Taxi Driver's Licence Revoked Following Southport Stabbing Incident
Gary Poland, the taxi driver who fled the scene of the Southport stabbing attack and waited 50 minutes before contacting emergency services, has had his taxi licence revoked.
On 29 July 2024, Poland drove Axel Rudakubana, the 17-year-old perpetrator, to the Hart Space dance studio. Rudakubana entered a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop and began stabbing children indiscriminately.
Dashboard camera footage presented at the public inquiry revealed Poland driving away as children fled the building screaming, which he described as "like a stampede for their lives."
Sefton Council confirmed the revocation of Poland's taxi licence, citing that he "did not meet the appropriate standards."
The attack resulted in the deaths of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Bebe King, six. Additionally, eight children and two adults sustained severe injuries.
Details from the Southport Inquiry
The Southport Inquiry, held at Liverpool Town Hall in the previous year, revealed that Rudakubana exited Poland's taxi without paying after requesting a ride near his home in Banks, west Lancashire, using the false name Simon.
Poland followed Rudakubana and demanded payment, but was ignored as the teenager proceeded up a flight of stairs to the dance studios.
Instead of immediately calling emergency services, Poland contacted a friend while driving away. He then picked up another fare, dropped off the passenger, spoke with his wife, and only called 999 upon arriving home at 12:36 BST.
Poland testified via video link, stating he "went into panic mode" and initially believed a shooting had occurred.
"I regret not helping the children, their screams were harrowing and I can still hear them when I think back to that day."
Taxi Licence Conditions and Inquiry Findings
During the inquiry, Poland was questioned about the conditions attached to his taxi licence issued by Sefton Council. These conditions require drivers to be in a "good position to help to keep children and young people safe" and to call emergency services immediately if a child or young person is in serious danger.
Poland agreed with counsel Nicholas Moss KC that this guidance was "common sense."
The inquiry also noted that Poland's delayed 999 call did not cause a significant delay in emergency response because Leanne Lucas, a dance class teacher who was critically injured, managed to call emergency services moments after the attack began.
Reactions and Official Statements
Chris Walker, director of serious injury at law firm Bond Turner, representing the bereaved families, stated they "welcome the decision" to revoke Poland's licence as a necessary measure for accountability.
Sefton Council issued a statement confirming the revocation following a review of Poland's fitness to hold a taxi licence, emphasizing that the council found he did not meet the required standards. The council also noted that taxi licensing hearings are private, and specific reasons for revocation are not publicly disclosed.
Government Response and Inquiry Report
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the government's commitment to implementing all recommendations made by Sir Adrian Fulford, chair of the Southport Inquiry, following the publication of its first phase report.
The attack in the summer of 2024 shocked communities worldwide.
Sir Adrian's 760-page report, published in April, identified systemic failures by multiple agencies that had contact with Rudakubana, as well as a failure by his parents to fulfill their moral responsibilities, concluding that the attack could have been prevented.
He criticized a prevailing "culture" of agencies passing responsibility or minimizing their involvement, describing a "merry-go-round" of referrals, assessments, and "hand-offs." The killer's autism was reportedly used as an "excuse" for previous behavior, resulting in no agency fully understanding the threat he posed.
Mahmood stated:
"We will do whatever is needed to protect the public."
She added that her department would undertake the necessary work "with the urgency it deserves."
The inquiry's second phase is expected to evaluate the effectiveness of multi-agency systems in managing risks posed by young individuals with a propensity for extreme violence.
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