A man has been charged by police following an alleged incident involving a female in the back of an Uber PHV in Rochdale.
Greater Manchester Police investigated after a video was circulated on social media.
Officers have now charged Mohammed Jamal, 37, of Shaw, Oldham with soliciting. He has been bailed ahead of his appearance at court. He is to appear before Magistrates at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' court on May 4, 2023.
Jamal has also been banned by Uber after the video emerged appearing to show him with his trousers down in the rear of his cab with the woman.
In the footage, Jamal is seen to pull up his pants before repeatedly saying ‘I’m sorry’ and then driving away.
The mobile phone footage was shared widely on social media when the man with the mobile phone knocks on the window, the clip shows the driver pulling up his jogging bottoms, stepping out of the rear of the car and then getting into the driver’s seat and driving off.
The man shooting the clip is heard to tell the driver: “Yo, what you’re doing? Brother, what are you doing? In the month of Ramadan and you’re doing stuff like this? What the f*** are you doing? This is disgusting. What are you doing? I’ve got kids inside here.”
Capturing the badge and the registration of the Toyota Auris, he is heard to add: “What kind of taxi are you? You dirty b***ard.”
The driver repeatedly responds ‘I’m sorry’ before driving away.
Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd told the M.E.N: “It’s clear there has to be a proper investigation into this. Uber has said they are investigating and that’s good.
“The safeguarding of young people vulnerable by age or vulnerable more generally is paramount. There has to be a proper investigation to make sure we are doing what we can, if it’s appropriate, to safeguard the woman in the taxi and to give reassurance to the wider public that these things will be dealt with.”
An Uber spokesperson said: “We are horrified by what is depicted in the video and are taking action. We have banned the driver while we investigate and are working directly with the police.”
A spokeswoman for Rochdale Council said: “This is a live police investigation and we are liaising with GMP with a view to acting on any information they confirm and share with the council.”
The force confirmed that the charge was in relation to an alleged incident involving an adult female in a taxi in Thames Street in Rochdale in the early hours of Easter Sunday (April 9).
Considerable increases in running costs and the cost of living has justified a third increase in taxi fares in 15 months, the Guernsey Taxi Drivers’ Association has said.
According to the guernsey Press, maximum fares increased by 4.51% on Monday 3 April. That followed a 5.35% increase in April 2022 and a 3.34% rise in January 2022.
Head of the association Nicki Bessin said the latest rise was needed for several reasons.
"There has been a considerable increase in running costs, plus the cost of living has had a bearing on most, if not all, industries across the island, and taxis are no exception," she said.
"Fuel has seen the largest increase, which is singularly the largest cost the industry has to bear.
"While we are sympathetic about what fare increases mean to the public, we are the only public transport service, governed by the States of Guernsey, which does not have any form of subsidy."
At the start of 2022, unleaded petrol cost about £1.40 a litre. It rose sharply during the year to an average of about £1.80, before falling back to about £1.65 currently.
Costs of many goods has been rising and Ms Bessin said when negotiating fare increases with the States, the association was mindful of the impact to the industry, not only for the consumer, but for those working in it too.
"We do understand that disproportionate increases would affect the demand, but we also have to consider the livelihood of the drivers, and the negative impact to the consumer if the balance is out of kilter," she said.
"Low wages would mean fewer drivers and far less availability for the consumer, an issue we are working towards rectifying at present."
Fare increases are normally negotiated annually, with last April’s increase a reactive response to the fuel crisis.
Ms Bessin said that historically fare increases had been negotiated in the third quarter and implemented in late November.
"A number of years ago, this was altered by the States of Guernsey and for the past few years has been applied in January, meaning we have waited additional time before the increase has been applied," she said.
"This year, the increase, which has come into effect this week, should have been done in November 2022 so we are already nearly six months overdue.
"Since having been elected as the head of the new GTDA, I have negotiated with the States of Guernsey on behalf of the industry to have the fare increases brought back to the November. While it may appear that we will have two fare increases in 2023. The reality is that we will be returning to the previously agreed dates."
Source: https://guernseypress.com/news/2023/04/08/taxi-drivers-defend-third-fares-rise-in-15-months/
A couple of taxi firms based in Prestatyn and Rhyl have joined forces and become one single business.
The Rhyl Journal reports that “Diane's Cars”, on Kings’ Avenue, Prestatyn, and “Busy Bee”, on River Street, Rhyl, have joined forces to become “Diane’s Busy Bees”.
Both will keep their own premises, but the aim is to “eliminate dead mileage and waiting times”, and to provide a more efficient service in doing so.
A statement from Diane’s Busy Bees read: “As everyone is aware, getting a taxi can be a nightmare.
“Because of the volume of calls we get on a daily basis, with two companies combined across the coast, we can eliminate dead milage and waiting times, ensuring you all receive the best service possible.
“We look forward to the future.”
Source: https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/23445252.prestatyn-rhyl-taxi-companies-merge-become-one-business/
Taxi fares have been raised across Wigan and Leigh after council bosses gave the thumbs up to a £1 increase that is "effectively a ten per cent wage rise" for hackney carriage cabbies.
Higher costs of fuel, an increased cost of living and insurance premiums for drivers were all factors behind the decision, a council meeting heard.
Ian Rogers, who appeared in Wigan Town Hall representing the Wigan Taxi Drivers and Owners Coalition, said the rise would essentially give drivers £50 extra a week or more depending on how many trips they do.
“It is an awkward one as we don’t want to increase the rate too much,” Mr Rogers told the Regulation Committee in March.
“This is because for years Blue Star and Pemberton (private hire firms) have been cheaper than us and they had two increases in the last 12 months and are now dearer than us.
“If we put a proper fare increase in, that could hurt us (because drivers could lose business gained from private hires). This will give drivers £50 a week more - I see it as a 10 per cent pay increase.”
Mr Rogers said that he didn’t want to see a huge increase in fares otherwise they could lose business to private hire firms.
Despite a portion of his 81 drivers wanting more, he said he believed a £1 raise was the best course of action as he claimed private hire companies can ‘drop their rates in the next ten minutes’ and become cheaper than the hackney carriages.
The Wigan Taxi Drivers and Owners Coalition don’t want to have to wait another few months to get approval from Wigan Council, which regulates their prices, to be able to compete again.
Breakdown of the new tariffs and charges:
A charge of £35.00 (increase of £5) may be made for the soiling of the vehicle.
Previously tariff three, when you get more than four people in a vehicle, was £1.50 per person (tariff one /two price).
The coalition wants to double that to £3 per person on tariff three to bring it in line with double tariff one.
The borough council is working to “simplify and streamline” the application process for new taxi drivers in response to a “huge drop in demand” for licensed drivers during the pandemic.
The Basingstoke Gazette reports that it has also just granted a new private hire operator licence, which it said could "provide more consumer choice locally".
Basingstoke residents have reported problems trying to book a taxi in the town.
The owners of The Gabardine Bar in London Street said it is putting people off going out for an evening, describing the taxi service in Basingstoke as “appalling” and calling on the council to address the issue.
Responding to the problem, a spokesperson for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said it does not limit the number of driver or vehicle licences, but said the pandemic saw “a huge drop in demand for licensed drivers”, saying: “This has been a national issue and not limited to Basingstoke.”
The spokesperson said the council is “working with local companies on simplifying and streamlining the application process to encourage new drivers to enter the trade”, adding: “The council’s role as a licensing authority is to ensure that applicants are ‘fit and proper’ people to hold a licence.
"The licensing team is currently processing over 50 new driver applications which will take the number of licenced drivers above pre-pandemic levels.
“This should lead to an improvement in the availability and reliability of the service.
"The licensing team has also just granted a new private hire operator licence which could provide more consumer choice locally.”
A former paratrooper turned pet taxi driver is in the running for an Animal Star Award for his work in Wakefield and Pontefract.
Tariq Rehman, 75, from Stechford, had his licence removed by Solihull Council in November last year following a complaint from a passenger.
A taxi firm boss has branded the criminal justice system "broken" after new figures revealed almost a third of offenders in the town reoffended within a year.
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.