A cabbie was injured during an incident involving knifes and baseball bats on a Bristol street. Locals in Brislington reported a huge 999 response had swooped down to West Town Lane with a road closure set up as a result.
Eyewitnesses told BristolLive they had seen "armed officers" at the scene with the police helicopter also spotted hovering around the area. Avon and Somerset Police said officers came across the incident at about 9.15pm on 21 May after they found an injured man on West Town Lane.
A statement from the force said the victim, a man in his 50s, was a taxi driver who had dropped a number of youths off near to Choke Walk. Police said this was followed by an altercation between the group and another person which led to a car and building being damaged.
The other person, described by the force as "a male", is then said to have pursued the group back to the taxi carrying a knife. This then led to the driver sustaining an injury.
Officers on patrol found the injured man at about 9.15pm and paramedics were called. The driver was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Officers were told the youths left the scene reportedly with weapons including baseball bats. This sparked a search of the area before a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent causing grievous bodily harm.
An appeal for witnesses has been issued following the incident.
A police spokesperson told BristolLive: "Enquiries to identify all those involved are ongoing. A baseball bat was recovered by officers in the Callington Road area overnight.
"We'd please ask anyone with information about the incident to call 101 and quote reference number 5223118527. Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Source: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/taxi-driver-injured-brislington-knife-8459225
A family business that has been operating in the city for decades has warned it could face closure due to the next phase of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) impacting millions of pounds of revenue.
The Glasgow Times reports that Patons Accident Repair Centre on Lister Street is less than 500 metres from the boundary of Glasgow’s LEZ, but due to its location within the zone, it says roughly a third of its business will be wiped out when Phase 2 comes into effect.
Rolling out on June 1, the second phase of the LEZ will see all vehicles that don’t comply with emissions standards (diesel vehicles registered before 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006) prohibited from entering the city centre.
Motorists cannot pay to enter the zone. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will monitor vehicles entering the LEZ.
Non-compliant vehicles are automatically detected, and Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) are sent to the registered vehicle owner.
The fine starts at £60 and doubles each day the same non-compliant vehicle is detected in the zone.
Patons Accident Repair Centre, which has been operating in Townhead for more than 60 years, repairs vehicles that have been involved in accidents within a wide catchment area that extends beyond the borders of the LEZ.
It repairs around 150 vehicles per month, which are deployed to the shop by national insurance companies, brokers, and accident management companies.
Company director William Paton told the Glasgow Times that after reviewing the last two years’ work provision at the Accident Repair Centre, he found that 35% of the vehicles it works on are non-compliant.
He said: “We’ve taken every step possible for us to comply, however, we cannot control the customer's cars that are involved in accidents.
“And we are different to other businesses in town which rely on footfall or rely on people being the customer, we rely on vehicles.”
Roughly 20% of the vehicles Mr Paton services come in on a recovery truck. Most customers are able to drive their vehicles to the repair shop, but now those with non-compliant cars won’t be able to come to the repair shop at all.
He said: “We physically have to see the non-compliant vehicle, which means it’s not a case of the customer just finding another way to come to us.
“That customer is now no longer a customer. There is nothing I can do within my power to make them a customer again. So, through this legislation, I have lost every single customer with a car from a 15 plate and before.”
Mr Paton is currently sitting on thousands of pounds worth of parts that were ordered for existing jobs he can no longer carry out after June 1.
He said: “I don’t know what we’ll be doing with all the stock.”
Between June 2023 and June 2024, Mr Paton is expecting losses could reach between £1.75 million to £2.25m. The business relies on high turnover with low margins (about 2 per cent) so the losses are set to be catastrophic.
He said: “If we don’t get anything from the council, we’re probably not going to see out the next two years. And that’s no exaggeration.”
When Mr Paton was first made aware of Phase 2 of the LEZ, he took extensive measures to make sure his business was compliant, including helping staff members update their own vehicles.
The company’s fleet of 35 courtesy vehicles and three recovery trucks was updated to meet emission standards and staff were able to use company resources and interest-free loans to acquire compliant cars.
He claims that during the consultation process, his business was not adequately notified or contacted directly, and the first letter he ever received was in February 2023, almost a year on from the objection deadline of January 20, 2022.
It was only then he realised that despite operations being compliant, the new legislation would ‘chop an entire part of the market’ from the shop. His request for an exemption from the council was denied.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council says that since the LEZ was announced in 2018 "there has been an extensive programme of communications and engagement to raise awareness of the scheme, its timescale for introduction and the availability of funding to ease compliance".
They added: “There have been two LEZ consultations, in 2020 and 2021 – both of which were publicised across a variety of platforms, with the most recent consultation specifically seeking feedback on the Phase 2 design proposals, with almost 3,000 responses received."
The results of the public consultation in 2021 revealed that "half (51%) opposed Glasgow's LEZ overall, with opposition tending to be strong" and "views on proposals were mixed, with more tending to disagree than agree with the proposals".
The final submission document states that following the consultation feedback, "no changes were proposed to those other elements of the scheme which are at the discretion of the Council".
Mr Paton said: “It just feels like it’s been poorly thought out and we’re left in a horrible position because of it.
“Millions of pounds of revenue down. The overhead in here is massive. If we lose that work without the ability to replace it with other work that is compliant, there’s no guarantee we’re going to be here.
“We’ve been here over 60 years in Townhead, repairing vehicles, training apprentices, employing local staff, helping the community.
“We just feel like the council has completely let us down.”
Four nearby car dealerships including Henrys Skoda are also facing huge losses due to the LEZ.
Together with Paton Auto Repair, they proposed a new boundary that would potentially save their businesses, but it was rejected by the council.
Mr Paton said: “Between the five of us, it’s 250 potential jobs at risk here. And these aren’t part-time, two-shift-a-week jobs. These are full-time jobs, along with skilled tradesmen, and a lot of apprenticeships being trained.”
A Southampton private hire driver who sexually assaulted a woman after a night out has been jailed for more than six years.
HampshireLive reports that Hardeep Landa, 30, assaulted his 21-year-old victim in a car park on St. Mary’s Road in the early hours of October 26 last year.
Southampton Crown Court had heard how that the woman had been enjoying an evening out with friends and made a call to a friend in Bournemouth just before 12.30am to suggest she would be visiting them but she did not arrive.
She could not recall the events that unfolded beyond that, but was later told by friends the following day what had occurred.
The woman’s friends had found her, with the assistance of security staff from The Edge nightclub, in the back of a licensed private hire vehicle in a car park on St. Mary’s Road in a state of undress. Her shoes were found in the front footwell of the vehicle, her mobile phone on the driver’s seat.
Landa’s shoes were located in the back of the vehicle alongside his mobile phone.
A number of missed calls from concerned friends were made to the woman between 1.37am and 1.49am; before they located her in the vehicle and contacted police.
The court also heard how Southampton City Council officers from the Licensing Team worked with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary during the investigation to identify Landa as a licensed private hire driver.
Council officers revoked his licence with immediate effect while police enquiries were conducted. Footage from a camera inside the vehicle captured the assault.
It was subsequently provided by Southampton City Council as evidence – playing a critical role in securing a conviction against Landa.
On Friday May 19, Landa was jailed for six years and eight months. He was also made subject to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.
In a previous hearing at Southampton Crown Court on April 18, he pleaded guilty to one count of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.
In passing sentence, the judge described Landa’s actions and behaviour that evening as ‘both criminal and shocking’ and stated that ‘you took advantage of a very impaired young female and continued to assault her for your own sexual gratification’.
Detective Constable Emma Cooke, who led the investigation, said: “This was a vile attack on a woman who was clearly in a very vulnerable state that evening. Hardeep Landa showed no regard for the woman’s safety.
"He simply took it upon himself to prey on her vulnerable status in order to take advantage of her for his own sexual gratification. The impact that his actions have had on the woman are unmeasurable.
"It is clear to see that these have had a lasting, damaging effect on her.
“We know that this incident will have an impact on how women and young girls may view licenced taxi drivers in Southampton going forward, but we want to reiterate that the vast majority of taxi drivers are genuine and have no intentions of causing harm to their customers.”
Phil Bates, Licensing Manager at Southampton City Council, said: “The council undertake robust checks on all drivers licensed by them, including an enhanced police check every six months.
"This case highlights the excellent working relationship between the police and council officers by facilitating in the immediate revocation of the licence and the sharing of evidence, it also appears to be a prime example of the benefits of mandating the fitting of permanently recording taxi cameras.
“Southampton City Council led the way in mandating cameras in taxis and PHVs that are fully operational throughout journeys carrying passengers – and we remain one of a small number of councils to do so.
"This helps to ensure that Southampton-based licenced taxis are a safer option than licensed taxis elsewhere."
Did you know you’ve been able to submit your Self Assessment tax return for the 2022/23 tax year since 6 April 2023?
You might be thinking, now why would I want to do that, the deadline is not until 31 January? No one particularly enjoys organising their taxes, many find it a daunting task, and so of course it’s tempting to put it off while you can. But why not make this the year that you change your approach, and discover the benefits of early filing?
HMRC has recently revealed that the number of Self Assessment customers who choose to file their tax return on the first day of the tax year (6 April 2023) has more than doubled since 2018, with 77,500 customers submitting their 2022 to 2023 tax return this year compared to almost 37,000 customers on 6 April 2018.
Here’s why they’re doing it, and why you should join the growing numbers of early filers.
Early filing does not mean early payment
Choosing to file your tax return early does not mean you have to pay HMRC any money early. The 31 January deadline for payment remains unchanged. If you choose to pay your tax bill earlier for your own convenience, that’s fine, but it’s entirely up to you. When you file early, you get to know what your tax bill is going to be, which can help you plan ahead.
Know what you owe
Knowing what you owe means you can arrange your finances appropriately before the Self Assessment deadline on 31 January. It puts you in control so you can plan how you’ll make the payments to cover the bill, whether you choose to spread the costs over time or just stick with lump sum payments.
Get any refund faster
If you’ve paid too much tax during 2022-2023, HMRC will let you know as soon as your tax return has been processed and arrange for any overpayment to be refunded. That’s money in your pocket months before you’d get it if you put off filing your return until nearer the deadline.
Set up a budget plan
HMRC offers a Budget Payment Plan facility. Customers can choose how much and how often they want to pay by Direct Debit – putting you in full control of managing your bill.
You can find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill/pay-weekly-monthly
Have time to understand if you need help and to get that help
The cost of living crisis means many people are experiencing financial pressures right now and if you’re feeling the pinch, your tax bill will probably be a further source of worry. However, putting off filing your return isn’t the best idea. Filing early will mean you have more time to look into your payment options if you’re unable to pay in full by the deadline. HMRC is keen to help customers explore these options, which may include paying your tax bill in instalments through a Time to Pay arrangement, many customers can set this up online.
See if this could work for you here: https://www.gov.uk/difficulties-paying-hmrc/pay-in-instalments
Goodbye to last minute stress
There’s absolutely nothing worse than the panic that sets in with an impending and important deadline, which only gets worse when you realise you’ve made a mistake or have forgotten something that you need for your tax return.
HMRC offers the following additional advice for those interested in getting started with their tax return right now:
Hopefully we’ve convinced you that there are only positives to filing a Self Assessment early. So why not make a start today?
A cabbie was subjected to a "ferocious" and terrifying robbery during which he was punched, kicked, throttled and racially abused.
ChronicleLive reports that Newcastle Crown Court heard the taxi driver was asked to pick up customers from The Metropolitan pub, in Newcastle, at around 5.30pm on December 18 last year and Tams was one of two men who got in.
During a trip to the hostel where they were living, the cabbie felt intimidated by them.
When they got to the hostel, Tams asked the driver to wait but then came out and said he didn't need the taxi anymore and asked for the £10 which had been paid at the start of the journey to be handed back but was told the fare had already reached £8.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said: "The defendant became hostile and the driver was frightened and so returned the money. The defendant then proceeded to punch him to the face and demanded he hand over his takings for the evening.
"He handed over £40 and the defendant punched him again. He then got in the passenger seat and punched him again before getting out of the car, opening the driver's door and kicking him several times to the stomach."
Tams then got in the back of the car, shouting vile racist abuse and punched a plastic screen, causing damage. Mr Ahmad said: "He then grabbed him round the neck and pinned him to the side. He couldn't breathe."
The victim tried to drive a short distance, hoping he would get out but Tams then punched the car key, breaking it. The cabbie then ran from the car to seek help. He was left with a cut lip, bruising to his eye and a suspected broken rib.
The car was later found with liquid on the bonnet with a rag hanging out of the fuel tank but prosecutors could not prove who did that.
The taxi driver said in a victim impact statement: "The impact has affected every aspect of my life. I still feel very scared and keep getting flashbacks.
"I've been traumatised and I'm not sleeping well because I have nightmares. I honestly thought I was going to die when he was strangling me with the seatbelt.
"I prayed to Allah to save me and he said 'no-one is going to save you now, you are going to die.'"
He added that he was unable to work full time or help his wife with their three children as a consequence of what happened and added: "I would like the court to ask Christopher Tams why he attacked me when I told him to take anything he wanted and not physically assault me."
Tams, 19, of Heaton, Newcastle, has nine previous convictions and was on a community order, imposed last November for supplying class A drugs, at the time. He was caught in a crackdown after students had died but there was no suggestion he sold any of the drugs that caused death.
He pleaded guilty to robbery and racially aggravated criminal damage and was jailed for three years. Recorder Brian Whitehead told him: "It involved quite ferocious violence, punching, kicking, shouting racial abuse then getting in the back and grabbing him round the neck so he couldn't breathe."
Jane Foley, defending, said he had a troubled upbringing, spent time in care and added: "He remembers very little about the events with which we are concerned.
"He is a vulnerable young man with a history of mental health problems associated with complex childhood trauma."
Tams himself added: "I'm horrified in myself and want to apologise to the court and to (the victim)."
Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the moment a hooded figure set a taxi alight on a residential driveway.
A Drongan taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger after offering to waive her fare in exchange for sex.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
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.