Taxi Driver Online

Telford Private Hire Drivers’ Association chairman suspended

Friday 4th February 2011, 7:41PM GMT

The chairman of the Telford Private Hire Drivers’ Association has been suspended, it was revealed today. Mohammed Zaman and a second private hire driver was suspended by Tel-ford & Wrekin Council licensing chiefs.

It comes after Mr Zaman said he was called by colleagues to the council’s MoT depot in Donnington on January 20 during a spot-check operation.

He alleged that the council licensing officers were only stopping Asian drivers during weekly spot checks.

He said voices were raised between himself and a licensing officer.

Mr Zaman said he had done nothing wrong and was now calling for an investigation into allegations of racial discrimination against private hire firms, which was previously the subject of an inquiry in Telford.

He added: “We are asking for the Race Equality people to reopen the inquiry from 2006. I am fighting this all the way. I ran the association with a clean heart. I’m going to clear my name.”

The drivers have been suspended for allegedly bre-aching licence conditions.

Russell Griffin, council spokesman, said: “The suspensions will remain in place until they are considered by the council’s licensing committee on March 8.

“The drivers concerned have the right to appeal against the decision to the magistrates court within 21 days.”

Source; http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011 ... z1D4jn9Zjr

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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.

Conveniently forgetting that there are no non-Asian drivers.

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Caledonian Cabbie

Do not want to turn this into a racist rant, But, it would be hard to stop a white driver in Manchester now, if you did you would be discriminating against a minority group.

Perhaps a foi letter would sort out exactly what the % are of ethnic drivers here, in fact anywhere in the country for that matter. Obviously if there is a high concentration of ethnic drivers in an area it may well appear that they are being targetted when perhaps they are not

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

Do they have powers to suspend?

Other than having a rare up with the LOs what has changed their 'fit and proper' status?

Have customers been attacked, or overcharged, or been rude to?

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IDFIMH

This I suppose is an abuse of section 52 - or does anyone know better?

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

I guess it depends on what basis they have been suspended Also I thought they didn't have the right to appeal under section 52?

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

If you are suspended by use of section 52 you can appeal. But you remain suspended until the appeal is heard.

That means if, as in Ashfeld, you get a month of suspension, you won't have your appeal heard until after you are back working.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

I'm sure we'll find out in due course........it seems to me if he is completely innocent he does protest too much ?

CC

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

If his crime is "verbal" at the LO, then Section 52 is way OTT.

You know what Section 52 is supposed to be for.

You don't like its existence, that’s OK that is your position.

I want it available, but only for what it was intended for.

It was not for this.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

I agree......'if'........but what 'if' the licensing officer was assaulted?

As I say, we should be able to obtain a report to the committee and read the other side of the argument.

CC

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

On that CC, "d,acord".

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

PMSL.....you're a bilingual illiterate like me

CC

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

Si Senor.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

Then the driver should have been charged by the police, and a section 52 issue would arise.

If the police aren't involved I'm not sure any section 52 issue can arise.

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IDFIMH