A cabbie from Stoke-on-Trent has been hit with an expensive fare after plying for trade illegally in Stone.
Usman Hussain, aged 23, was stopped after a joint operation between police and Stafford Borough Council to crack down on rogue minicabs.
Magistrates heard Hussain agreed to take a plain clothed policewoman and council officer to a local pub when they approached his Lucky Seven private hire vehicle in Station Road, Stone. When the vehicle was stopped by a marked police car, Hussain told his passengers to “tell them you booked me from Granvilles”.
Julie Simpson, prosecuting for Stafford Borough Council, said: “He also spoke on his radio saying ‘Book me a job from Granvilles’. He then said again to his passengers, ‘Tell them you booked me’.”
Private hire drivers can only pick up passengers that have booked in advance – and it is illegal for them to collect customers in the street or from a taxi rank.
Hussain, of Argyll Road, Longton, admitted plying for hire in an unlicensed vehicle in August. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a total of £236.10 costs by magistrates in Stafford on Tuesday 16th December.
Tac Hussain, in mitigation, said: “This is an expensive fare for Mr Hussain. He accepts he was foolish but did not go deliberately plying for hire. His documents and vehicle were all in order and he was not initiating or actively seeking a fare.”
The court was told Hussain would probably have to go before by a licensing panel at Stoke-on-Trent City Council to see if he was a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence.
The ‘Safer Nights’ operation aims to reduce the risks to residents of uninsured and unsafe vehicles on the roads in the borough.
After the case, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, Councillor Frank Finlay, said: “We are determined to clamp down on private hire drivers who stick two fingers up at the law by coming into the borough and picking up residents with no prior booking. One of our top priorities is the health and wellbeing of our community and this operation aims to protect the public as they are at risk, because these vehicles will not be insured if they are picking up passengers in this way.”
Mr Khalid Latif, a local Hackney Carriage Driver, added: “Really pleased this prosecution has been brought by the council and we hope it will send a message to other drivers not to ply for trade illegally in Stafford Borough.”
More information on taxis and private hire vehicles can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/taxis-and-minicabs
2 comments
Rob Hill
This is a real issue in Stone. Last time I was stood on the pavement down by the Swan waiting for a Westside cab (that I had booked) I had three or four Stoke private hire cars pull up trying to tout for a fare. There were so many of them that night they were driving round and round the town, as Granville square was gridlocked with Stoke private hire cars all hanging around hoping to pick up some business.
It is blatant and frankly I feel sorry for the legitimate taxis working in the area and for the local private hire companies such as K Cabs, Westside etc. who are (as far as I can see) all running their businesses in a responsible manner.
Jamie Summerfield
Well said, Rob. Hopefully, this case will act as a warning to any cabbies looking to trade illegally in Stone