A teenager has been jailed after a specialist police team seized two knives when they pulled over a taxi.
The force’s knife crime team took a machete and a lock knife off the streets after stopping the vehicle in Nottingham city centre around 12.10pm on 7 January 2025.
The team had spotted the occupants of the taxi behaving suspiciously and pulled it over in Whitechapel Street.
Mohammed Moussa attempted to exit the vehicle and flee but was quickly handcuffed by officers.
It was discovered he had a sheathed machete concealed inside his waistband.
Moussa was arrested and charged with possession of a knife in a public place.
The 19-year-old, from Nottingham, pleaded guilty to the offence and was jailed for eight months when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court one day later on Wednesday 8 January.
Also inside the taxi was Laquarne Fogo, 20, of Cameron Road, Derby.
During searches, he was found to have a lock knife hidden in his underpants.
Fogo also pleaded guilty to knife possession and has been remanded in custody until 29 January 2025 when he is due to be sentenced.
PC Ken Tinley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This proactive vehicle stop has allowed us to seize and destroy two blades, and place two knife carriers before the courts.
“This is exactly the sort of outcome the knife crime team was established to achieve.
“Everything we do as a team is geared towards taking knives off the streets and bringing anyone who carries them to justice..
“There is never any excuse for anyone to be carrying a blade in public. It puts themselves and anyone they come into contact with at risk of harm.
“As this incident also highlights it can very quickly lead to you being put behind bars.”
The incident occurred around 12:15pm on Shaw Road in the Derker area of Oldham.
Shams Pervaiz, from Watford, had his licence taken away with immediate effect by the council’s licensing department after the incident was reported to the council.
Licensing officers were successful in their bid to the government’s Transport Innovation Fund, paving the way for free cameras to be fitted in order to boost driver and passenger safety.
Jennifer Anne Cowie, 40, appeared before magistrates on Tuesday, 14 January, where she admitted to the offences.
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Alister Gill, a driver with over 25 years of experience, was observed smoking a cigarette by a Licensing Standards officer on 11 November.
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Sarah Connolly appeared before the licensing committee on 8 January, facing opposition from councillors due to two prior offences.
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Bliss Cars247 recently celebrated achievements made over the last year in partnership with the charity Berkshire Vision.
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Steven Gribble, 26, admitted holding a screwdriver to the driver's neck and stealing around £50 in cash.
Norwich City Council is reviewing its taxi licensing policy to enhance passenger safety, particularly for children and vulnerable adults.