FIT AND PROPER
AGGRESSIVE AND THREATENING BRISTOL TAXI DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AS NOT A FIT AND PROPER PERSON
A Bristol cabbie who was “verbally abusive, aggressive and threatening” to a passenger and a taxi marshal in two incidents less than three months apart has received a ban. BristolLive reports that city councillors revoked his hackney carriage driver’s licence and refused to renew his vehicle permit following incidents in Leicester in January and at Temple Meads station last October. Bristol City Council’s public safety & protection sub committee recently published minutes from the meeting on March 22 which said the matter had to
be treated as an urgent item because of the “seriousness of the allegations” against the cabbie, referred to as AD. Councillors watched a video of the inci- dent at Temple Meads on October 31 before the driver read out a statement then left the meeting abruptly and attempted to surrender his licence by returning his hackney driver badge. Members decided the hearing should continue in his absence because he had given his version of events. The minutes said: “The sub committee attached considerable weight to the complainant’s account and found AD
WATFORD PH DRIVER WHO USED OWN CAR HAS LICENCE REVOKED
A PH firm worker who illegally drove customers in an inade- quately insured car with a missing number plate has been banned from operating as a driver. The Watford Observer reports that passengers in Ubaid Mushtaq’s vehicle, in June last year, raised concerns about its condition and lack of number plate. The journey was in fact in Mushtaq’s own private vehicle, a Lexus which was not licensed with Three Rivers District Council. Mushtaq, 34 was actually a call handler and dispatcher at the Abbots Langley private hire firm. During a council probe, Mushtaq denied the journey was ille- gal and said he had given the ride as a “favour”. The council says it became aware of the journey after the passengers noticed Mushtaq’s vehicle had damage to the front, it had no front number plate displayed and a space saving wheel fitted to the front near side. At St Albans Magistrates Court on June 6, Mushtaq was found guilty of using a vehicle without a current licence and without an insurance policy. He was ordered to pay £180 for each offence, £500 costs and a £36 victim surcharge. Mushtaq’s private hire driver licence has been revoked and his details added to the National Anti-Fraud Network database. He is not allowed to apply for any private hire or hackney carriage licences for five years. Cllr Roger Seabourne, the council’s lead member for com- munity safety, said: “Given the condition of the vehicle and the safety implications from using a private vehicle not fit for purpose, it was considered necessary and proportionate to prosecute.
JULY 2022
to be verbally abusive, aggressive and threatening to the complainant which gave cause to question whether AD is a fit and proper person to hold a licence. “He has presented himself as com- pletely unprofessional.” It also looked at the previous case his- tory of AD as a licensed driver with the council, in particular three incidents in 2018, and had grave concerns about the pattern of misconduct.” Councillors revoked his driver’s licence and refused his application to renew his vehicle licence because he was the only person insured for it.
RCT CABBIE HAS LICENCE REVOKED FOR TAKING FARES WITHOUT LICENCE
A cabbie in Rhondda Cynon Taf has had his licence revoked for accepting fares and carrying passengers without a licence following a council appeal. WalesOnline reports that Sui Hung Yip of Church Village has seen the council’s deci- sion to revoke his licence upheld following a successful appeal hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court which judged that he was not a fit and proper person to drive a taxi. Having previously had his licence revoked by the RCT Coun- cil’s licensing department following complaints about his conduct, the department received information that Yip contin- ued to take fares and transport passengers without a licence. As part of an investigation by council officers, the council said Yip accepted a fare with the intention of collecting pas- sengers. Officers waited and Yip arrived to collect the fare. During a conversation with the licensing officers they said Yip admitted accepting the fare without a licence. The coun- cil said that his actions put the public at risk as he would not have been insured to drive the vehicle and accept a fare. This decision was initially appealed by Yip at Magistrates’ Court in December 2021 where the magistrates overturned the revocation but RCT Council appealed this decision at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on public safety grounds. Following the crown court hearing, the judge agreed with the council and ordered the revocation of the licence. A spokesperson for the council said: “A taxi driver holds a position of trust and has a duty of care, and when they fall below the expected standards, we have no hesitation in revoking their licence. We are pleased with the outcome of this case.”
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