IN THE NEWS
‘TAXIS USED FOR DRUG AND CHILD TRAFFICKING IN HIGH WYCOMBE WILL COMPLETE JOURNEY BEFORE NOTIFYING AUTHORITIES’
Criminals who force vulnerable children to use taxis to traffic drugs around the town are enabled in their exploitation of youngsters by cabbies who complete the journey first before alerting the police. “Protocol” among some taxi firms whose drivers facilitate ‘drug and child trafficking’ in High Wycombe is that a journey should be com- pleted first before reporting the crime to the authorities. According to the Bucks Free Press, the shocking revelation was made by Conservative Cllr Graham Peart, during a Communities and Localism Select Committee, on Thursday, September 24. Members convened to discuss the alignment of policies and proce- dures of taxi and private hire licensing under the new unitary council. When members turned to the issue of safeguarding for the public and taxi drivers and operators alike, Cllr Peart demanded answers on how the council intended to tackle the “hideous practice”. He stressed, however, that most taxi companies do not fail in report- ing serious crime. “Most companies do report [it] and are brilliant but there is always one or two that don’t. But the protocol has been that the taxi driver should continue the run and not interrupt it, report back to their base and then the company should inform the police because they have the addresses. “If all taxi drivers and companies reported to the police it would close this off. But I understand it is still happening. “What encouragement can you give to taxi companies to follow the protocol and stop this hideous practice?” Cllr Muhammad Abdullah Hashmi also highlighted the safety of
drivers. Transition head of licensing, cemeteries and crematoria, Lindsey Vallis, said mandatory training for drivers included knowledge about drug trafficking across “county lines” and reporting such instances to protect “vulnerable children and adults”. She added: “We work really closely with the police and any intelli- gence we receive we will actively follow up, taking robust action against companies and drivers where there is fault. “If we receive information directly from a member of the public, we will work with the police to undertake joint enforcement activities where appropriate.” Licensing team leader for Wycombe, Chiltern and the South Buck- inghamshire area, Caroline Steven, added: “I work with the police sergeant in Wycombe responsible for dealing with drug operations in our area. We do share information on a regular basis, so we know of any relevant concerns in that respect. “It’s quite a difficult situation to deal with sometimes because the children involved are not likely to make reports – but any companies or drivers found not to be following training given will certainly be dealt with robustly.” She added the personal details of any driver that reports a crime will be protected. Principal licensing officer for the Aylesbury area, Simon Gallacher, said taxi drivers are given ‘specific reporting details’ in the form of a “calling card” so they can directly inform the relevant authorities. Thames Valley Police has been approached for comment.
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF BRADFORD CABBIE 19 YEARS AGO
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Brad- ford taxi driver Mohammed Basharat 19 years ago. Ricardo Linton, 45, is accused of the killing in Bradford on October 20, 2001. Linton appeared before Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court on Friday 25 September, when the case was sent to the Crown Court. Linton, of no fixed address, then appeared before Bradford Crown Court on 29 September via a video link to Leeds Prison. When asked by the clerk: “Are you Ricardo Linton,” he replied: “Yes, sir.” Rachel Darby, Linton’s barrister, told the court: “It will be a Not Guilty plea.” A Plea and Trial Preparation hearing, when Linton will formally answer the charge, was set for October 28. The trial, expected to last four to five weeks, was fixed to begin on June 21 next year. It will be held at Bradford Crown Court, probably before a High Court Judge. There was no application for bail. Mr Basharat, a father of four, of Leylands Lane, Heaton, was killed at the offices of Little Horton Taxis, in Park Lane, Little Horton. In December, 2011, the Telegraph & Argus reported that the father of four died when he was shot twice in the head by a lone gunman who burst into the minicab office. In a new appeal to catch Mr Basharat’s killer, Detective Inspector Steve Snow, of the West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said at the time: “We still want people to come for- ward. They may hold vital clues, which may help bring some conclusion to the family of Mr Basharat. “We are as committed as we were in October 2001 to see this inquiry through to a conclusion.”
50 OCTOBER 2020
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