A taxi passenger was arrested after class A drugs were found in the vehicle during a stop by police officers in Hove.

Plain-clothed officers from the Tactical Firearms Unit (TFU) spotted the passenger acting suspiciously in Cromwell Road on Friday, October 4.

The taxi was stopped around 6 pm, and a search revealed the drugs.

Erblind Daxha, 28, was arrested at the scene and later charged with possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

He appeared before Brighton Magistrates' Court on Monday, October 7, and was remanded in custody.

Daxha is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court on November 4.   

Inspector Oli Fisher of the TFU said: "Our officers play a crucial role in keeping the public safe. When they're not responding to serious incidents, they actively target offenders involved in drug-related activities.

"This arrest is just one example of their success in keeping our communities safe."

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Windsor and Maidenhead Council is considering ditching the traditional purple livery for licensed hackney carriages, replacing it with a simpler design that features the borough's coat of arms.

Currently licensed taxis in the Royal Borough must be white with a purple bonnet and boot and feature its coat of arms. 

The council says that the change will reduce costs for drivers while still maintaining a recognisable appearance of a licensed cab in the Royal Borough.

The proposal comes after a survey last year found that 65.8 per cent of the 329 people who responded thought the livery should remain as it is.

It concluded that while many residents valued the current livery for its distinctiveness, some also expressed concerns about the expense of maintaining it.

One resident, who supported keeping the purple livery, said: "It's a clear visual clue that the car is a licensed RBWM taxi. You have to be careful these days about getting into cars with no clear markings."

Another said: “It instils confidence that you're getting into a taxi that is safe and authorised. There are too many dodgy unofficial drivers out there. The livery creates a sense of pride and security - especially for women. They also look nice for visitors and support our heritage.”

However, another resident noted the financial burden on drivers, saying: “I do not think it provides any benefit as people know a hackney carriage has a meter and taxi sign. It costs the drivers a lot of money anywhere between £1,500/£2,000 to wrap car and stickers cost £200.”

After the survey, councillors on the Royal Borough’s licensing panel agreed in February this year that the livery should be changed ‘to ease the burden on drivers whilst still ensuring the cars are recognisable’.

Now they are being asked to approve a new design that says licensed cabs must be white and have a crest on both of its front doors. The crest must also indicate if the car is electric or hybrid.

The licensing panel is set to make a decision on the proposed livery change on Monday, October 14.

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A London cab driver who miraculously survived a heart attack has launched a fundraising campaign to provide more defibrillators across the city.

Paul White, 64, collapsed during a martial arts class in Wimbledon. His instructor immediately called 999, and paramedics used a defibrillator to revive him after his heart stopped for 20 minutes.

Mr White, a black cab driver for 25 years, says he is “fortunate to still be alive” and thanked paramedics for their lifesaving support.

"If it wasn't for their help and the use of a defibrillator, it would have been a very different outcome.

"Sadly, I won’t be able to drive a cab again but I have retained the knowledge that cabbies need, so I’ll always be a cab driver at heart.”

After undergoing heart surgery, Paul and his wife, Paula, joined a fundraising walk to support the London Ambulance Charity's new London Heart Starters campaign. The campaign aims to purchase more defibrillators for areas in need.

"Defibrillators and chest compression do work and Paul is living proof of it," Mrs White said.

"If you perform CPR and use a defibrillator in time and do it correctly, people can still be here.

“I cannot thank the ambulance crews enough. They persevered, shocked him eight times and now I have my husband back.”

Paramedic Laura Smith, who treated White, emphasised the importance of defibrillators in saving lives.

"With every patient, we do our absolute best to make that happen," she said.

To find out more about the Heart Starters campaign visit: https://www.londonambulancecharity.org.uk/Appeal/heartstarters

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Dozens of angry Uber drivers took to the streets of Bristol on Wednesday, 9 October, to protest against the company's recent decision to slash customer fares by 50%.

The drivers say that the fare cuts have significantly reduced their earnings, making it difficult to cover their expenses in the face of rising living costs.

In addition to fairer wages, they are also demanding a reduction in Uber's "dynamic" commission and a more transparent communication system regarding fare changes.

Florin Talos, an Uber driver of four years, encouraged customers to use alternative platforms.

"Our earnings are half," he said. "We need to stay more on the road, which is not safe. We cannot see our family, because we need to earn more money to keep up with expenses."

The drivers argue that private hire drivers are essential to Bristol's transportation network, but that many are facing unsustainable financial situations due to the recent changes.

They have vowed to continue their protests until Uber addresses their demands.

The drivers gathered outside Uber's office on Upper York Street, only to find it closed. They plan to continue their protests every Wednesday until their demands are met.

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A Derby taxi driver has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to transferring £1m of criminal money.

Serwan Mahmoud, 43, was pulled over by police on the M4 near Cardiff, they found £76,000 stuffed in the boot, two iPhones and £450 elsewhere in the car.

Following a search at his home, officers found £7,000 in cash in a carrier bag hidden in a wardrobe and $1,800 in a child’s bedroom, along with various other items.

Mahmoud told police he believed his actions were legitimate and this was the first time he had been involved in crime.

However, analysis of the phones showed regular transfers of large amounts across the UK.

He admitted to being involved in the operation, claiming he was repaying a debt to a criminal gang who had helped pay for his son's medical treatment. 

The court heard that Mahmoud had been approached by the gang after his son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. They offered to cover the medical costs, and in return, he agreed to transport large sums of money around the UK.

Prosecutor Clare Wilks said Mahmoud "must have been very trusted to have the volume of money he had on him when police stopped him".

Police found evidence of regular transfers of money between Mahmoud and the gang, with journeys made to London, Newcastle, Southampton, and Manchester.

The money is understood to have been sent to Iran with the group sending money at an inflated exchange rate. Ms Wilks told the court the "organised" group was charging £86 for $100 - making a profit of £4 to £5 per $100. 

The analysis of the data was in excess of £1m.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said that while Mahmoud was remorseful, his actions were "an essential part of the operation." 

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