A taxi driver in Southport has had his license revoked after waiting 50 minutes before alerting the police about the killer he had dropped off. Gary Poland drove Axel Rudakubana to Hart Space in Southport on July 29, 2024, where Rudakubana carried out a fatal knife attack, resulting in the deaths of three children and injuries to several others. The Southport Inquiry determined that the tragic incident could have been prevented if proper actions were taken by relevant agencies.
During the inquiry, it was revealed that instead of immediately contacting the authorities when the attack occurred, Mr. Poland made two phone calls to a friend before accepting another passenger. He later informed the police after reaching home. Mr. Poland expressed regret for not acting promptly and stated that he believed he was in danger during the incident.
Following a review by Sefton Council, Mr. Poland’s taxi driver license was revoked as he did not meet the required standards. Despite an unsuccessful appeal, the council upheld the decision. The inquiry into the Southport incident highlighted systemic failures leading up to the tragedy and recommended stricter reporting obligations for taxi drivers witnessing crimes while on duty.
The Department for Transport plans to enforce these recommendations by late 2027. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged the failures identified by the Southport Inquiry and pledged to implement the recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future. The inquiry is set to resume next week for further proceedings.