IN THE NEWS
MERCY FOR WIGAN DRUGS COURIER WHO ‘STOOD UP FOR JUSTICE’
A taxi driver caught acting as a drugs courier walked free after a judge heard how she had stood up for justice in the past. The Manchester Evening News reports that Judge Nigel Gilmour, QC, told Julie Jones, 47, that custo- dial sentences were usually handed down for offences like hers - and her particular case warranted 12 months.
But he suspended this for two years, saying: “This is a very excep- tional course I am taking but I don’t think it is necessary for you to go to prison.” The judge said that Jones, a grandmother, had previously taken a stand against serious
criminal behaviour. Jones, from Leigh, had to be given police protection after wit- nessing violence against her teenage son by ‘dangerous people’, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Despite that, she was still subjected to harassment and was forced to move to Ire- land, said Mr Gilmour. He said: “I accept you were a brave individ- ual to come back to this county and give evidence in the crimi- nal trial of an unpleas- ant male defendant. That is powerful miti- gation.”
Judge Gilmour also ordered the mother-of- three to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. Jones pleaded guilty
to possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing can- nabis. Harry Pepper, prose- cuting, told the court that on December 19 last year police saw her driving a taxi. They followed and stopped it.
Jones was seen to throw a cream- coloured bag out of the window. It was found to contain 47 wraps of cocaine with a total street value of £960. Her home was searched and officers found a small amount of cannabis. Amos Waldman, defending, said that Jones had been asked to transport the cocaine to wipe out a debt.
WARNING: SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION IN HULL GAMBLING CASE
The proprietor of a Hull taxi firm has been fined a total of £1,797 after being successful- ly prosecuted for two offences under the Gambling Act 2005. The proprietor of the company unlawfully kept two gaming machines in a private rest area for taxi driv- ers at the office. Under changes brought in by the Gambling Act 2005 in July 2009, gaming machines are no longer permitted in general, non-gambling premises such as fish and chip shops, cafes, takeaway premises and taxi/PHV offices. Appearing at Hull Magistrates Court on 3 September 2010, he was fined £400 under Section 37 (making facilities available for gambling) and £400 under another sec- tion 242 (making gaming machines available for use on
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an unlicensed prem- ises).
He was also ordered to pay costs of £982 and a victim surcharge of £15. The two gam- ing machines and their cash contents were also forfeited. Keith Fenner, Senior Licensing Officer with Hull City Safe, said: “We have a duty to enforce the gambling laws that are in place for the control of gam- bling to protect the wider public. I hope this case serves as a warning to others who have jackpot gaming machines on their premises to make sure they comply fully with the requirements of the law.”
Tim Bright, The Gam- bling Commission’s local Compliance Manager for the area, said: “We support Hull City Council’s action as part of our role in keeping gambling fair
and safe.
“Cases like this com- plement our nation- wide drive to tackle the significant criminal enterprises who sup- ply unlicensed gaming machines to small businesses such as taxi offices and take- aways.”
Mmmm…. We have
run this item not to shame anybody in Hull, but just to make sure readers are aware of this ruling against the use of gaming machines in non-gambling premis- es, as over the years we’ve been in many a taxi/PHV base waiting room with a fruit machine in it, and this ruling only came in in July 2009.
It strikes us that coun- cils should have sent out an announcement to this effect last year under their general licensing remit. Did Hull Council do this? – Ed.
UNITE UNION TO MEET WITH ABERDEEN TAXI DRIVERS
A trade union has offered to take Aberdeen taxi drivers under its wing.
Unite said it had been approached by a “sig- nificant number” of drivers over the last month.
A series of meetings were to be held in Aberdeen’s Northern Golf Club to hear their
concerns about work. Tommy Campbell, Unite’s regional indus- trial organiser, told the Aberdeen Evening Express: “We are look- ing forward to listening to their con- cerns about issues affecting their liveli- hoods and the professional service they provide to the
public.
“They have issues affecting them where they need independ- ent, professional representation when meeting with the city council and any other government depart- ment or organisation that regulates the pro- vision of taxi services.”
INSULIN USERS MAY BE ALLOWED NORTHERN IRELAND TAXI LICENCES
Diabetics in Northern Ireland could be allowed to hold taxi drivers’ licences within months.
According to RTE News, lawyers con- firmed in the High Court that consultation was due on planned new legislation which effectively lifts the pro- hibition.
It would also bring an end to a legal chal- lenge brought by a Co Down man, David Henry, who is seeking to overturn the deci- sion to refuse him a
permit because of his use of insulin.
He has already been granted leave to seek a judicial review in a case backed by chari- ty Diabetes UK.
Mr Henry launched proceedings against the Department of the Environment after his application for a licence was turned down in December 2008.
Regulations within the Road Traffic Order contain an exclusion on diabetics who require insulin treat-
ment, the court heard. A dispute in the case centred on whether the applicant was insulin dependent or receiving insulin treat- ment.
But at a review hearing last month, lawyers for the Department said efforts had been made to reach a resolution. The expected remedy has been brought about by an EC direc- tive coming into effect which means licences can be given out to diabetics subject to safeguards.
BASILDON CABBIE’S CCTV CAR PARKING TICKET IS OVERTURNED
A cabbie who was tick- eted while collecting a disabled boy from a bingo hall has had his fine overturned.
Roy Smith, 49, who has been a Basildon taxi driver for more than ten years, was called to Gala Bingo, in Southernhay, to pick up a mother and son. He parked outside the hall for a few minutes to wait for them, but was given a £35 ticket after being spotted by Basildon Council’s CCTV car, because the road was marked “No Loading”.
Mr Smith complained about the fine, which was increased to £70
after he refused to pay within two weeks. He also challenged the ticket through the Local Government Ombudsman, which carries out independ- ent reviews of residents’ complaints against local councils. Mr Smith is now delighted after the fine was withdrawn.
He told the Southend Standard: “I’m really pleased because I don’t think I should be penalised for doing my job. It’s also good to get one over on that stupid car, which is a waste of everyone’s time and money. “At least with a traffic
warden you can speak to them in person, if you don’t think you deserved a ticket. They can use their dis- cretion and overturn tickets, but the smart car just takes its photo and drives off.”
A Basildon Council spokesman said: “After discussions with the taxi trade associations, we with- drew the case before it went to adjudication. “This was in return for an undertaking their members would not arrive to pick up their passengers before the booked time, where there are parking restrictions in place.”
PHTM NOVEMBER 2010
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