Acquittal on criminal charges does not preclude consideration of complaint in taxi licence suitability assessment

The High Court quashed the decision to refuse a taxi licence to an applicant who had been acquitted of a sexual assault charge, finding procedural unfairness in the licensing authority's failure to disclose the limited material it relied upon during the decision-making process. The court determined that the licensing authority was entitled to consider the fact of the previous complaint and the applicant's acquittal when assessing his suitability for a taxi licence under statute. However, the authority's lack of transparency regarding the evidence it considered resulted in a breach of fair procedures, as the applicant was not given a fair opportunity to address the concerns or present additional relevant information. The case was remitted for fresh consideration, with the court emphasising the applicant's right to a fair process at both the initial decision stage and on appeal.