Crackdown leads to 18 suspensionsEIGHTEEN minicab drivers have had their licences suspended after a joint crackdown by the police and Bradford Council.
Chief Inspector Sarah Baker, of Bradford District police, said: “These checks were carried out to make sure that drivers were complying with the conditions of their licences and for safety reasons.
“In total, 66 vehicles were stopped with 18 drivers suspended for breaching their conditions.
“Police will continue to work in partnership with Bradford Council to make sure that private hire drivers comply with their terms and conditions and that the vehicles remain roadworthy.”
Khurram Shehzad, chairman of the Bradford Private Hire Liaison Service, said he had concerns that some private hire drivers had been unfairly suspended for picking up customers who had not pre-booked.
He said in a new tactic, enforcement officers had posed as customers, which he suggested could be seen as entrapment.
Mr Shehzad said the drivers had made a genuine mistake when trying to find the customers who had booked them.
A council spokesman said: “It’s illegal for private hire drivers to ply for trade and take fares without booking.
“There has been no change in the council’s approach to enforcement.”
The operation ran from October 4 to October 31.
source:
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... spensions/
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