An investigation into how the former mayor’s rapist son got a taxi licence in Bracknell has concluded.
Diwan Khan, the son of Naheed Ejaz, Mayor of Bracknell Forest for 2023/24, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for raping a girl in April.
He had held a taxi licence from Bracknell Forest Council from January 2021 to January 2024.
During his trial, it emerged that Khan drugged the 15-year-old girl and raped her in his car in July 2024, after his licence had been revoked.
An investigation into Khan’s licence was undertaken by internal auditors following a request by council leader Helen Purnell in March.
The review found that most policies were followed and there was no evidence of concerns reported to the council or Public Protection Partnership (PPP)* until Khan was arrested on a different offence in January 2024, when his licence was immediately revoked.
However, it also found that there was no evidence that Khan’s DBS certificate had been seen prior to his licence being issued. If it had been seen, then it is unlikely he would have met the criteria for a licence.
Councillor Purnell (Labour, Easthampstead & Wildridings) said: “The investigation into the circumstances around Diwan Khan’s taxi licence and the subsequent actions following his arrest in January 2024, was instigated to provide clarity and transparency. It was also requested so that we have a firm understanding of where we need to put tighter controls and policies in place to protect residents and visitors from harm.
“I am disappointed and saddened to see there is no evidence that Khan’s DBS was checked prior to his licence being issued. If it had been checked then it is likely he would not have been given a licence.
“My heartfelt support goes out to the young girl whose life has been undoubtedly changed by his heinous and despicable crime. She is at the very centre of my thoughts and sympathies in this case.
“Sadly, I cannot change the outcome for this brave young girl, but I can promise to put things in place to protect women and girls in future.
“This includes a women and girls’ safety charter, which pledges to make public spaces safer by encouraging organisations and businesses to actively prevent harm and respond effectively to violence and abuse.
“We will also make changes and improvements to our licensing shared service through the recommendations that have come out of this investigation and other audits.
“I am sorry that Diwan Khan was appointed as mayoral consort and that he was not DBS checked when he took up the role. There was no official requirement for councillors or consorts to be checked at that time, or indeed prior to that. We have, however, introduced a mandatory DBS check for all councillors and the mayoral consort. This came into effect in October 2024 and should help provide a safeguard for all serving and future councillors and consorts.”
Recommendations following the investigation were approved by the council’s audit and governance committee on June 17.
These include a full audit of the council’s taxi licensing policy to ensure compliance, and monitoring of licenses issued by the Public Protection Partnership, which Bracknell Forest shares with West Berkshire Council.
Khan’s mother, Naheed Ejaz, the first Muslim mayor of Bracknell Forest, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for perverting the course of justice by trying to hide Khan’s phone, which he had used to film his attack on the girl.
