Gary Poland, the taxi driver who dropped Southport killer Axel Rudakubana at the Hart Space dance studio, has been stripped of his licence after delaying 50 minutes before calling 999. The tragic incident occurred on 29 July 2024 during a Taylor Swift-themed holiday dance class for children.
Despite hearing what he believed were gunshots and seeing children running away, Poland chose to pick up another fare and went home instead of immediately alerting emergency services. By the time he made the emergency call, three young girls—nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe—had already been fatally stabbed.
Sefton Council confirmed that Gary Poland no longer holds a taxi driver licence following a review under their taxi licensing policy. The council’s handbook explicitly instructs drivers to call 999 if they believe a child or young person is in immediate danger. Authorities concluded that Poland’s delay and inaction did not meet these standards.
At the Southport Inquiry held in September 2025, dashcam footage revealed Poland’s phone call immediately after the incident. He described hearing shots and children screaming, stating: “I just dropped a lad off… he ran next door and I think he shot some people.” When told he was lucky not to be caught in the attack, Poland responded, “Lucky he didn’t shoot me, weren’t it?”
Poland admitted that he panicked and fled, fearing for his own safety and believing Rudakubana was armed. Reflecting on his actions, he said, “I regret not helping the children… There isn’t a day that passes when I don’t think about that day and what ifs.” He acknowledged hearing the victims’ screams but explained that his terrified state left him unable to react appropriately.
The tragic stabbing claimed the lives of three young girls during what was meant to be a joyful holiday dance event. The inquiry highlighted the vital importance of prompt emergency responses during violent incidents and held Poland accountable for his failure to act swiftly.
Originally published by UKNIP.
