Taxi Driver Online

A cab firm at the centre of allegations of links to organised crime has accused a police chief constable of waging “an astonishing and unprecedented campaign of harassment”.

On the eve of a meeting that could determine its future under new legislation introduced last year, Glasgow-based Network Private Hire has also said it could appeal to Government ministers and the European courts over what it describes as a Strathclyde Police vendetta against the company.

The firm claims the police have made allegations linking it to money-laundering and organised crime but that these are “entirely without merit and wholly false”. It also took a swipe at Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Martin for failing to support the firm when asked to intervene on its behalf.

It has also claimed only one member of staff, employed within a junior capacity, has past convictions – the last of which was 14 years ago – and has cited figures showing 172 policeofficers in Scotland with criminal convictions.

The latest development comes as the police finally make public their concerns over the firm at a meeting of the city council’s licensing committee today.

John Cassidy has no criminal convictions, spent or otherwise, and has never had any links, openly or covert, with unlawful activity.
Network Private Hire spokesman
It is understood the force will argue that individuals with links to the criminal fraternity

continue to profit from the company. This claim relates to how it was purchased by the current owners five years ago.

The force will object to Networkthe firm being allowed to continue operating under new legislation, which gives local authorities the power to license taxi and private hire booking offices and to refuse these if the police successfully argue that criminal elements will profit from the company.

Network Private Hire’s owner, John Cassidy, has repeatedly stated that he is paying for the sins of the former owners.

In December, the country’s largest health board went ahead with a £2 million contract with the company, despite written and verbal recommendations from Strathclyde Police to stop the move.

NHS Greater Glasgow granted the tender following months of delays after counsel warned that the board could leave itself open to legal action.

Mr Cassidy then demanded an apology from the police, claiming the company had been “victimised”, but the force has stuck by its original view.

Politicians have also raised concerns about granting a public contract to the firm, which was raided as part of Operation Maple, a money-laundering investigation, in 2004.

Last night a spokesman for the firm said almost 800 jobs were being put at risk by “Chief Constable Stephen House’s victimisation of Mr Cassidy”. adding that Mr House “must be brought to account for continuing to damage the reputation of Mr Cassidy and his family without any justification whatsoever”.

The spokesman added: “The chief constable is engaging in what can only be described as a vendetta against this company. John Cassidy has no criminal convictions, spent or otherwise, and has never had any links, openly or covert, with unlawful activity. He cannot be held responsible for he actions of previous shareholders in the company prior to his purchase of it in 2005.

“There is now an issue here of a legal and decent citizen of Glasgow being denied natural justice by the man who is ultimately responsible for ensuring that it is dispensed with, namely the Chief Constable.



“As such, Mr Cassidy reserves the right to make an appeal, if necessary, to Scotland’s Justice Secretary and to the European courts to seek protection from this astonishing and unprecedented campaign of harassment."

“At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Paul Martin said: “I stand by my decision not to get involved.

“It is not my responsibility to pursue a legal case for Network Private Hire and it is within the MSPs’ code of conduct that this can be the case.”


http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crim ... -1.1022265

COPS are trying to block a taxi firm's licence using an explosive dossier on its former boss's past.
The police file includes a string of allegations on former shareholder James Baxter's involvement in a series of incidents.

Senior officers hope it will persuade councillors to reject the application from Network Private Hire, now called Xpress.

The top-secret document alleges Baxter, 49, was once involved in a nightclub shooting.

Strathclyde Police claim he is still a major player in the Glasgow firm, once the centre of a money laundering probe.

Baxter sold it to new boss John Cassidy for £345,000.

Baxter is said to be raking in £5,000 A WEEK in instalments on the deal from the firm.

Last night a source said: "The cops are seriously gunning for Baxter. This file is explosive.

"The thing is, this guy has never been convicted and says his earnings are all legit. The coppers will have a right fight on their hands with this one."

Cops seized £5million of assets from Russell Stirton, 49, an associate of the feared McGovern crime clan, when they raided the firm in 2004. Cassidy, 48, took over in 2005.

He also told cops he bought out ex-shareholder Baxter last July and now pays him £5,000 a week in instalments, and £500 a week for doing "various jobs".

Advertisement

The dossier claims Baxter was involved with another man in a shooting after being denied entry to a Glasgow nightclub in 1998 - when a bouncer was shot in the foot. He was never brought to trial.

It also details other alleged crimes - including the assault of a female and possession of a knife found in a car. It says justice can only be 'done' if details of his spent convictions are submitted to licencing chiefs.

Cops refused to comment on their dossier. But Chf Insp Stuart Neil called for changes in licensing rules to "enable everyone to know who is injecting money into which companies".

Xpress Private Hire refused to comment on Baxter.

But a spokesman said: "There is a campaign of victimisation being waged by the Chief Constable against John Cassidy, his family and the 800 employees of Xpress." Baxter, of Glasgow, was unavailable for comment.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol ... axter.html

There's never smoke without fire.

After watching this evenings Scottish news network private hire were knocked back for a licence

Cops win fight to block taxi firm

Friday, 23 April, 2010

Cops were celebrating last night after winning their battle to stop a controversial taxi firm getting new licences.

Two bids for new booking office permits made by Network Private Hire were rejected by Glasgow City Council.

A bid by the company to renew 53 private hire licences for cars was also knocked back. The move came after we told yesterday how Strathclyde Police police presented an explosive dossier to licensing chiefs on ex-boss James Baxter, 49. It claimed he was linked to a nightclub shooting and other alleged crimes for which he was never convicted.

A string of Baxter's serious convictions, all expired, was also revealed at the hearing yesterday. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1996 for a serious assault on two brothers, the hearing was told.

He also has a conviction for possession of an offensive weapon. Network's lawyer Paul McBride QC attempted to distance the firm and current owner John Cassidy, 48, from Baxter. He told the hearing: "Baxter is someone who is not fit to hold any kind of licence, I have no difficulty with that." But he added: "Mr Baxter has been removed so it is obvious that the company have done their best to get out of the company a man who should not be there."

He said Baxter earned £500 a week for doing "various jobs" at Network - now known as Xpress. But he said he was "dismissed" from the firm - which employs 800 people - on April 15, and was no longer a shareholder. He said Cassidy still owes Baxter £170,000 after buying out the company last July for £345,000.

It was not revealed why the committee rejected the applications for offices at Atlas Industrial Estate and Aitken Road, Glasgow But a Network spokesman said last night: "We are bitterly disappointed and will appeal."

Cassidy, who was unavailable last night, has 28 days to appeal. He can carry on trading in the meantime.

Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said he was "very pleased" at the decision.

Source; http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepag ... -firm.html

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

About time this has happened!

_________________
Glasgow's Finest

Are you having a laugh?

What we are seeing here is the action of a police state. By agreeing with these actions you are subjecting us all to the whim of cops and a compliant council.

The test here should be the impact on the public. Nothing more, nothing less.

If there are criminal activities taking place within the company eg drug running, money laundering, stealing sweeties off bairns, then that nwould be a matter for the licensing authorities.

But these base licences are being denied on the strength of spent convictions - whatever happened to an individual's rights under the rehabilitation of offenders laws - hearsay, and the say so of cops who can't prove what should be serious allegations, all based on an individual not associated with the company.

The cops tell us they know all of this, so why can't they prove it.

Licensing has now descended into the grace and favour of the establishment. If they like you, and you curtsey before them on bended knee, then you wil be "granted" a licence. The clue is in the word "granted".

What we have here is fascism of the highest order. It's long overdue for councils and the cops to be reined in. If not then we are living in a police state.

Is this what you want? Think about this. Think where it is going?

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

Were you ever a long term patient of Carstairs ??

Because you sound like one...

CC

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

You see this is where we differ.

You seem to be quite happy for our freedoms to be stolen from us. Unchecked, you are gonna wake up one day and wonder how it is you ended up in a police state.

What we have here is a Scottish Nasty Party government, determined to show us all that they can control us on behalf of the establishment, through their inept Justice Secretary Macaskill, giving a carte blanche order to the cops to go get the bad boys.

Problem is that this episode shows that they are using licensing to circumvent the law and dig out people without proof.

Now, rather than recognise the dangers here, all your infantile single celled brain can come up with is a puerile reference to carstairs.

You're just a daftie.




BTW No surprise that the pond life formerly known as CC supports you.

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

The only positive word i've ever saw you write is..........

GOODBYE........

Serious issues there stoodtolongattheBAR !!!!!

I really do wonder what planet you are on sometimes.Then again you might be just winding us up

Thing is guys, I can look above my own interests to that of society. All you guys can see is your own wee world and its vested interest.



First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.

by Martin Niemoller


Perhaps rather than the usual childish riposte you might like to consider what this means and where we're heading. As Gordon said, "Get real".

http://www.veni.com/articles/firsttheycameforme.html

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

I am not having a laugh! these people are damaging to my business I will be glad to see the back of them!

Jim,

It seems that from what you are saying, that you are happy for criminals to be involved in taxi and phc companies, just as long as they have a front man.

I congratulate the police on their actions. There have been shootings, stabbing and god knows what else going on in glasgow for some time where the victim or suspect has been described as "involved in a private hire taxi company".

But that's ok with you it seems.