Crime-link PH firm shut down
A taxi firm being run for the financial benefit of a convicted criminal who once threatened to have police officers shot and boasted of being “the heavy from Dumbarton” has become the first in Scotland to be denied a licence under new legislation.
Castle Cabs was refused a licence to run a private hire business under recent changes to the law designed to weed out criminal elements from the trade by allowing the police to object if they have evidence a firm is a front for other parties.
Strathclyde Police had argued that owner James King was running the Dumbarton-based firm for his son, Stephen, 36, who has spent convictions for housebreaking, possession of drugs and carrying a knife – crimes that would have prevented him successfully applying for a licence in his own name.
Officers took the unusual step of reading out his spent offences to thwart the application at a hearing of West Dunbartonshire Council. The decision to uphold the force’s objections is the first time recent legal changes have been used to close a taxi or private hire firm.
It follows the force’s failed attempt to prevent another cab firm from trading last month.
Strathclyde Police is understood to be preparing an appeal against East Renfrewshire Council’s decision to allow a Barrhead firm a radio base licence despite its shareholder links to the late Glasgow crime lord Tam McGraw.
Paul McBride, QC, had argued at a council hearing that major shareholder John “Joker” McCartney, a former binman who made his name as McGraw’s right-hand man, was no longer connected to the company.
At the hearing in Dumbarton on Tuesday, officers claimed that they found that although James King was the sole director of Castle Cabs, its base was owned by his son, which he rents for £400 a month.
However Mr King snr refused to provide evidence of transactions with his son’s firm, SKAM, or answer questions about the financial side of the business.
Police then claimed “justice cannot be done in this case except by admitting evidence relating to Mr King’s (jnr’s) spent convictions” and read details of an attack that led to him being charged with assault and four friends with attempted murder in 1995.
Stephen King was charged in 2005 with obstructing a police officer and a breach of the peace.
Officers also read details of an incident in Greenock four years ago where Mr King was identified as being involved in a disturbance but when approached by officers said: “Do you know who I am? I am the heavy from Dumbarton. I could have you shot tomorrow.”
When taken to police cells, Mr King continued to threaten to have officers shot.
Chief Inspector Stuart Neill, head of licensing for Strathclyde Police, said the force welcomed the decision made by West Dunbartonshire.
He added: “Recent changes to legislation have allowed us to actively object to licence applications and to complain about existing licences and we will continue to use these to make sure licensing boards are as well informed as possible when considering these matters.”
Legislation was last year introduced by the Scottish Government requiring all booking offices for the taxi and cab trade to be licensed.
The scheme allows the police to carry out full background and financial checks on firms and then recommend to councils whether they should be licensed.
However, the documentation firms must complete does not require them to disclose shareholders, a major loophole as far as lawyers and the police are concerned.
The Herald yesterday contacted the Kings’ solicitors, McArthur Stanton in Dumbarton, but neither James nor Stephen King was available for comment.
source:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/
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amazing these ph companys always seem to be run by someone with a colourful past 