Minicab driver banned from driving after sting operation A private hire driver who illegally picked up undercover police officers taking part in a sting operation has been banned from driving.
Waseem Ahmed Naib (32) of Priory Road, Peterborough was banned from the roads for six months at Peterborough magistrates Court yesterday (Tuesday) after admitting unlawfully plying for hire, driving with no insurance and failing to wear his private hire badge.
The court heard that during the operation in February 2013, plain clothed police officers targeted private hire vehicles parking outside local supermarkets and other public places, to establish if any of the drivers would pick up customers without a booking. If passengers are picked up by a private hire car without a pre-booking, the driver commits an offence and the insurance is usually invalidated.
Officers posing as members of the public exited the City Hospital, Bretton Gate and approached Naib’s private hire vehicle which was parked outside. They asked him to take them to Orton and he agreed. On reaching the destination they revealed their real identities and were met at the location by members of the city council’s licensing team.
Naib, who was working for Goldstar Cars at the time of the incident, was fined £400 for unlawfully plying for hire and no insurance. He was also given six penalty points and was disqualified from driving for six months. In addition he was ordered to pay £150 in costs and a £40 victim surcharge.
Councillor Peter Hiller, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Planning for Peterborough City Council, said: “This operation took place following concerns that private hire drivers were illegally plying for trade without bookings outside local supermarkets and other public places. Although these venues may have an agreement with a particular private hire firm, in order for any journey to be legal, it must be booked in advance.
“If a private hire driver picks up a passenger without a booking, it is a real safety issue. The insurance is generally invalidated, and from a personal safety point of view there is no record of that journey.
“Our licensing officers work extremely hard monitoring the taxi trade, to protect the interest and safety of passengers and will not hesitate to prosecute any private hire driver who is found to be unlawfully plying for hire or ‘flagging’ as it is known in the trade.
“The law makes a clear distinction between a Hackney Carriage that can be legally stopped in the street and private hire cars that must be pre-booked. People who wish to use a private hire must pre-book with the company, not the driver, to ensure they are legally covered and that there is a record of them getting into the vehicle.”
A decision about Naib’s private hire badge will be made on a future date
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