Taxi Driver Online

Burnley "taxi drivers" suspended after council 'sting operation'


SEVEN taxi drivers who ignored strict licensing rules have been suspended and hauled before a disciplinary committee.

The cabbies, who work across Burnley borough, were caught out in a sting involving undercover police and council officers.

In it, the seven were caught illegally picking up passengers without pre-bookings, driving without insurance and failing to properly display their drivers’ badges.

Some have been fined as much as £700 and handed eight penalty points, and all are due to face a Burnley Council disciplinary panel to decide whether they should be stripped of their licenses.

Coun Frank Ashworth, chairman of the council’s licensing committee, said: “We do occasionally do these types of stings and they are especially worthwhile at weekends.

“Private hire vehicles should not be picking up passengers without pre-bookings because they are not insured but they are obviously trying it.

“Now there is a very high possibility that we will revoke their licenses. We have got to maintain the safety of the public in Burnley - that’s our prime objective.

“We have got to take a strong line on this, although we should point out lots of other drivers stay within the law.

“Hopefully it will act as a deterrent now they know they could be caught out in undercover stings.”

Under council regulations, only registered black cabs can pick up fares which have not been pre-booked.

The seven drivers, who have been convicted following court hearings brought by Burnley Council, are due to face councillors at a licensing meeting later this year. Members have powers to revoke the licenses.

Meanwhile, two other cabbies caught out in the sting are awaiting court hearings.

Mohammed Arif, chairman of the Burnley Private Taxi Association, was unavailable for comment.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

There should be an automatic stripping of the licence if a PH is caught and proven to be pirating. It shouldn't be a possibility it should be a certainty. Fit and proper my ar$e

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I think you are right....and I'm sure your backside is quite fit and proper too

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This an email i got from an inspector when i asked him why private hire caught picking up illegally where not been reported to the procurator fiscal

Thank you for your recent e-mail and a happy New Year to you and yours.
Hopefully I can provide some clarity to your questions.

There are two regulatory bodies that can deal with private hire vehicles picking up passengers without pre-booking [1] The Procurator Fiscal and [2] Dundee City Council Licensing Committee.

We have liaised with the Procurator Fiscal in relation to this issue and they are content that the matter is referred to the Licensing Committee for appropriate action to be taken. Therefore, such breaches are referred to Dundee City Council Licensing Committee. It is my personal opinion only that there will be increased and more meaningful sanctions placed on those that do not comply by the Licensing Committee.

As you will agree it would serve no purpose for individuals to be charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal only for the matter to be referred on to the Licensing Committee as we are currently doing.

Interestingly, at the last meeting of the Taxi Liaison Group Meeting I did also confirm that any breaches of a licence (including dirty vehicles etc) are a breach of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and could result in the driver being charged in contravention of this Act. As we would apply discretion and common sense in the way we deal with such contraventions of the law then we will also apply the same standards to other areas.


I hope that this answers your questions.

Regards

Sandy Brodie
Inspector
This is the kind of attitude we have in Dundee.Also the fiscals office deny there is such an agreement