High Court upholds unlawful operating conviction

​The Divisional Court has dismissed an appeal by Samit Biswas, director of Advatech Healthcare Europe Ltd (trading as Hippo Mobility), upholding his convictions for operating private hire vehicles (PHVs) without the necessary licences in London.

Between 1 and 22 November 2020, Hippo Mobility provided transport services for children with special educational needs under contracts with Bromley, Enfield, and Hillingdon councils. During this period, four vehicles operated without valid PHV licences, and two drivers lacked the required PHV driver’s licences. Biswas contended that the vehicles were exempt from licensing requirements, arguing they functioned as ambulances or patient transport services.

However, the court determined that the vehicles were used for educational purposes rather than medical, thereby necessitating compliance with PHV licensing regulations. Additionally, the court found no merit in the claim that the burden of proof had been improperly reversed during the original trial. Consequently, Biswas’s convictions were upheld, reinforcing the imperative for strict adherence to PHV licensing laws.