The taxi driver who transported the perpetrator to the Southport stabbing attack has had his license revoked. Gary Poland drove the assailant, Axel Rudakubana, to the Hart Space dance studio on July 29, 2024. Rudakubana entered a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop and attacked children, killing three and injuring others.
Dashboard camera footage presented at a public inquiry showed Poland driving away as children fled the building. He has stated that the scene appeared "like a stampede for their lives." Sefton Council confirmed the revocation of Poland's taxi license, citing that he "did not meet the appropriate standards."
Rudakubana, 17, had called for a lift from near his home in Banks, west Lancashire, providing the false name "Simon." After arriving at the dance studio, he exited Poland's taxi without paying. Poland reportedly followed Rudakubana, calling out that payment was due, but was ignored as the teenager proceeded into the building.
Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine; Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven; and Bebe King, aged six, died as a result of the attack. Eight other children and two adults sustained severe injuries. Poland did not contact emergency services until approximately 50 minutes after hearing the screams of children escaping the attack.