A rogue private hire driver who lied about having a previous licence revoked has been prosecuted for fraud.
LeicestershireLive reports that Mohammed Mirza Noor, 51, from Leicester, had his private hire licence revoked in 2015 by Leicester City Council for plying for trade - but then lied to a different council about this in order to get a new licence.
Through his lies Noor abused a position of trust, magistrates ruled, as “members of the public would be getting into his taxi on trust yet not knowing he has lied to the council”.
Noor pleaded guilty to fraud at Leicester Magistrates’ Court last week and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work.
Noor said in an application to Blaby District Council for a new licence that he had never been refused a private hire or hackney carriage driver licence and had never held one with another council, the district authority said.
The council granted him a three-year licence. This was then renewed three years later in 2019. Noor again said he’d never been refused a licence or held a licence with another authority. Blaby District Council added.
However, when he came to renew in 2022, Noor admitted he had previously had his licence revoked.
The district council said, upon investigating, it was then told by Leicester City Council that he had previously been prosecuted for plying-for-hire offences and not having insurance, and his licence had then been revoked in 2015.
The district council refused his application and took steps to prosecute.
Noor admitted to lying to the council and deliberately failed to disclose information relating to his previous offences for personal gain during an interview with the council under caution in March this year, the authority added.
He then pleaded guilty to fraud by failing to disclose information when he appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday August 2.
He was given a 12-month community service order in which time he must complete 100 hours' unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs, including a victim surcharge, of £1,467.64.
Magistrates said Noor had abused his position of trust as “members of the public would be getting into his taxi on trust yet not knowing he has lied to the council”, adding he had conducted this “fraudulent activity” over a “sustained period of time”.
Cllr Les Phillimore, Blaby District Council portfolio holder for housing, community and environmental services, said: “This is a most satisfying result for us and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring anyone who provides false information to us will face the consequences.
"Being a taxi driver is a huge responsibility and we must be confident all our drivers meet our ‘fit and proper person’ criteria. When that isn’t the case, we will act – so let this serve as a clear message to other drivers and the public that lying and failing to disclose relevant information to the council will not be tolerated.”
Source: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/leicester-taxi-driver-court-after-8662258
A female taxi driver has been left badly shaken after being robbed at knifepoint in north Belfast during the early hours.
The Belfast Telegraph reports that police are investigating the report of a robbery in the Shore Road area on Saturday August 5.
“It was reported that two men flagged down a taxi in the Clareglen/Ballysillan Park area of Belfast at around 3.30am on Saturday morning and asked to be taken to the Shore Road,” said a PSNI spokesperson.
“When they arrived at their destination, in the Seamount area of the Shore Road, one of the men threatened the female taxi driver with a knife and demanded money.
“A sum of money was handed over and the two men then made off on foot. The taxi driver was not injured but was left badly shaken.
“One of the men was described as being aged in his 30’s, of slim build, with short fair hair, tanned skin, blue eyes and was wearing a blue coat with a capped hood.
"The other was described as also being aged in his 30’s, of heavy build with dark hair and facial hair and was wearing a black coat.
“An investigation is underway and anyone with any information or who may be able to help with the investigation is asked to call detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1719 07/08/23.
"A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”
A Scots mum has been left with an anecdote to last her the rest of her life after she gave birth in the back of a PHV that was taking her to the hospital.
The Daily Record reports that Caitlin Nuttall called a taxi on Tuesday, August 1, after realising she was going into labour at her home in Dundee.
Despite being picked up and rushed to the hospital by driver Jimmy Crerar of Tele Taxis (pictured with Caitlin) the 22-year-old's water broke on the way, leaving the pair with no choice but to opt for a back of the taxi birth.
Making it to Ninewells Hospital car park, Caitlin gave birth to a healthy baby girl thanks to Jimmy and some midwives who rushed out to lend a hand.
The mum-of-two explains that by the time the pair arrived at the hospital, she was fit to burst, with Jimmy sprinting into the ward get help.
Midwife's soon appeared, getting into the car with seconds to spare as Caitlin gave birth right there and then.
Amazingly, Caitlin and her baby were totally fine, with the mum back home and resting up with her newborn just six hours later.
Tele Taxis took to social media on Tuesday to share the incredible story, writing: "Not every day someone gives birth in a taxi.
"She never made it on time to Ninewells, then our driver Jimmy was in for a surprise. Congratulations to the passenger on the birth of their baby. Hope mum and baby are doing well."
The post has since attracted over 360 likes and dozens of comments from astounded users who heaped praise on Jimmy for his actions.
One user said: "I was in the labour suite and seen it from window. Well done to driver. Wolf whistled to get help from midwives."
Another joked: "Driver did what he had to do. Pressed the 'extra passenger' button on the meter."
A third quipped: "That's sweet - not the valeting bill though!"
Another added: "That's something else to add to his CV, emergency midwife. Well done and congratulations to the new family."
A fifth replied: "Well done Jimmy, not your everyday passenger. Congrats to the new parents."
Speaking on Friday, Caitlin said: "The taxi came so fast, Jimmy was lovely. He came to the door, helped me with the bags and reassured me that it was okay.
"We were just driving past Tesco and all of a sudden I felt the most horrible intense pain.
"At some point, I just remembered feeling my waters pop and saying 'Oh my god my waters just burst' and hearing 'What?'
"At some point the car stops, her head is fully out, we're in the car park of labour suite and she's about to have the rest of her body shoot out - I can feel it!
"[Jimmy] was already out the car like lightning and got the midwives out and the door opens and one of the midwives just catches her with her bare hands!
"It was a bit like a baby drive through.
"Bless his heart, he didn't bill me at all. I offered but he was just lovely and only cared if we were both alright."
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-taxi-driver-helps-woman-30631108
A man with convictions for “reckless” driving and setting fire to a car has been permitted to work as a taxi driver after promising he is a “changed man”.
GlasgowLive reports that Glasgow’s licensing committee handed a restricted one-year licence to Abdullah Monsaf after Police Scotland objected to his application.
He was also issued with a “severe warning” over his conduct.
A Police Scotland representative told councillors that the force believed Mr Monsaf is “not a fit and proper person to be granted a taxi driver’s licence”.
She said he had been fined £135 after he was “observed by police driving in a culpable and reckless manner” in October 2019.
Then, in February 2020, he “did wilfully set fire to a motor vehicle”, the officer added, and was given a community payback order of 45 hours.
Asked to explain his actions, Mr Monsaf said he was “hanging out with the wrong crowd”.
He denied setting fire to the car but said his “fingerprints were on it” and he pleaded guilty.
“I didn’t know initially what they were going to do, set it on fire,” he added. “Everyone hangs around with the wrong friends in their life when they are young.”
The driver said he was “a changed man”. He is now married and has been working for First Bus as “a professional driver”.
“On a daily basis, I have been dealing with the public as well and I have had no trouble,” he added.
He said he is working long shifts and wants the flexibility offered by being a taxi driver.
Mr Monsaf also said he has no points on his driving licence.
Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-man-convicted-setting-fire-27474646
The vice chair of an Oldham driver's association has suggested wheelchair users should be charged higher fares as figures show the town has a lower proportion of wheelchair-accessible taxis than any other Greater Manchester borough.
The Oldham Times reports that just 12 of the borough’s 85 traditional taxis, or 14.1 per cent, are wheelchair accessible, with fewer available than before the pandemic, new figures show.
Of all Greater Manchester boroughs, just Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan’s taxi fleets were not 100 per cent wheelchair accessible.
Additionally, just 1.6 per cent of the borough’s private hire vehicles are wheelchair accessible.
David Lawrie, director of the NPHTA, said WAVs are often too expensive for drivers to buy, with accessible electric vehicles costing up to £70,000.
Oldham Private Hire Association vice chair, Tariq Hussain, echoed this concern, and called on the council to help drivers towards buying WAVs, give longer licences, subsidise MoTs, and give permission for drivers to use the bus lane in an emergency.
Mr Hussain also said that fares should be higher when carrying a wheelchair – something which is not allowed under current equality legislation.
Experts suggest a decrease seen in the number of WAVs in England and Wales is due to a lack of training and certification for the safe handling and transport of wheelchairs.
DfT figures show Oldham had 1,105 licensed vehicles as of April, but only 28 could be used by people with mobility difficulties.
That is a decline from March 2020, when there were 39.
Rick Burgess, campaign lead for Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, called the idea of wheelchair users paying more "disgraceful", explaining that the pandemic was a "real reducer" of accessible taxi services and that no company is 100 per cent reliable.
Mr Burgess said drivers now often cluster around fare hotspots, such as train stations and entertainment venues.
He said difficulties in arranging transport can leave disabled people feeling "more isolated and less included in mainstream society", with choices limited and overheads increased.
Mr Burgess added that the idea of paying more for a wheelchair user would be exclusionary and illegal, but added that other options such as subsidised MoTs and changes to licensing could help.
Most local authorities require all or part of their taxi fleet to be wheelchair-accessible, but only five per cent of them have made it compulsory for private hire vehicles.
None of the Greater Manchester boroughs require PHVs to be wheelchair accessible in all or part of the fleet.
A DfT spokesperson said: “While it's down to local authorities to manage WAVs in their fleet, the Government is backing passengers with disability awareness training for drivers and bolstered laws, including fines, for those who fail to provide reasonable assistance.”
DfT figures show there were five taxis and PHVs for every 1,000 people in England and Wales at the beginning of April.
Oldham has a similar rate, with 4.6 per 1,000 people.
Cllr Elaine Taylor, cabinet member for housing and licensing at the council, said: “The shortage of wheelchair accessible minicabs across our country is concerning, and Oldham is not alone in facing this issue.
“We recognise that these vehicles are vitally important in helping people with disabilities to get around, and without extra provision for this mode of transport, more and more people will sadly continue to struggle when going about their daily lives.
“That is why more needs to be done at a national level to address this problem, including more support for drivers in purchasing this type of vehicle as local authorities cannot afford these additional costs.
“In the meantime, we do continue to offer drivers in our borough disability awareness training to help them better support their customers. All new taxi drivers must complete disability awareness training before they are licensed.
“In response to Mr Hussain’s other concerns, the licence fee cannot to be reduced as this amount is based on the costs to deliver the service rather than the type of vehicle being licensed.
“No passenger should also have to pay more to use this type of service than others, especially due to their mobility, as this is illegal.”
Source: https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/23697016.call-wheelchair-users-pay-oldham-taxis/
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was amongst the thousands who enjoyed the Battle Proms at Highclere Castle on 3 August.
Swindon residents could be facing a hike in taxi fares from October after councillors gave the green light to a £1 increase in the standard fare minimum charge.
Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
Chinese automotive giant Geely has deepened its commitment to the UK electric vehicle market with a £120m cash injection into London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC).