STV NewsCampaigners took to the streets of Inverness on Sunday to voice their anger with Highland Council for allowing a jailed rapist to retain his taxi operator’s licence.
David Brown from Croy, near Inverness, was convicted of raping an 18-year-old customer.
The crime cost him his taxi driver’s licence but his wife had argued at a council licensing meeting that she needed the vehicle licence to continue to earn a living.
Police had objected to the licence being continued.
The message at Sunday’s protest was loud and clear, with women in the Highlands saying they have had enough of violent men.
Central Scotland News AgencyAnd the protesters claimed the council had failed them by allowing 50-year-old Brown to retain his taxi operator’s licence despite being sentenced to six years and nine months for raping the woman customer and dumping her on a freezing cold night in December 2023.
Six male councillors on the Highland licensing committee – chairman Sean Kennedy, Willie Mackay, Chris Birt, Duncan Macpherson, John Grafton and Conservative group leader Ruraidh Stewart – approved continuation of the vehicle licence, outvoting their four female colleagues who all objected.
The full council will review the decision at a meeting on August 4.
Sunday’s protest organiser Claire MacKay said: “I don’t think that meeting should happen in private and I think all licenses granted by this committee, specifically for taxi drivers, should be investigated.
“I also think we need to have some guarantee of public safety. Women need to know that when they get into a taxi in the Highlands they’re safe.”
One protester told STV News: “It would definitely be useful to send a message to the council and show that we are going to fight it, and that it’s not okay.
“It’s not acceptable and it’s absolutely disgusting what they’re doing.”
Another said: “It’s okay women standing up for themself but more men should come forward and support women. They need to be listened to and they have to be believed.”
The solitary man who supported the Falcon Square protest urged others to back the quest to rid society of misogyny.
He said: “I feel it’s important regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, or however you identify, to show solidarity and to support the cause to fight against inequality.”
Almost 6,000 people have signed an online petition demanding the council revokes Brown’s taxi operator’s licence.
Highland Council has been contacted for comment.
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