A private hire driver was found asleep in his vehicle in the middle of the road, prompting concerns for public safety.

Tahis Zaman, 34, from Barrowford, was arrested after police struggled to rouse him. 

When he was eventually roused, he was found to be under the influence of cannabis.

Zaman was convicted after a trial of being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal limit for cannabis and possession of the drug. 

He was fined £200, ordered to pay £400 in costs, an £80 victim surcharge and was given a 12-month driving ban.

The judge, Deputy District Judge Timothy Gascoyne, expressed his concern over the potential danger posed by Zaman's actions. He noted that if the driver had woken up before police arrived, there was a risk of him driving in a dangerous condition.

Prosecutors said that police had to bang on the car windows to wake Zaman up and that he was slurring his words and smelled of cannabis.

Zaman's defence argued that his actions were influenced by a combination of prescription medications and cannabis and that the reading of 3.2 against the legal limit of 2 was not a particularly high reading.

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A private hire driver who continued to work despite his licence being suspended, has been prosecuted by Oldham Council.

Ibrar Hussain, from Oldham, had been suspended by the Licensing Team after he continued to work despite his DBS certificate expiring which invalidated his insurance.

The 32-year-old failed to attend Tameside Magistrates' Court on September 19 and was found guilty of driving without insurance and a private hire licence.

In his absence, Hussain was banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay a fine, costs and surcharge totalling £4,671. 

The council has revoked Hussain's licences with immediate effect as a result of his conviction.

Councillor Elaine Taylor, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and the cabinet member responsible for Licensing, said: “In general, taxi standards in Oldham are very good. 

“However, where breaches do occur, the penalty imposed in this case by the court shows that this sort of behaviour will be taken seriously, and the consequences can be severe.”

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Taxi drivers in the borough are calling for a significant fare increase to help them cope with the rising cost of living and competition from Uber. 

The Hinckley Area Taxi Association has proposed new tariffs to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which could make the borough's taxis the most expensive in Leicestershire.

The association argues that increased costs for fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and new vehicles, coupled with the presence of Uber, have made it difficult for taxi drivers to maintain profitability. 

The proposed fare increase would see the cost of a two-mile journey rise from £6.40 to either £7.40 or £7.90.

Tina Duane, chair of the association, said the increase is necessary to attract younger people into the profession and to ensure the long-term viability of the industry. 

She also emphasised that the association tries to keep fares as low as possible for regular customers, such as the elderly and disabled.

However, Uber has denied allegations that its drivers are picking up passengers from the street without a booking, stating that all rides must be pre-booked through the app. 

The company maintains that it operates according to industry standards and regulations.

The proposed fare increases will now be advertised to the public, and any objections will be considered by the council before a final decision is made.

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A private hire driver who raped a 16-year-old girl has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

Shaun Meenan attacked the teenager, who was a stranger to him, both in his vehicle and then in her home after gaining entry claiming he needed the toilet. 

The 60-year-old was convicted of the rape which took place in Dumbarton on April 7,2023 and sentenced on 24 September.

Despite claiming the sexual activity was consensual, Lord Colbeck of the High Court in Glasgow told Meenan that he had "taken advantage" of the girl in "the most appalling fashion."

The judge emphasised the devastating impact the crime had on the victim and placed Meenan on the sex offenders list indefinitely.

Meenan, who continues to deny the charges, was also banned from approaching or contacting the girl. 

His defence argued that he was remorseful and had made a grave error in judgment.

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I am writing to inform you of the launch of Hillingdon Council's consultation on a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) as your association may have an interest.

The new PSPO proposes to prohibit private hire and taxi vehicles from waiting in residential streets around the Heathrow area.

We are asking residents in Heathrow Villages, Pinkwell and West Drayton to share their views, any concerns or incidents that they have experienced due to taxis or private hire vehicles using residential streets for parking.

We are also seeking views from trade bodies and other associations with a vested interest.

We would be very interested to hear your views on these proposals:

https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/heathrow-pspo-consultation

The consultation will close on 1st November 2024.

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