A major road is closed and "bullet casings" have been spotted at the scene.
Merseyside Police officers are currently on Walton Lane, Walton - near Goodison Park - following an incident today, Tuesday, May 21.
Pictures taken by the Liverpool Echo show what appears to be bullet casings scattered on the road next to a red Delta private hire vehicle, which is within the cordon.
The photos also show the vehicle with a flat tyre and what appears to be pink power on the road.
A cordon is currently in place on Walton Lane in Walton.
Armed police and forensics also remain at the scene.
The full circumstances of the incident are not yet known.
Forensics were also seen photographing something on the path, however police blocked the view from the public using their vehicles.
Walton Lane between Spellow Lane and Anfield Road is closed in both directions.
Source: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/bullet-casings-spotted-near-delta-29213106
A taxi driver has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 and had six points added to his DVLA licence for illegally plying for hire at the Henley Regatta.
The Oxford Mail reports that on Friday, May 3, Ihsan Mehmood from Reading, was convicted of unlawful plying for hire and operating without the correct insurance.
The 41-year-old had pleaded guilty to the charges.
He appeared before Oxford Magistrates' Court on May 3, where he was fined £200.
In addition, he was ordered to pay a £160 victim surcharge, and £500 in prosecution costs.
On June 30, 2023, Mehmood was caught as the result of a test purchase operation carried out by South Oxfordshire District Council licensing enforcement officers and colleagues from other authorities.
They determined that Mehmood was not properly insured to trade at the Regatta, ferrying customers to and from the event.
Magistrates at the sentencing hearing heard how Mr Mehmood’s would have targeted unsuspecting members of the public.
While there was no evidence Mr Mehmood overcharged his passengers, the court heard how unlicensed journeys undermined public safety.
In mitigation, Mehmood said he understood the mistake he had made.
Mehmood also told the court that Reading Borough Council were likely to revoke his private hire licence following these convictions.
Mehmood was advised that it was up to Reading Borough Council to impose any further penalties they deemed appropriate in line with their licensing policy.
Councillor David Rouane, South Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet member for legal and democratic services, said: "Another positive result for our enforcement team, who work hard to make sure unlicensed - and consequently uninsured - taxis are stopped from operating in our district.
"We often work with colleagues from neighbouring councils to make sure we can stop taxi drivers illegally plying for hire, and ensure the safety of our residents.
"South Oxfordshire District Council will look to prosecute any driver caught plying for hire.
"Such illegal activity will not be tolerated, and our team of licensing officers will continue to be vigilant and take legal action against anyone breaking the rules."
Source: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24332557.henley-regatta-antics-see-taxi-driver-fined-1-000/
The arrival of Uber has raised concerns among established Ipswich taxi firms and drivers.
According to the Ipswich Star, the multi-national company has had a presence in Ipswich since 2021, as it partnered with Hawk Express to deliver private services across the town.
But on Monday, May 13, Ipswich Borough Council approved a full operating licence for the company, which has left some taxi services with mixed feelings.
It is understood that the company was able to operate fully from Monday, May 20.
A spokesman for Fast Cabs said: “Ipswich is such a small town - this will affect all taxi companies that have been running for some time, in such a big way.
“Ipswich is quiet for other taxi companies; we all spend a lot of money per month on advertising our companies for our self-employed drivers to earn their living, to support their families.
“This will have a big impact on all drivers and companies that are already established in Ipswich.”
Meanwhile, Mohammed Miah, a taxi driver for Hawk Express, said that the company’s introduction to Ipswich could not only hurt companies but also drivers.
He believes that Uber can create a situation where drivers registered in other towns could come to Ipswich and operate their cabs under the banner of Uber, which would “take businesses away for us”.
“But it’s not all bad, Uber is a big company coming into our town,” Mr Miah added.
“It would boost the town’s reputation for sure, especially with away fans coming in for Premier League games.”
Additionally, a spokesman for Fine Cabs raised concerns over contracts handed to taxi firms by Suffolk County Council.
They feared companies could be outbid and potentially lose out on school-run contracts from Suffolk County Council.
The cab firm spokesman said: "But what if being as big as they are Uber is the cheapest bidder, then it takes away crucial funds for us."
Suffolk County Council was approached for comment on this matter.
Councillor Ruman Muhith who sits on the Licensing and Regulatory Committee at Ipswich Borough Council said that while Uber's introduction to Ipswich is a positive for the town, the local taxi companies should be protected.
The borough council added: "As the local licensing authority, Ipswich Borough Council has a statutory duty to accept and determine applications from any persons or company seeking to register a Private Hite Operator Licence to allow them to offer a private hire service which employs registered drivers."
Source: https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24328298.mixed-feelings-uber-recieve-license-operate-ipswich/
Scrapping a taxi rule which stops refused applicants re-applying for a licence could have seen rapists, drug dealers and violent men repeatedly trying to gain a licence, councillors have ben told.
LancsLive reports that emotions ran high when when two Pendle councillors called for a rule to be removed, which currently stops rejected taxi applicants from submitting a fresh bid within 12 months of a refusal.
The bid was rejected but prompted wide debate. Taxi safety and vehicle checks have been raised regularly at Pendle Council meetings.
Councillors Faraz Ahmed and Sajjad Ahmed put forward a motion calling for the 12-month rule on failed applicants to be removed at the latest full council.
Cllr Ahmed, who has been a taxi committee chairman, said: "It's very important that a change should take place. Not being able to reapply within 12 months is unfair. We need to work with taxi drivers and the industry."
But Lib-Dem Cllr, Tom Whipp, said: "I assume there is a process to review and appeal decisions, if there's a feeling that the protocol has not been followed? It's right that people should not come back-and-back to overturn a properly made decision. Twelve months seems reasonable."
Pendle True Independent Cllr, Yasser Iqbal, said: "Taxi applicants face a system where council officers are often the judge, jury and executioner. Officers are not perfect and sometimes decisions can be wrong.
"I had a constituent who could not work for four or five months. He had four mouths to feed. It was serious. He appealed to a magistrates' court but there are delays.
"Also I am the son of a taxi driver. My dad could not work for some time when I was younger. It was a genuine struggle. There are human stories behind these cases."
But Conservative Cllr, Kieran McGladdery, also with taxi committee experience, said: " I think this is one of the most dangerous motions ever. There could be speeding motorists, drug crimes, sexual offences, assault and battery - any kind of crime with some applicants.
"We've had applicants who've kicked ten bells out of people, who have drugs convictions, or who had run someone over in a taxi.
"There is an allowance that says if someone did something wrong in the past and it has lapsed, it can be dealt with. But removing this section would allow the rapist, the drug dealer, people who were refused for good reason, to re-apply.
"Taxi licensing officers would be swamped with the worst-of-the-worst reapplying."
Conservative Cllr, Neil Butterworth, said: "Licensing is here to protect the public including children. We get reports on applicants' histories from officers and I totally believe what officers tell us.
"If we removed this policy, we'd have failed applicants coming back every two weeks. The system is already overloaded. I am totally against this."
Independent Cllr, Mohammed Iqbal, said: "Cllr McGladdery speaks with such rhetoric you'd think Nigel Farage was here. I served on the taxi committee for years. We never gave a licence to a rapist, a drug dealer or someone who batters their wife. It's a slur on councillors and officers.
"Also Cllr Butterworth says he relies purely on officers. But that suggests there is no point in being a councillor? If so, he should give up."
Cllr Iqbal said the current system relied too much on written statements. Many applicants were better at talking about their situations.
He added: "The taxi driver is a member of the public too. He lives in Pendle. He is to be listened to too."
Instead of scrapping the taxi policy, councillors asked the taxi committee and the executive for their views.
Source: https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/scrapping-taxi-licence-rule-blocked-29208042
An undercover operation in Lichfield has seen checks carried out to see if taxi drivers are complying with legal requirements to carry assistance dogs.
According to LichfieldLive, Lichfield District Council’s licensing officers and the Guide Dogs charity teamed up as part of the initiative.
Jessica Luke and her dog Pebble took journeys in taxis booked in advance and on a taxi rank.
The council said no drivers refused to take the fare, although one did drive off when the dog and owner approached a taxi rank. Checks later proved he had received a booking for another journey.
Cabinet member Cllr Alex Farrell said: “This operation was organised after receiving intelligence that taxi drivers have been refusing to carry visually impaired people accompanied by a working guide dog.
“I’m pleased that all the drivers who were checked during this operation complied with their legal requirement to carry guide dogs and thank them for doing so.
“Further operations are planned, and it’s worth reminding drivers that if they do refuse to carry an assistance dog, including a guide dog, they face having their licence suspended or revoked, and prosecution.
“Guide Dogs is a fantastic charity and I’m very grateful for their support in helping us protect the rights of visually impaired people in Lichfield District.”
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.