A Glasgow private hire driver has been refused a new licence after being convicted of assault for spitting on a passenger.

Syed Shah's application for renewal was rejected by the city's licensing committee following an objection from Police Scotland.

An officer informed the committee that Mr Shah had been sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work for an incident in 2023 where he "behaved in a threatening or abusive manner" towards a passenger while working.

The officer stated that Mr Shah had "shouted, swore, and acted in a threatening manner" towards the passenger and subsequently assaulted them by spitting on them.

Police Scotland argued that Mr Shah was no longer "a fit and proper person to hold a licence."

During the hearing, Mr Shah expressed remorse, stating: "I am very sorry" and attributing his behaviour to the "hard time" he faced from some passengers.

Committee chair, Cllr Alex Wilson (SNP), acknowledged the challenges faced by private hire drivers but emphasised the importance of maintaining professional conduct.

"Being a driver in this city is not easy," Cllr. Wilson said. "You are confronted with people who have been drinking alcohol, on drugs, or whatever. You get groups of people who are acting in all manner of ways. They will push every button you've got."

He stressed that drivers must "rise above" such situations, stating that Mr Shah had failed to do so.

The committee ultimately decided to refuse Mr Shah's application for a three-year licence. Bailie Hanif Raja (Labour) was the sole dissenting vote.

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Cheshire Police is investigating a break-in that occurred on Monday evening in Ellesmere Port, where a private hire vehicle was targeted and an undisclosed amount of money was stolen.

The incident was first reported on the local Facebook group "Pride in the Port," alerting residents to the theft from a vehicle parked at a property in Girton Road.

A Cheshire Police spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating: "Shortly before 7.30pm on Monday, January 20, police were called to reports of a theft from a vehicle in Girton Road in Ellesmere Port. Enquiries are ongoing."

The social media post described the alleged suspect as wearing all black clothing, riding a blue bicycle, and carrying a rucksack.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101.

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Luton Borough Council has approved an increase in the number of licensed hackney carriages operating within the borough over the next three years.

Following a review conducted by independent transport consultants, the council's administration and regulation committee agreed to raise the cap from the current limit of 170 to 185 vehicles.

The review, conducted between February and July 2024, aimed to assess whether significant unmet demand for taxi services existed within Luton.

While the report acknowledged that overall demand for hackney carriages remained relatively low, it highlighted several factors contributing to a recent increase in demand:

• Return of Airport Traffic: The recovery of passenger traffic at London Luton Airport has significantly increased demand for taxi services, particularly impacting service levels at main town centre ranks.
• Driver Shortages: Issues such as a focus on better work-life balance, private car incursion at ranks, and a tendency for drivers to avoid weekend work have further exacerbated the situation.

Tony Ireland, LBC's service manager for public protection, explained to the committee that the decision to increase the number of licences was based on a "balance of probability" regarding unmet demand.

The committee approved the immediate issuance of five revoked licences and authorised the gradual release of five additional licences per year for the next three years, ultimately increasing the total number of licensed hackney carriages from 165 to 185.

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A drunk cyclist who collided with a taxi in Melton town centre was arrested after launching a racist tirade at the driver.

Matthew Cooper, 42, admitted in court to racially abusing the taxi driver after "ramming his pushbike" into the side of the vehicle.

The incident unfolded when a police officer on duty in Burton Street was approached by the taxi driver, who requested Cooper's arrest. The prosecutor, Sukhy Basi, told Leicester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 22 January, that Cooper had directed racist abuse towards the driver following the collision.

When the officer confronted Cooper, he attempted to flee on his bicycle. However, the officer pursued him and arrested him at the junction of Sherrard Street and Market Place. The officer called for further back-up. 

Mr. Basi stated. "The defendant was heavily intoxicated and shouting abuse in the street. He threatened to headbutt one of the officers and made racist remarks and continued to shout in the street."

Cooper's behaviour continued in the police van, where he repeatedly banged his head against the door and made further racist comments. 

The court heard that Cooper had a previous criminal record, including convictions for public order offences and criminal damage.

Representing himself, Cooper pleaded guilty to causing racially-aggravated alarm, harassment, or distress. He said: "I've got a big gob at times. I didn't mean to clip his car."

Cooper was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.

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No Clean Air Zone charges will be introduced in Greater Manchester, the government confirmed today (23 January), ending a three-year saga.

Defra and the Department for Transport have rigorously assessed an investment-led plan proposed by local councils and concluded it will meet legal obligations to reduce nitrogen dioxide pollution.

Plans to charge buses and HGVs £60; vans and minibuses £10; and hackney carriages and private hire vehicles £7.50 per day were put on hold after a huge public backlash at the start of 2022. It came after more than 1,000 signs and 400 enforcement cameras were installed, costing taxpayers millions of pounds. It was set to come into effect in May 2022.

But Andy Burnham argued that the plans to cut pollution, which were made before the pandemic, would no longer work due to rising costs prohibiting drivers from upgrading their vehicles. The government agreed to delay the deadline.

Local leaders then put forward alternative to improve air quality without charging motorists. However, they had to prove that their 'investment-led' plan would cut air pollution in the shortest possible time, no later than 2026.

The Conservative government initially argued that a Clean Air Zone would still need to be introduced in the city centre. But despite Greater Manchester's transport bosses submitting several alternative proposals, the government did not make a decision - until today.

The government has now concluded that Greater Manchester's new Clean Air Plan will meet legal obligations to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The plan includes introducing 117 new lower and zero-emission buses and giving cabbies £8m to upgrade their vehicles.

However, clean air campaigners have argued that these alternative plans do not go far enough. It comes after Greater Manchester's own data revealed last year that pollution was still too high in 64 places across the city-region with NO2 levels rising in some areas.

The £86m package of funding for the investment-led scheme that has now been agreed with the government includes:

• £51.1m towards bus investment, including 40 zero emission buses, 77 Euro VI standard buses and charging infrastructure; 
• £5m for local traffic management measures; 
• £8m to support moving Greater Manchester’s taxi fleet to cleaner vehicles; 
• Up to £21.9m for administration, delivery, monitoring and other associated costs; 
• Local leaders have also been told they can review and cancel contracts relating to the Clean Air Zone, such as signs and cameras.

Air Quality Minister Emma Hardy said: “I am pleased that Greater Manchester has found a clear way to reduce emissions without the need to charge motorists. I look forward to working with the teams across Greater Manchester as they put this important plan in place.”

Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood said: "Having completed the ground-breaking Bee Network buses, Greater Manchester is making fantastic progress in building a modern, sustainable and truly integrated transport network. Manchester will be able to reduce pollution from transport without having to charge motorists.”

Mr Burnham said: “The Bee Network is cleaning up our air and keeping the cost of travel as low as possible. Its success is allowing us to remove a big weight of worry off the shoulders of people who need to drive as part of their job.

“We will now continue to work towards an all-electric bus fleet whilst investing in local traffic measures and supporting our GM-licensed taxi drivers to upgrade to cleaner vehicles.”

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