Follow PHTM
Posted on the 11th November 2024 in PHTM News
PAIR CONVICTED OF RUNNING SCAM PH OPERATION AFTER PROSECUTION BY LICHFIELD COUNCIL
Two Burntwood men have been prosecuted by Lichfield District Council after licensing officers caught them running a scam private hire operation.
In January 2024 licensing officers stopped a vehicle in Burntwood and, after finding a vulnerable passenger in the back of the car, discovered that both the passenger and the carer who had booked the journey had been duped into believing it was a genuine PHV.
The vehicle was uninsured, and neither the car nor the driver held private hire/vehicle licences. The subsequent investigation discovered that BP Cars, an operator licensed by the council, had knowingly passed jobs to the driver.
In order to protect the public, licensing officers immediately suspended the private hire operator licence held by BP Cars.
The operator was then called before the council’s licensing committee where councillors revoked the licence.
Cabinet Member Councillor Alex Farrell said: “Motivated by greed, two men put an unknown number of local people at risk through their disgraceful conduct.
"This scam saw passengers, including the vulnerable, being taken on journeys in an unlicensed and uninsured vehicle that had not met the safety standards required of a PHV, and by a driver who was unlicensed and had therefore not had criminal record or medical fitness checks.”
On 5 November 2024 both the driver and the operator appeared at Cannock Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to a range of licensing, fraud and driving offences.
The driver, Craig Matthews, 54, from Burntwood was given 6 points on his driving licence and a 12 month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £26.
The operator, Brian Peasley, 77, also from Burntwood and trading as BP Cars, was also given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £26.
Councillor Farrell added: “Both men now have a criminal record and will not be able to obtain a taxi licence in the UK.
"Taxi drivers and operators hold considerable responsibility and we expect the very highest of standards from them.”
Read another story
- TAXI LICENCE FEE INCREASES APPROVED BY POWYS COUNTY COUNCIL
The proposed eight per cent increase is estimated to generate an additional £6,300 for the council.
- UBER GETS GREEN LIGHT TO OPERATE IN PLYMOUTH FOR FIVE YEARS
Plymouth is set to become the first location in Devon to welcome Uber after the city council's licensing committee approved its application for an operator's licence.
- FAMILY OF NOTTINGHAM CABBIE MURDERED IN 1994 MAKE PLEA AS NOTTS POLICE REINVESTIGATE KILLING
Thirty years after the brutal murder of Nottingham taxi driver Ethsham Ul-Haq Ghafoor, known as Shami, his family is renewing their plea for answers as Nottinghamshire Police re-open the cold case.
- ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE WITH TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE CARS IN INVERNESS AND FORT WILLIAM
Highlands Road Policing Officers plus partners from Highland Council Trading Standards, carried out roadside checks on taxis and PHVs as part of an engagement initiative ahead of the festive season.
- STOCKTON CABBIE LOSES LICENCE OVER INTIMIDATING BEHAVIOUR AND RULE BREAKING
A Stockton driver has been stripped of his taxi/private hire licence following a series of incidents, including a hit-and-run, intimidation, littering and driving at police.
- TAXI DRIVERS FIGHT FOR A33 BUS LANE ACCESS IN READING
Over 200 people have signed a petition calling for taxi drivers to be granted access to bus lanes along Reading's A33 Basingstoke Road.
- BUCKS TAXI AND PRIVATE DRIVER LICENCE REFUSALS FOR SEX CRIMES DRUGS AND PHONE USE
In the year to September 30, 2024, 53 cabbie applications were rejected, more than double the previous year's figure of 20.
- NOTTINGHAM DRIVER JAILED FOR 16 MONTHS AFTER HIS DASHCAM RECORDED HIS SEX OFFENCES
Police say Imran Yaseen targeted the woman at about 11pm on 14 February after picking her up in Nottingham city centre.
- MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL EASES OUTDATED TINTED WINDOW RULES FOR TAXIS
The previous regulations required taxi windows to meet a specific light transmission level, which often clashed with the factory-fitted windows of newer vehicles.
- PROPOSED FARE HIKE IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Tunbridge Wells could soon become Kent's second most expensive place to hail a taxi.
- NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES: WELL DONE TO STUART RYAN OF SALFORD FIRM TAXI TRANSFERS
Owner of Salford firm Taxi Transfers, Stuart Ryan, saw a video about a local OAPs Christmas Party in December being charged £30 an hour for room rental.
- SURVEY BY UCLAN AND CHORLEY TAXI ASSOC TO FIND OUT IF PASSENGERS FEEL SAFE IN LANCS TAXIS
Users of taxis are being asked to take part in a short, anonymous survey during November to help understand what concerns they have. Their answers will potentially shape future improvements in the industry.
- NEWCASTLE MAN WHO SPAT IN A PH DRIVERS FACE AFTER HE WAS REFUSED A LIFT FINED £200
David Lye approached the cabbie on Clayton Street in Newcastle city centre on August 27 this year, but saw red when he was told he couldn't take fares off the street because he was private hire.
- CCTV IMAGE RELEASED OF MAN WHO FAILED TO PAY £49 TAXI FARE TO MALTON
Officers from North Yorkshire Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to following an incident in Malton where a taxi fare has not been paid.
- 12 WEEK SUSPENSION FOR BOLTON PH DRIVER WHO INJURED PEDESTRIAN AND LIED ABOUT IT
A private hire driver involved in a road collision which injured a pedestrian will be free to resume his job after a 12-week suspension.
- WORCESTERSHIRE CARRIES OUT SPOT CHECKS ON TAXI AND PHVS IN REDDITCH LATE LAST NIGHT
Supported by colleagues from West Mercia Police and the taxi engineer at Redditch Borough Council - three licences were suspended due to the vehicles having defects that made them unsafe.
- LICENCE CONDITION PROPOSAL - CASHLESS PAYMENT FACILITIES FOR LEEDS HACKNEY DRIVERS
Leeds City Council Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Service wishes to consult the hackney trade on a proposal to require all HCVs have a functioning cashless payment facility available for customers.
- TAXI DRIVERS DIVIDED OVER PROPOSED FARE HIKE IN FENLAND
Fenland DC is considering revising its table of fares for the first time since 2022 and while some support the move, others fear it could cripple the already struggling hackney carriage trade.
- UBER GRANTED LICENCE TO OPERATE IN BLACKBURN AND DARWEN
The decision has sparked concerns among local taxi and private hire drivers who fear it could significantly impact their business.
- GWYNEDD'S LICENSING PROCESS CHALLENGED EVEN THOUGH MAN WITH HISTORIC CONVICTION GIVEN LICENCE
A former school bus driver, with a 42-year-old conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm, has been granted a taxi licence by Gwynedd Council's general licensing sub-committee.
