A veteran taxi driver was violently robbed near Anfield Stadium after being lured down a dead-end road by his passenger. Vincent O'Connor, just one month after being released from prison for a similar offence, choked and robbed Kenneth Green, stealing his day's earnings.

O'Connor, 37, hired Green for a £70 fare from Eccles in Greater Manchester to Liverpool on 2 November last year. Prosecutor Katie Appleton told Liverpool Crown Court that O'Connor had initially tried to haggle the price down to £65, but Green insisted on the agreed-upon £70 upfront.

As they neared their destination, O'Connor, a former gang member, directed Green down a dead-end street. There, he grabbed Green from behind and violently twisted his neck. After Green handed over an empty wallet, O'Connor sneered: "Do you think I'm wet?" and bit him on the cheek.

Green then gave him another wallet containing £140. O'Connor demanded more and the car keys, but Green pleaded with him, and he eventually fled with the cash, discarding the wallet in a bin.

The impact on Green has been profound. "The victim said he has been a taxi driver for 34 years and has never experienced something so violent in all that time," Ms. Appleton relayed to the court. "He says the incident has left him frightened; he had taken a week off work and didn't know whether he would return to work. He says: 'This incident has changed me. I don't feel safe to work anymore.'"

O'Connor has a staggering 47 prior convictions for 95 offences, including a 2021 robbery where he threatened a woman with an angle-grinder.

Judge David Swinnerton, sentencing O'Connor in absentia after he refused to appear in court, emphasised the severity of the crime. "He had been drinking heavily that day. He had been drinking heavily on previous days which caused him to behave aggressively. That culminated in this offence," the judge stated.

He added: "This now is the second robbery within a very short space of time. A high level of physical force was used in the most recent robbery."

O'Connor was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for the robbery, with an extended licence of five years due to the danger he poses to the public and the high risk of re-offending.

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A Transport for London-licensed private hire driver has been ordered to pay £1,603 after being caught illegally plying for hire at Reading Festival.

Hammad Ashraf Khan Manj, from Slough, offered a ride to Slough train station from near the festival site on Tessa Road.

Unbeknown to him, his potential customers were actually undercover licensing officers conducting a joint operation between Reading Borough Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Fareham Borough Council.

Manj's licence permitted him only to accept pre-booked fares within the London area. The incident took place on Friday, 23 August, the first main day of the festival. He initially denied the charges during questioning but later pleaded guilty to plying for hire at Reading Magistrates Court on Friday, 7 February.

The court fined Manj £576 for the offence. He was also ordered to pay £800 in prosecution costs and a £230 victim surcharge, bringing the total penalties to £1,603.

Councillor John Ennis, lead for transport at Reading Borough Council, praised the collaborative effort of the licensing officers. "This is a positive result thanks to the joint efforts of Reading Licensing officers in partnership with our colleagues in Fareham and South Oxfordshire," he stated.

"Partnership working like this is more important than ever to uphold the high standards expected of private hire drivers and to ensure the safety of our travelling public."

Ennis added, "I’d like to sincerely thank the officers from Fareham and South Oxfordshire for their assistance with this prosecution.”

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The event in Rochdale brought together private hire and taxi drivers drivers, MPs, Rochdale Borough Council leadership team members, Trade Union representatives, Greater Manchester Police and community leaders to push for better conditions in the sector.

Speaking on behalf of the GMB Trade Union, Neil Smith emphasised the essential role that private hire drivers play in keeping our cities moving, despite facing rising costs, unfair competition from ride-hailing apps, and a lack of proper regulation.

Mr Smith stressed the need for fair pay, improved working conditions, and stronger recognition for drivers who work long hours to support their families and communities, both in the Northwest and throughout the UK.

The formation of the Rochdale Borough Bangledeshi Private Hire and Taxi Association (RBBPHTA) marks a crucial step in giving Rochdale’s private hire and taxi drivers a collective voice to advocate for their rights and influence policies affecting their livelihoods.

The GMB Union made it clear that our PHV members will no longer accept empty promises from policymakers and that real action is needed to ensure meaningful change.

Boshir Ahmed, Chairman of RBBPHTA, called for urgent action to protect private hire drivers from an oversaturated market.

He said: “Private hire drivers deserve protection like any other industry. Our income is being severely impacted, making it harder to earn a fair living.

“We need the Mayor of Manchester and the ten councils to CAP private hire vehicle licences. The current system benefits operators while leaving drivers struggling under unfair regulations.

“This must change. We need a fair system that safeguards our livelihoods.

“GMB Union has many members in the borough, and we will be working closely with GMB to resolve issues in Rochdale.”

Ahmed’s comments highlight growing concerns among drivers facing declining earnings. Many now see a licence CAP as essential for a fairer private hire sector in Greater Manchester.

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Shakil Ahmed, extended his congratulations to the newly formed association, emphasising the vital role private hire and taxi drivers play in public transportation and pledging his continued support for drivers.

The GMB pledged to work closely with its members, the RBBPHTA and other key stakeholders, to fight for fairer regulations, stronger protections and better industry standards across the UK.

The message was clear in Rochdale that unity is strength, and the campaign for justice in the private hire sector will continue until lasting improvements are secured.

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Blackburn with Darwen Council is taking a hard line on unsafe taxis, announcing that starting in March, any vehicle found with major faults during an MOT test will have its licence suspended immediately. This new rule means drivers will be prohibited from operating until the vehicle is repaired and retested.

Currently, drivers whose vehicles fail the MOT at a council-authorised testing station can continue working if they promise to fix the identified issues.

However, council officials state that too many drivers have abused this trust, continuing to drive unsafe vehicles and putting the public at risk.

The council's update to drivers explained: “This change is necessary because an increasing number of drivers whose vehicles have these faults are leaving the testing centre and carrying on working instead of taking their vehicles straight to a garage to have the repairs done.”

The new policy applies to vehicles tested at the Motor Vehicle Service Station on Davyfield Road. A taxi test costs £62, with retests costing £46 or £32, depending on the duration.

The council’s communication to drivers is clear: “Any vehicle found on test to have a dangerous or major fault (as categorised by the DVSA), will have its licence suspended and plate removed, and it must not be used for private hire or hackney work until the suspension has been lifted on a re-test or a new licence has been issued.”

Martin Eden, strategic director for environment and operations, emphasised the council’s commitment to passenger safety. “From Saturday, March 1, any vehicle that fails its MOT test and is categorised as ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ will have its licence suspended and number plate removed,” he said.

“This is to ensure that the vehicle is not used for taxi work or private hire until the ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ defects have been fixed. We have seen an increasing number of drivers put passengers at risk as they carry on working with defects, rather than getting their vehicle repaired.”

Mr Eden added: “Drivers should keep their vehicle in good order to ensure the safety of themselves and their passengers, and to avoid failing an MOT.”

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A would-be Aberdeen taxi driver's attempt to bribe test officials has ignited a fresh wave of controversy surrounding the city's stringent taxi licensing process.

Kashif Iftikhar, after failing the 80-question Street Knowledge Test a staggering twelve times, offered invigilators between £700 and £800 to pass, according to reports.

This incident has reignited long-standing concerns about the test's efficacy and fairness.

The Street Knowledge Test, covering streets, landmarks, routes, and the Highway Code, has been a point of contention in Aberdeen for years. Critics argue it's an outdated barrier to entry, exacerbating the city's taxi driver shortage, particularly during peak hours.

The test's relevance is further questioned by examples such as the inclusion of questions about long-closed establishments, such as: “How do you get to the Neptune Bar?”

Iftikhar's bribery attempts occurred during two separate testing sessions in September and November 2022. Both offers were rejected, and his tests were invalidated after he was caught using his mobile phone to cheat.

Despite his repeated failures, Iftikhar, who has 15 years of experience in hospitality and three as a delivery driver in Aberdeen, expressed his desperation to work as a taxi driver to support his family in an email to licensing officials.

The bribery incident has amplified calls for reform. With a dismal 18.5% pass rate, the test's effectiveness and fairness are under scrutiny.

The arrival of Uber in 2024 further complicates the situation, with such companies advocating for the test's complete removal. As the debate intensifies, the need for a more accessible and relevant licensing process in Aberdeen becomes increasingly apparent.

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