A taxi driver was forced to hand over £6,000 after three men threatened him to invest in what were described as ‘precious stones’.
The driver, a man in his 40s, picked the trio up from different locations across Ipswich during the morning of February 15.
Officers said a discussion between the four lasted for several hours.
During that time, the trio allegedly tried to convince and threaten the driver to invest in what they claimed were precious stones.
They then told the man he was complicit and involved, and persuaded him to hand over £6,000.
They then left the taxi and disappeared.
Suffolk Police have released an image of a man they’d like to speak to in connection with the incident.
Officers revealed the man in question was the third to be picked up, having entered the taxi at about 10.46am – and was picked up from outside Halfords in Ransomes Europark.
Another man had already been picked up at about 10am from outside McDonald’s in Ravenswood, while a second was picked up from Holday Inn Orwell, at about 10.20am.
Anyone who recognises the man depicted, or who has experienced a similar situation, should contact Ipswich Police, quoting crime reference, 37/9757/23.
Alternative plans have been put forward after a controversial debate on the future of Bolton’s taxi trade.
According to the Bolton News, the town hall was unable to come to an agreement last week on whether or not to approve the controversial minimum licencing standards (MLS) scheme which among other measures will require taxi drivers to use vehicles that are less than ten years old by 2028.
But drivers have signalled their opposition to this measure, which they have previously said could “destroy livelihoods” while opposition politicians have called for further debate on the scheme.
Harper Green Cllr Sue Haworth said: “As the shadow cabinet member for licensing I have a working knowledge of vehicle costs including vehicle choices for clean air compliance. This is both new vehicles and the second-hand car market.
“A lot has changed since the MLS work started in 2018. Customers have less money for taxi use, the hospitality sector such as pubs and clubs has seen a reduction in customers, taxi drivers are earning less income due to lower demand, our borough is recovering from Covid in an economic downturn in our country.
“Bolton taxi drivers are being faced with a huge cost for vehicles they can have licensed for their work from 2028.”
The MLS scheme is part of a Greater Manchester wide reforms package which aims to bring in common standards for the 11,500 private hire vehicles that operate across the city region’s ten boroughs.
As it stands, the proposals will require all vehicles to be under five years old on first licensing by April 2028, while taxis will also have to comply with European standards when first licensed.
The MLS scheme also aims to bring in a common livery for taxis all across Greater Manchester.
But first the ten proposals will have to be agreed by the council and they have been called in for further scrutiny after objections from the opposition Labour group.
Cllr Haworth, whose shadow cabinet role includes licensing, has recommended that the minimum age should instead be 15 years.
She said: “Fifteen years as the oldest age of vehicle, which we refer to as the age of the fleet, is notably less costly for drivers than ten years of the fleet.
“Our main job is to agree policies that protect the public who use taxis.
“We need also to ensure there are enough Bolton taxi drivers for the paying public here and as in other work sectors we want workers to have fair deals about work expenses and earnings.
“For taxi drivers the biggest expense is the cost of the vehicle they drive.
“Vehicles that are under ten years of age are costly and for clean air compliance even more so.”
But council leader Cllr Martyn Cox pointed out at a town hall meeting last week that the proposals had cross-party support across the city region and warned of the consequences of Bolton not playing its part in the scheme.
At the cabinet meeting on Monday 27 March, he said: “These proposals came from the Labour Mayor, they’ve gone to every Labour authority, they’ve all agreed them.
“But the basis of this is the funding we’re relating to. If we simply say we are having no part of this, given government legislation towards net zero and given Andy Burnham’s commitment to net zero and I know better than that because I was green city region spokesperson.
“It is going to be the case that if Bolton completely withdraws from this and says we’re having nothing to do with it this is an extremely high probability that we will lose considerable funding for this.”
He added: “If you believe at all in any of this is beggars belief that at the first opportunity you walk away and say we don’t want anything to do with this.”
Source: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/23421204.bolton-alternative-idea-put-forward-mls-taxi-scheme/
Taxi drivers and passengers are being asked for their views on plans to change licensing rules to reduce carbon emissions across the city.
The Worcester Observer reports that Worcester City Council is working with taxi operators with the aim of making it more cost-effective for them to switch to electric vehicles in the coming years.
The move ties in with the council’s ten-year Environmental Sustainability Strategy and its ambitions to make Worcester carbon neutral.
Earlier this month, the council’s Licensing and Environmental Health Committee considered a proposal to review the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle age policy to offer more incentive for drivers to switch to electric vehicles.
The committee report included a proposal from the Worcester Taxi Association, asking the lower age limit for vehicles being licensed for taxi/private hire to be raised as it believes this will help vehicle owners and drivers prepare financially for the transition to electric and ultra-low emission vehicles in the future.
The consultation concerns two proposed amendments to the council’s hackney carriage (taxis) and private hire vehicle licensing policy – the first removing all age limits for any fully electric vehicle to be used as a taxi or private hire car, and the second to increase the lower age for new taxis to five years old, rather than the current three years.
The city council would like to hear the views of taxi and private hire drivers and vehicle owners as well as anyone who uses taxis, including disabled people and local businesses.
Director of Operations, Homes and Communities, Lloyd Griffiths, said: “We would urge as many people as possible to have their say on these important proposals by going to www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit.
“Worcester City Council is keen to see the city’s taxi and private hire vehicles switch to electric and ultra-low emission cars as soon as possible as part of our pledge to reduce carbon emissions across the city.”
Visit www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit. Anyone who requires a paper copy of the consultation please contact WRS enquiries via e-mail enquiries@worcsregservices.gov.uk or by telephone 01905 822799, quoting ‘Worcester Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Age Limits Survey.’
The consultation will be open for responses until May 22.
Source: https://worcesterobserver.co.uk/news/have-your-say-on-changes-to-taxi-regulations/
Following the annual review of taxi fares, the maximum fares will increase by an average of 4.51% with effect from Monday 3rd April 2023.
The increase has been calculated in accordance with an established taxi inflation formula (the Halcrow Formula) that takes into account taxi operating costs and average earnings.
The fares were last increased in April 2022.
This increase applies to all tariffs. Tariff 1 is for Monday - Friday (7am-10pm) and Saturday/Sunday (7am-7pm). Tariff 2 is for Monday - Friday (10pm-7am), Saturday/Sunday (7pm-7am) and public holidays.
By way of example, following these changes, a two-mile journey on Tariff 1 will increase by 40p, whereas a five-mile journey on Tariff 2 will increase by 60p
The minimum fare for all tariffs will remain unchanged.
A Hull man accused a taxi driver of being racist and hurled vile abuse at him after being asked to pay his fare upfront.
HullLive reports that taxi driver Sayed Jawed Saddat, 28, picked up a customer on Saturday, March 25 at 11.30pm at the junction of Albert Avenue and Anlaby Road junction.
When the man boarded, the experienced taxi driver had an instinctual feeling he was acting strange.
Sayed asked the man where he was heading and he said Padstow House in Bransholme. Sayed has been a hackney driver for the past six years and, as per the policy, taxi drivers are allowed to ask customers for payment upfront if they require assurance.
In dashcam footage provided by Sayed, he asks the passenger if he has cash on him. The man replies that he doesn't, insisting he has cash at home. Sayed then stops the car and says he can't take the man without proof of payment upfront.
The man kicks off and shouts: "Why does everyone do this? Why does everyone do f***ing this?"
The man then accuses Sayed of being racist and claims it is racially motivated because he is a white man. "So why does racism come in?!" he continued, "You want money from me because I'm a white man and you don't believe me!"
Sayed offers to drive the passenger to a cash point and, for a moment, he agrees. But the passenger quickly changes his mind and, again, claims he has cash at home.
When Sayed stops the car, the passenger storms out and calls him a "f**ing w***er". There are loud bangs audible on the dashcam and Sayed later explained this was the man punching and kicking the cab, before throwing a coffee flask at it.
Sayed said he was left shaken by the incident because he was abused for trying to do his job. He said: "I work to provide for my family. I have a wife and a newborn baby.
"My wife saw the video and was upset that I had to put up with this. She does not want me driving my taxi at night anymore but that is when most people need a taxi and I need to make a living.
"He accused me of being racist but it had nothing to do with that. I have been driving my taxi since 2017, when you are driving for so long, you develop an instinct that tells you if a passenger may not pay.
"Most people are understanding but there is a small minority who act like this and make doing your job difficult."
Humberside Police has said they are looking into the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
In a statement, Humberside Police said: "A taxi driver reported a man was verbally abusive and caused damage to his vehicle on Anlaby Road, Hull, after refusing to pay the taxi fare upfront.
"We understand the impact these kinds of crimes have on those who rely on vehicles for their business as taxi drivers do, and we’re always keen to work alongside taxi drivers and members of the public to be able to hold those to account for their actions.
"Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that would help with our enquiries should call our non-emergency number 101, quoting 23000042939 of 25 March.”
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.