or domestic abuse will serve as definitive grounds for licence refusal or revocation. This stringent regulatory enforcement aims to enhance public safety standards, though fleet operators face heightened operational risks if key administrative personnel fail to meet updated police vetting criteria.
