A Company run by Scotland’s biggest taxi tycoon is part of a police probe where more than 160 of his cab drivers faced losing their licences.
Paisley Cab Co Ltd – owned by gangland-linked Steven Malcolm – and licensing staff at Renfrewshire Council are at the centre of the probe launched following safety concerns.
It is understood claims of irregularities with insurance and paperwork on 11 of the firm’s taxis were raised, which prompted questions to council workers over why they had been passed as roadworthy at a testing centre.
Police Scotland were called in to examine the concerns before the council considered the future of 162 drivers during a closed doors meeting with councillors and police last week.
In a highly unusual move, Malcolm – linked to the Daniel crime clan – was personally ordered to appear in person and turned up flanked by his lawyer and KC.
The 60-year-old taxi boss heard the meeting “consider the possible suspension or revocation” of 162 private hire licences held by his company, according to council meeting papers.
A council insider said: “Eleven private hire vehicles had been submitted without the correct paperwork, without the correct insurance, and which had then gone to the council testing centre to be passed.
“Councillors were told that the Paisley Cab Co did not realise what was going on as the person who did the applications had done so for years.
“This person, who the company had put faith in, had flouted the system and put the company at risk.
“The company was found not to be at fault and changed their practices.
“There is a further investigation by management into the application process and the council staff involved. Every vehicle has to go through a yearly or two-yearly inspection, even if it is new, to check if they are up to the standard the council put in place.”
The Thursday morning hearing was held in private and the Sunday Mail was asked to leave the chambers shortly before proceedings began.
A resolution had been made for the meeting to take place behind closed doors because “exempt information” might be disclosed.
Normally such hearings are open to the public and press.
Malcolm and his legal representative declined to comment after the hearing’s conclusion.
Asked about the police investigation, Malcolm said: “I don’t know anything about that. It’s nothing to do with me.”
Renfrewshire Council also declined to comment.
A spokesperson added: “After hearing detailed submissions, no action was taken by the board on any private hire car, taxi or booking office licences at this time.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “An investigation is being carried out and enquiries are ongoing. We are liaising with the local authority.”
One of Scotland’s wealthiest men, Malcolm has run a number of taxi firms in recent years.
According to recent accounts, Paisley Cab Co’s value has risen by more than £1million.
In the year to March 31, 2024, the firm’s net assets rose to £6.92m from £5.89m the previous year. The figure includes a property worth £1m and vehicles worth just under £2m.
The accounts show a ‘related undertaking’ owes the firm £6.1m – up from £4.45m the previous year. No further details are given.
Paisley Cab Co is also owed around £329,000 by trade debtors which could include money due for taxi contract services.
It owes some £970,000 in bank loans and hire purchase agreements, and it is due to pay corporation tax of £947,785.
Founded in 1999, Paisley Cab Co employed 40 people in the past year, while Malcolm is listed at Companies House as having “significant control” in the firm.
Malcolm has been linked in the past to a member of the Daniel crime family.
In May 2017, he attended a Rangers game at Ibrox with Steven Daniel, nephew of late crime boss Jamie Daniel. A few hours later Daniel was subjected to a savage murder attempt.
Unknown to both men, his Skoda Octavia had been bugged with a tracking device.
After dropping off Malcolm in his car, Daniel was chased through the city before being attacked with a cleaver, hammer and other bladed weapons after his vehicle crashed into a pole.
Six men were found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow in 2019 of attempted murder and sentenced to a total of 104 years.
In 2014, the Sunday Mail photographed Malcolm leaving Glasgow Private Hire’s HQ in the east end of the city with Daniel and a convicted drug dealer.
Malcolm was a majority shareholder in the taxi firm before it merged with Hampden Cars and Southside Radio Cars to form GlasGO Cabs in 2021.
He was in control when he and Glasgow Private Hire were named by HMRC as “deliberate tax defaulter”over bills of £316,000.
Malcolm was fined £32,141 by the taxman over an unpaid sum of £76,526 while Glasgow Private Hire Ltd was fined £61,544 over an unpaid amount of £146,535.
At the time, a representative for Malcolm said the tax was paid within an agreed timescale.
Her also has a luxury six-bedroom home in Gleneagles which is close to the famous five-star hotel of the same name.
In 2016, Malcolm was reported to have launched a £6m legal action against the American manufacturers of a three-storey aquarium in his home..
The floor-to-ceiling tank, costing £1.4m, burst and flooded large parts of the house, which also has two swimming pools, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and private lift.
Last year we revealed how a neighbouring house worth £4.3m was auctioned in a promotion to raise money for a breast cancer charity.
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