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Dean Taxis and LA Taxis stripped of Gateshead licence after convicted fraudster appointed as director

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... d-17781261


Image: Newcastle Chronicle

Gateshead Council has deemed both firms 'not fit and proper' to operate out of the city, though they continue to operate pending appeals

Two North East taxi firms are set to have their operator licence revoked by Gateshead Council following the appointment of a convicted fraudster as a director.

Dean Taxis Ltd and LA Taxis Ltd have both been stripped of their Gateshead private hire licence, subject to appeal, after the authority deemed them 'not fit and proper' to operate in the city.

The council has taken action after Amjed Iqbal Malik was appointed as a director of new companies started up last year called Dean Taxis (Newcastle) Limited and LA Taxis Newcastle Limited.

The Chronicle reported in 2013 how Iqbal was jailed for more than two years for running “cash for crash” and mortgage scams worth more than £1m.

Gateshead Council's regulatory committee revoked Dean Taxis' licence at a meeting on Tuesday and, as a result, had its contract with the authority terminated with immediate effect.

This also extends to LA Taxis, which occasionally undertook subcontract work for the authority.

A letter seen by ChronicleLive which was distributed to contract managers by Gateshead Council states: "It will no longer be possible for work carried out under the council's framework for the provision of taxi and minibus services to be undertaken by Dean Taxis Ltd or LA Taxis until further notice.

"Please ensure you do not subcontract any home to school, home to day services or any other contracts awarded via Gateshead Borough Council to Dean Taxis Ltd.

"Please ensure that with immediate effect you remove any Dean Taxis or LA Taxis signage from vehicles and logos from drivers' uniforms used in any Gateshead Council contracted work."

The current licences for both Dean Taxis and LA Taxis will remain in effect until the appeals are determined.

If the decisions are upheld, the firms' drivers will still be able to pick-up and drop-off customers in the city. However, Dean Taxis and LA Taxis will no longer be able to be based out of their Gateshead offices in Team Valley and Wardley respectively.

The sanctions apply to other firms affiliated with Dean Taxis including: Birtley Taxis, Blue Eagle Taxis, DNL, Felling Taxis, Grosvenor Taxis, Gateshead Taxis, Low Fell Cabs, Metrocentre Taxis Ltd, S&S, Team Valley Taxis, Whitehall Taxis and Park Taxis.

Dean Taxis has confirmed it is appealing the council's decision with a hearing scheduled to take place at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on March 13.

Robin Armstrong, director of Dean Taxis, said: "As part of the regulatory committee meeting it was decided Dean Taxis Limited after 34 years as a licenced taxi operator in Gateshead was no longer fit for purpose to hold its licence because of a relationship with a third party that we are unable to name for legal reasons.

"An appeal has been submitted and we consider the decision to be grossly unfair.

"We have always abided by the laws of the land and have never ever been in this position before.

"Dean Taxis is ran professionally and public safety is at the forefront of our operation at all times.

"We are reassuring everyone it is business as usual as to such time the courts overturn the council's decision."

Iqbal, along with an associate, ran an accident claims management firm in the West End and owned a fleet of taxis which they would hire out to cabbies whose cars were off the road.

But the fraudsters cooked the books, claiming thousands from insurance companies by making up accidents and claiming for costs which did not exist.

Iqbal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to acquire criminal property through fraud, obtaining a money transfer by deception and converting criminal property. He was jailed for two years and four months in 2013.

Drivers at Dean Taxis, which has around 600 employees on its books, have told ChronicleLive they are fearing for their jobs after only being made aware of their precarious position on Facebook.

One driver said: "This kind of thing is unprecedented. We have hundreds of drivers and no one has a clue what is going on.

"The company has lost the contract with the council so that is a lot of work we are losing out on.

"Now there is genuine concern for our jobs. If the decision is upheld it would be a disaster for the company."

Another driver added: "The drivers are feeling deflated at the moment. This is people's livelihoods we are talking about.

"Dean Taxis is one of the biggest in the North East and I was just in shock when I heard from another driver.

"It's a big concern. It is not what you would expect from a reputable company. We've all been left in limbo."

The decision was made to revoke the private hire operator licence from LA Taxis in September last year.

LA Taxis Ltd, which has its headquarters in Shieldfield, appealed the revocation at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on February 14. However the decision was upheld with the firm ordered to pay costs of £4,552.

The firm has the right to appeal to the crown court, though it is unknown at this stage if the owners will choose to do so.

A spokeswoman for Gateshead Council said: "Gateshead Council has revoked the operators‘ licences for both LA Taxis Ltd and Dean Taxis Ltd.

"In September 2019, Gateshead Council revoked the operator’s licence for LA Taxis Ltd after learning that Amjed Iqbal Malik had been appointed director of the company.

"The council has previously found Mr Iqbal not to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence, and his appointment as director called into question whether LA Taxis Ltd remained fit and proper to continue to hold an operator’s licence.

"Gateshead Council’s Regulatory Committee decided it didn’t and revoked the company’s licence.

"The company exercised their right to appeal and on Friday February 14 at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court that appeal was considered and dismissed, the court finding that LA Taxis Ltd is not fit and proper to operate in Gateshead.

“Earlier this week, Gateshead Council revoked the operator’s licence for Dean Taxis Ltd as a result of concerns regarding Mr Iqbal's connections to the business.

"Dean Taxis has 21 days to appeal that decision. The Council has also revoked its contract with Dean Taxis Ltd and will no longer be using their services.

“We wish to stress that our concerns are about the suitability of the operating companies rather than the drivers.

"The council carries out rigorous and ongoing checks on the drivers we license to make sure they are safe and suitable to provide services to the travelling public."

Newcastle City Council confirmed both companies do have separate licences with the authority but confirmed they are aware of proceedings across the river.

A spokesman said: "As a licencing authority our first concern is obviously to protect the safety of the public.

“We work closely with Northumbria Police and colleagues across neighbouring authorities and operators’ licences to trade are kept under review where appropriate.

“Should any new or additional information come to light we will take that into consideration.

“We are aware of the ongoing proceedings and won’t be making any further comment at this stage.”

The Chronicle has approached LA Taxis for a comment.

They will have to go to the Mags Court first.

Surprised the firm didn't foresee the mess they are in at present.

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IDFIMH

Correct, that's why it says:

Quote:
Dean Taxis has confirmed it is appealing the council's decision with a hearing scheduled to take place at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on March 13.
End Quote:

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Chris The Fish

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

would it not be simpler to for them to part company with "mr cash for crash"

after all i doubt he meets the criteria required by companies house to be allowed to be a director of the company

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Maybe he owns the firm.

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IDFIMH

But if he isn't acceptable as a director then his wife or other family member should have been appointed instead or even he could just be a shareholder and not on the board

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Not sure he's actually a director of Dean Taxis Limited, or ever was. The piece says their ops licence was revoked because of his 'connections' to that company.

LA Taxis Limited is obviously a different company, and there seem to be another two separate companies with similar names, but relating specifically to Newcastle, but he was appointed director of both.

However, lots of detailed information in the piece, and probably not enough to get the full picture. And if the article is anything like normal press reporting relating to the trade then there's probably some stuff in there that's a bit misleading.

But that's why I said to pay attention

A guy called Alec owns the company. I remember Mick having loads of run-ins with him. He also sells cars to the drivers on illegal finance deals.

Alec sold up.

Dean Taxis future in the balance as it fights council's decision to strip Gateshead licence

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... l-17917726

Gateshead Council said the firm was 'not fit and proper' to operate out of the city, though they continue to operate pending an appeal

The future of a taxi company remains in the balance following its first appearance at court after having its Gateshead operator's licence revoked.

Dean Taxis Ltd was stripped of its private licence last month after the council deemed the firm 'not fit and proper' to operate in the town.

Gateshead Council acted following the appointment of convicted fraudster Amjed Iqbal Malik as a director of a new company started up last year called Dean Taxis (Newcastle) Limited.

The Chronicle reported in 2013 how Iqbal was jailed for more than two years for running “cash for crash” and mortgage scams worth more than £1m.

A brief appeal hearing was heard at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Friday against Gateshead Council's decision to revoke Dean Taxis' private hire vehicle operator's licence.

Chairman of the bench, Mr Fitzgerald, adjourned the case until May 15.

He said: "I will adjourn the case until Friday, May 15 at 2pm with the case being scheduled for half a day, for now."

If the decision is upheld, the firm's drivers will still be able to pick-up and drop-off customers in the town. However, Dean Taxis would no longer be able to be based out of its Gateshead office in Team Valley.

Robin Armstrong, director of Dean Taxis, told ChronicleLive following Friday's hearing that every step has been taken to rectify any issues highlighted by Gateshead Council.

He said: "This great company, one of the biggest in Gateshead, does not need to be tarnished with any sort of brush for the services it provides. I'm annoyed that this has happened but I understand now listening to Gateshead Council.

"I've responded to what I've seen and done the right thing to do. The person Gateshead Council has the problem with has been removed from our office and will no longer work in that office or be part of that business going forward.

"To be attacked in Gateshead in the way we were was quite a shock.

"We have taken every step to make it right with Gateshead Council so that this mark that has been put next to such a great company can be taken away.

"There's been no detriment to us as a result of all of this. We have had so much support online, people ringing up and supporting. I just really regret the fact that this has been put up against the company at all."

Dean Taxis, which has around 600 employees on its books, was stripped of its licence at a Gateshead Council regulatory committee last month and, as a result, had its contract with the authority terminated with immediate effect.

However, the firm's current operator's licence remains active until the appeals process is completed.

The sanctions apply to other firms affiliated with Dean Taxis including: Birtley Taxis, Blue Eagle Taxis, DNL, Felling Taxis, Grosvenor Taxis, Gateshead Taxis, Low Fell Cabs, Metrocentre Taxis Ltd, S&S, Team Valley Taxis, Whitehall Taxis and Park Taxis.

I assume the first part of this simply means that the drivers will still be licensed rather than the operator, but if the operator is binned the fact that the drivers are still badged and plated would be academic?

(As I recall it Deans also has HCs under its umbrella, so they could presumably continue to work the ranks, unless the firm plates the vehicles rather than the drivers - I also recall reading stuff about large scale HC rentals?)


Well if you get involved in with someone jailed for a £million fraud...


Doubt they're *employees* somehow. But if they are then that contradicts the claim that the drivers are still free to work regardless of what happens to the operator

Really?

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IDFIMH

I spoke to someone up there today who's in the trade, the Serious Fraud Squad are in on the gig after a load of money was found to have passed hands in suitcases. Gateshead Licensing is in on the gig too, as alleged relationships are being investigated.

Drivers have also come under the radar as most of them are from the Bradford and Leeds area and have been running under different names.

The new owner of Dean Taxis Amjed Iqbal Malik, he's done a runner to Dubai and didn't turn up at court yesterday.

But not much to see apart from that

Tip of the iceberg both locally and nationally.

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IDFIMH