A cabbie who raped young girls aged 12 and 13 two decades ago is facing years behind bars after being found guilty after a trial.
The Star reports that Adam Ali, 43, used his car to drive vulnerable youngsters to various locations in Rotherham, South Yorkshire between 2002 and 2004.
Victims of Ali, known as Razwan Razaq at the time, were scared to report what he did to them until in their 30s.
The pair bravely spoke out after National Crime Agency officers launched Operation Stovewood - the UK’s single largest law enforcement investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse.
One girl was 12-years-old when she was introduced to Ali by a friend.
He drove her to his house in Bramley, near Rotherham, where he sexually abused and raped her multiple times.
Ali and his friends groomed a second victim, aged 13, by plying her with drink and drugs over the course of several months.
Under the pretence of being concerned for the girl’s welfare, Ali offered to drive her home but raped her partway through the journey.
At the time Op Stovewood begun, Ali was serving an 11-year prison sentence for rape of a girl and two counts of sexual activity with another girl in Rotherham, following an investigation by South Yorkshire Police.
After Ali was released in April 2023 and officers were notified he planned to travel to Pakistan.
Concerned he would not return to the UK, investigators gathered evidence required for charges.
At Sheffield Crown Court, Ali was found guilty of seven sexual offences including rape and indecent assault. He is due to be sentenced on June 25. NCA senior investigating officer Stuart Cobb said: “The victims showed immense courage in recounting Ali’s horrendous abuse.
“I cannot imagine how difficult it was for them to relive their experiences during the trial, yet they gave brave and eloquent accounts.
“This case highlights how the National Crime Agency ensures child abusers face justice, no matter how much time has passed since they committed their crimes.”
Liz Fell, a CPS specialist prosecutor, added: “Adam Ali purposefully targeted his victims with the view that he could exploit them for sex.
“Child sexual abuse is a traumatising crime, the devastating impact of which can last a lifetime.
“We would like to commend the victims in this case for coming forward and reporting what happened to them. It is because of their evidence that we were able to secure a conviction and bring their abuser to justice.
“I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse takes place.
“I encourage any victims of child sexual abuse and sexual violence to report the crimes committed against them to the police. It is never too late to seek justice.”
Op Stovewood started in 2014 and identified more than 1,100 victims.
So far NCA officers have made more than 200 arrests and secured 28 convictions, with more than 50 active investigations ongoing.
A private hire driver has been hit with financial penalties of more than £1,400 and given eight penalty points on his licence after Reading Council licensing officers caught him illegally plying for hire during Reading Festival in 2023.
Mr Muhammed Shahzad, from Reading, pleaded guilty to illegally plying for hire, and therefore operating without insurance, at Reading Magistrates Court on 19 April 2024.
Mr Shahzad was licensed by South Oxfordshire District Council, but illegally picked up undercover officers in Reading.
On 27 August 2023, during Reading Festival, undercover licensing enforcement officers approached Mr Shahzad in Addison Road, Reading, an area known for drivers illegally plying for hire during the Festival period.
He agreed to take the officers to Henley-on-Thames for £50, without the required prior booking.
At Reading Magistrates’ Court on 19 April 2024, Mr Shazad was fined £922 for the offence of plying for hire and operating without insurance.
Further prosecution costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £369 was also ordered, to be paid at a rate of £100.
The court also endorsed Mr Shahzad’s driving licence with eight penalty points for the offence of using a motor vehicle without valid insurance.
Bedford Borough Council’s roof sign requirements for private vehicles could lead to confrontations when minicab drivers refuse to pick up an unbooked passenger.
But according to Bedford Today a council’s licensing officer said these roof signs are a “community safety issue”.
Mr David Masih attended the council’s General Licensing Committee on April 25, to speak about roof signs on behalf of the borough’s private hire trade.
“The policy from the Department for Transport has been updated,” he said.
He drew the committee’s attention to the updated section which states: “Licensing authorities should not permit roof signs of any kind on private hire vehicles.
“Regardless of the wording required on such a sign it is likely to increase awareness of the vehicle and the likelihood of being mistaken for a taxi.
“This increases the success of those illegally standing or plying for hire and may lead to confrontation when private hire vehicle drivers refuse a request for a journey that has not been prebooked.”
Mr Masih said: “Having an illuminated sign on taxis and prohibiting them from private hire vehicles will provide a simple way for the public to differentiate between the two services.
“We encourage all licensing authorities to promote the difference [between them].
“We believe that the safety benefits that were initially envisaged when implementing the roof signs have been eroded over the years,” he said.
He added that improvements in technology, including sending the driver’s picture to the user, have improved safety, and that a neighbouring council had already removed the need for roof signs on private hire vehicles.
“It seems roof signs are more of a costly hindrance and of almost no benefit to the ride users,” he said.
Gillian Anderson, manager for service application, said Mr Masih was correct that the guidance had changed.
“However, along with a lot of other licensing officers across the country, my view remains that the roof signs are a community safety issue and they do help vehicles be identified,” she said.
“[They] enable members of the public to identify a private hire vehicle if they wish to make a complaint.
“They are clearly defined; the yellow signs are for hackney carriages and the green signs are for private hire,” she said.
Councillor officers will look into Mr Masih’s request regarding roof signs for private hire vehicles, and this will be debated by the committee at a later date.
An Edinburgh taxi has crashed through railings in the city centre on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Daily Record, police rushed to Forres Street at around 12.30pm, after reports of a car crash.
Images from the scene show a taxi having smashed through metal railings, leaving the vehicle hanging over the edge of a sudden drop.
Both Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene but there were no reported injuries, Edinburgh Live reported.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated: "Around 12.10pm on Wednesday, 22 May, 2024 we were called a reports of a single vehicle crash on Forres Street, Edinburgh.
One resident who witnessed the incident said: "Serious sounding and looking car crash in Edinburgh today, we heard a loud bang and looked outside to see."
Another concerned resident added: "We were just working in a building down the street, we heard a big bang and then came out here.
"From the front of the taxi it doesn't look that bad but from the side it looks scary The railing has come away as well. The driver seems okay though."
A third witness stated: "It looks pretty bad, the driver was talking to officers as I was walking by. The area is cordoned off around.
"Officers attended and there were no reports of injuries.
"The driver of the vehicle was issued with a fixed penalty notice in connection with the incident."
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/edinburgh-taxi-crashes-through-city-32869250
Four people have been arrested after a taxi driver was 'threatened with a gun' in Bolton in the early hours of Monday 20 May.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Greater Manchester Police attended the scene on Tong Road, Little Lever, at around 3am to reports of a firearm being used to intimidate a taxi driver.
The weapon was later confirmed to have been an imitation firearm.
No serious injuries were reported at the scene and police have confirmed there is no wider threat to the local community.
Four people, three men and a woman, aged in their 20s, were arrested shortly afterwards and remained in custody to be questioned by detectives.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.
A pilot emissions reduction grant scheme providing financial support for hackney carriage drivers to upgrade to cleaner EURO 6 and fully battery powered vehicles has been launched.
The ride-hailing giant has submitted an application for an operator licence to Darlington Borough Council, with a decision expected in August.
Darlington could soon see Uber cars on its streets after the ride-hailing giant applied for a licence to operate in the town.
Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has revoked the licences of two taxi drivers following a series of speeding offences.
A Northampton taxi driver has been found guilty of trafficking cocaine between his home city and Milford Haven.
The move comes after concerns were raised by the taxi industry about the rising cost of purchasing new vehicles.
Guide Dogs charity has asked licensing authorities in England for their support in sharing guidance on the law on carrying guide or other assistance dogs with all taxi and private hire operators.
Reading Taxi Association (RTA) chairman Asif Rashid has slammed Reading Borough Council's proposed phase-out of older petrol and diesel cabs by 2028, calling it a financial burden for drivers.
Dorset Council is poised to review taxi fares across the region, excluding Weymouth and Portland which have separate regulations.
A North Belfast man, Ruairi Fintan Muldoon (31), has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with an additional 12 months on supervised release for a botched attempt to rob a taxi driver.
Passengers are been invited to take part in a survey aimed at finding out if the taxi trade in West Suffolk is accessible to all.
A Glasgow man, Darren Gray, 31, launched into a verbal tirade and racially abused a taxi driver on Paisley Road West on August 19th, 2022.