A teenager was found in possession of cocaine, LSD, ketamine and cannabis when he was stopped by police while dealing drugs from a taxi.
WalesOnline reports that Owain Harris, then 16, was seen by members of a specialist team targeting organised criminal drug activity, in Cardiff on March 24, 2021.
Their attention was drawn to a black taxi when the defendant got out and was seen running towards a house in Connaught Road, Roath. He approached another man before taking part in a drug deal.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday 10 May, heard Harris ran back towards the taxi before it stopped outside a Sainsbury store in Woodville Road.
The defendant was seen approaching a man who handed him bank notes in exchange for a package, before Harris walked back to the taxi.
Prosecutor Alex Greenwood said police stopped the vehicle on the A4161 and Harris and another man were located in the back seat, with the taximeter running at £45.
Both were arrested and Harris was found in possession of two small paper tabs of LSD, grip seal bags containing 0.313g, £690 in cash, and a phone.
He was asked if he had anything in his trousers and replied "I have four tabs of acid down my pants".
The defendant's then address was searched on March 25 when bags containing 17.33g and 21.68g of cannabis were found, as well as a large quantity of nitrous oxide cannisters, 2.438g of cocaine, 5.46g of ketamine, electronic scales, cling film, a knife with a white substance on it, and £30 in cash. The total value of the drugs seized was wroth around £1,000.
Harris, now 18, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs. The court heard he was of previous good character.
In mitigation, the court was told Harris had "shown genuine remorse" since he had committed the offence.
Defence barrister Peter Donnison said there was "no excuse" for the delays in the case reaching court.
Sentencing, Recorder Andrew Hammond said: "We regularly see people whose lives have been totally ruined by class A drugs and that's the trade you chose to involve yourself for your own financial gain."
Harris was sentenced to 16 months detention in a young offenders' institute suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work, 10 days rehabilitation activity requirements and a two-month tagged curfew.
Source: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/teenage-drug-dealer-told-police-26886402
Taxis throughout Inverclyde will soon be able to have CCTV fitted after a series of attacks and robberies in recent years - including one which left a cabbie scarred for life.
According to the Greenock Telegraph, in a landmark decision, on Tuesday 9 May, councillors voted unanimously to allow operators to have cameras in their cabs in a bid to end a litany of violent incidents.
The move comes after trade bosses and elected members called for a ban on CCTV in taxis to be lifted following an attack on a driver at Nelson Street last August which left him permanently disfigured.
Members of the general purposes board have now approved a new policy which will allow drivers to install and operate CCTV cameras within their vehicles.
It is hoped that the new measures will help prevent and detect crime and assist insurance companies in investigating motor insurance incidents.
Councillors also backed a motion from councillor Martin McCluskey to instruct officers to run a public consultation on the use of dashcams in taxis and private hire cars, with the intention of integrating the outcome into the new policy at a later date.
Speaking in favour of approving the new policy and holding the consultation, the Labour politician said: “I think it’s going to make a really big difference to people and I know it’s something that for a long time operators and taxi drivers in the area have asked for.
“I don’t think it’s going to make things better just in terms of safety for drivers but I think it’s going to improve safety for passengers as well and hopefully also give those who are thinking of entering the trade a bit of reassurance.
“We have a shortage of taxi drivers in Inverclyde at the moment and it would be good to see more people enter the trade.
“Hopefully this will provide people with more reassurance about their safety because I know that’s been a barrier in the past.”
Board members gave council officers authority to commence consultation on the installation of cameras in local cabs last September in response to taxi operators’ calls.
It received a total of six responses from local firms, with every response supporting the draft policy.
All taxis and private hire cars with CCTV will be required to display signage indicating that it is in operation and explaining the purpose of the recording.
Images stored in the CCTV system can be retained for a maximum of 31 days, with the policy also setting out requirements around the use of the recordings.
The approved document states that the systems should not be used to record conversations between members of the public as it is ‘highly intrusive’ and says that the CCTV should not have a sound recording facility wherever possible.
The driver injured on Nelson Street was one of a number who have been threatened or harmed while working in taxis or private hire vehicles in recently years.
Earlier this year the Telegraph told how a masked knifeman had held a blade against a taxi driver’s throat in a terrifying 2am robbery and threatened to ‘cut’ the driver before fleeing with just £50 in coins.
In 2020, a pair of men were charged with committing separate knifepoint robberies against local drivers within minutes of each other.
Another driver was held up at Greenock Cemetery in 2019 after a thug duped the cabbie into a bogus fare, however the would-be robber fled with nothing after the brave vehicle owner grabbed his knife and snapped it.
A teenager was branded a thug by a sheriff in November of 2018 after punching a driver in the face during a late night incident on Roxburgh Street.
Council officers told councillors at Tuesday’s meeting that they were optimistic the new policy could be implemented quickly following its approval.
Taxi and private hire operators in South Ayrshire are being urged to remember their responsibilities when it comes to vehicle maintenance after concerns over a "worrying trend".
The Ayr Advertiser reports that South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel issued the reminder amid concerns over the conditions of vehicles licensed by the authority.
There are currently 99 taxi and 149 private hire vehicles operating across South Ayrshire.
Once of the conditions of their licence to operate, is that taxi and private hire vehicles must undergo an annual inspection and an MoT.
This test should take place every six months if the vehicle is over seven years old.
Every vehicle should be safe and roadworthy in the interests of public safety, as well as in an acceptable and comfortable standard for passenger travel.
At the latest meeting of the Regulatory Panel, councillors heard that of the 32 taxi vehicle tests that took place between January 1 – March 31, 2023, there were six fails (19 per cent) compared to just two fails (six per cent) during the same period last year.
For private hire vehicles, of the 38 vehicles tested between January 1 – March 31, 2023 there were 11 fails (29 per cent) which is similar to this time last year.
Councillor Kenny Bell, chair of South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel, said: “This is a worrying trend, and one we would like to address.
“We’re reminding operators that they have a responsibility to check their vehicles regularly and to ensure they have robust inspection and maintenance plans in place.
“Passengers and other road users need to be confident that these vehicles are well maintained and roadworthy at all times.
“Where there is a pattern of failure for a particular vehicle, we do have the power to suspend a licence. This would always be a last resort, but safety must be our primary concern.”
With summer just around the corner, hay fever season is well under way, many are already beginning to feel the symptoms. If you're one of the millions of people who suffer from allergies, you know how miserable this time of year can be and will probably be reaching for those precious antihistamines.
However, according to DerbyshireLive, motoring experts are issuing an urgent message to drivers to make sure their hay fever medicine doesn’t mean they are driving illegally.
Many drivers are unaware of the laws surrounding over-the-counter medication for their summer allergies.
The law doesn’t distinguish between drug driving caused by illicit drugs and drug driving caused by over-the-counter or prescribed medication.
Any substance which affects driving ability could lead to a conviction. This means that even antihistamines taken to relieve the effects of hay fever, could result in serious, life-changing charges.
Some hayfever medication can cause drowsiness or other side effects that can impair your driving. If you're caught driving while under the influence of medication, you could face a fine or even lose your licence.
So before you take any medication, be sure to read the label and check for any warnings about driving or operating heavy machinery.
If you're not sure, it's always best to err on the side of caution and avoid driving until you know how the medication will affect you.
Especially as, if convicted, motorists could expect to receive at least a one-year driving ban, unlimited fines, up to six months in prison and a criminal record. Additionally, for 11 years afterward, condemned drivers will have the conviction displayed on their licences.
The NHS strongly advises those who take medications prone to drowsiness - such as chlorphenamine, cinnarizine, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine or promethazine - to avoid driving and operating machinery.
Many prescribed and over-the-counter hay fever medications do contain these drugs which cause drowsiness, so it’s always important to check which tablets are being taken.
The penalties for drug driving are severe, even if the driver has innocently taken drowsy-prone hay fever medication.
Greg Wilson, founder and chief executive officer of car insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, said: “You might not think that taking your hay fever tablets could lead to a criminal conviction for drug driving, but in actual fact it easily can.
“If you suffer from allergies and take medication to relieve the symptoms, it’s imperative to check that what you are swallowing won’t cause drowsiness before you get in the car.
"Your driving abilities can be seriously impaired from innocently taking hay fever medication, such as blurred vision, slow reaction times and drowsiness behind the wheel.
“Driving in an impaired state under the influence is a very serious matter, meaning the penalties for doing so can be life-changing.
"Even if you take your daily dose of over-the-counter antihistamines before you set off on a regular drive, if your medication warns of drowsiness, you are putting yourself and other road users' lives in jeopardy and risking serious penalties.
“We’re urging drivers who suffer from summer allergies to check the details of their medication to avoid these serious charges.”
Source: https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/health/hayfever-medication-could-cost-you-8425694
Last month, Uber announced plans to be a “one-stop shop” for transport.
The Evening Standard reports that today, it’s announced the next step on that journey: the ability to book both domestic and international flights from the same app that Londoners have used for private hire services for more than a decade.
Flight booking will be provided by the online travel agent Hopper and, according to Uber UK’s General Manager, Andrew Brem, will take “as little as one minute”.
Upon entering travel details and the dates, Uber users will be able to select both the departing and returning flights of their choice, before paying in the app.
Uber says that with “major carriers” you’ll also be able to select seats in the app.
While holidaymakers with an eye for a bargain will likely prefer to shop around using the likes of Skyscanner, the change certainly has convenience on its side.
And travellers will enjoy the benefits that Hopper offers its customers directly. These include a Flight Disruption Guarantee, the ability to cancel or change for “any reason”, and Price Freeze — where you can lock in a price for a small deposit while you make other arrangements.
With Uber recently introducing step-by-step airport directions, and now supporting trains across the National Rail network and Eurostar; coaches with National Express and Megabus; and even Thames Clippers, it really is turning into a one-stop app for travel in the UK and beyond.
However, to begin with, flights will be exclusive to UK customers.
“We’re incredibly pleased to introduce flight bookings as the latest addition to Uber’s suite of travel booking options,” said Brem.
“Over the last 12 months with the addition of rail, coach and now flight bookings, Uber is truly a one-stop travel solution.”
The feature will be available to all UK users “this summer”. However, if you’re booking your flights for the school summer holidays, you probably won’t want to leave it until then, no matter how convenient it aims to be.
Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/uber-flight-booking-uk-transport-app-b1080045.html
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.