Gary Poland, the private hire taxi driver who transported Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana to the scene of the mass stabbing on 29 July 2024, has had his taxi licence revoked by Sefton Council. The council determined that Poland's fitness to hold a licence was no longer adequate, following his actions on the day of the attack, which included fleeing the scene and waiting approximately 50 minutes before reporting the incident to police.
Details of the attack and Poland's actions
Rudakubana, then 17 years old, was dropped off by Poland at the Hart Space on Hart Street in Southport. He then launched a brutal assault on a Taylor Swift-themed workshop, killing three young girls: Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven. Eight children and two adults were also injured. The Southport Inquiry, which concluded earlier this year, found that the murders 'could and should have been prevented' if earlier interventions had been made.
During the inquiry, it emerged that Poland fled the scene after hearing screams and witnessing children escaping. He told the inquiry he heard 'four or five gunshots' and saw six- and seven-year-olds 'stampede for their lives' within 30 seconds of the attack starting. Instead of immediately contacting authorities, Poland called his friend twice, picked up another passenger, and only reported what he knew after returning home.
Licence revocation and failed challenge
A Sefton Council spokesperson confirmed: '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 Liverpool Echo reports that Poland attempted to challenge the decision but was unsuccessful.
Mark Toohey, Sefton Council's head of taxi licences, informed the inquiry that a licensing panel would have invited Poland to make representations and supply relevant information before any decision was made.
Government response and recommendations
The phase one report of the Southport Inquiry, led by Sir Adrian Fulford, made 67 recommendations. One recommendation specifically addressed taxi drivers: '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 Department for Transport (DfT) has stated it expects to complete implementation of this recommendation by late 2027. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the government's acceptance of all recommendations, saying: '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. We owe it to them to right these wrongs.'
Inquiry findings and next phase
The inquiry's phase one report identified five major failings across public services, including police, counter-terrorism, social care, youth justice, and the NHS. The second phase of the inquiry is set to begin with a one-day hearing next week, before resuming in London in September 2025.
