Cardiff.

Cardiff are to repay over £1.1 million pounds to its Taxi and Private hire drivers and operators.

This news comes as the Country awaits a Judicial review hearing listed for June 2014.

The following article is taken from the South Wales Echo, March 10.

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FOUR Southampton taxi drivers unleashed a violent attack on three men in a city centre pub.

One victim was punched, kicked and stamped on as he was pinned to the floor while others brandished pool cues and wielded bar stools when a mass brawl broke out – all after a row over who was going to buy the next drink.

Innocent pub goers desperately tried to intervene to ease tensions as fighting escalated at the Dorchester Arms.

Gurmit Singh Roath, his two sons Jaswant Singh and Satnam Singh Roath as well as his nephew Shakti Singh Roath all launched violent assaults as a normal night out descended into violence.

Southampton Crown Court heard how trouble started after 50-year-old Gurmit became involved in a “heated”  dispute, which involved swearing, about who should be buying the drinks.

CCTV footage of the pool saloon area of the Onslow Road pub then shows him grabbing another man, Mohinder Singh Rathor, throwing him to the ground and aiming a kick at his body.

The court heard how Mr Rathor’s turban was knocked off – an incident which, if it happens in public, is regarded as a serious matter within the Sikh community.

Two other men, Gurmit Singh Pottiwal and his son Gurdev Singh Pottiwal rushed to his aid.

But seconds later, the court heard, Roath was heard instructing his sons and nephew to “get stuck in”.

Skirmishes broke out around the pub and at different times Jaswant, Shakti and Satnam were all seen to pick up bar stools before being restrained before they could lash out.

Jaswant, 30, pictured below, aimed two punches at the Pottiwals in the earlier spell of fighting and one punched back in “defence” of both of them.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11069736._/?
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 A Peterborough taxi driver has lost an appeal to keep his licence after it was previously revoked.

The council took away Bahram Ali’s private hire licence last year after two allegations were made of inappropriate behaviour towards women.

Ali (37) of Flore Close, Peterborough appealed the decision at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday but it was rejected.

The court ruled that Ali was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver’s licence. He was ordered to pay £150 towards the city council’s costs.

Peterborough City Council Licensing Manager Adrian Day welcomed the decision and said it reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to maintaining high standards among taxi and private hire drivers.

He said: “Following two separate, unconnected allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women by a licensed driver, a person in a position of trust, a decision to revoke in the interests of public safety was taken.

“I welcome the result of this case and the confirmation that our decision to revoke the licence was the right one.

“Once licensed, a driver is given access to the public, some of whom are vulnerable due to their age, sex or temporarily impaired as a result of consuming alcohol.

“We need to take all necessary steps to ensure licensed drivers are fit and proper for the role and act in the best interest of the public.

“This result gives a clear message to all Hackney and private hire drivers that public safety is our utmost priority and the city council licensing team will do everything in our power to protect both drivers and passengers at all times.”
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Liverpool.

Motorbike-riding gunmen targeted a taxi in a brazen drive-by shooting near a north Liverpool park.

Police were called to Judge’s Drive, in Newsham Park, after reports two men drove up alongside a taxi and fired a gun at two passengers sitting in the back seat at about 7pm.

The taxi driver pulled over immediately, and the two men inside jumped out and sprinted away.

The gunmen then accelerated off towards Tuebrook after the shooting, which police said they were treating as a deliberate and targeted attack.

Cops were still searching the scene this morning, after it was immediately cordoned off as a probe was launched.

The driver of the taxi was uninjured, and officers said at this stage they could not confirm whether the passengers who ran off had been admitted to hospital.

The early evening attack took place on a busy street, just next to the popular Newsham Park.

Police said the armed assault could have caused serious injuries to members of the public, and called on anyone who saw anything to come forward.

Chief Inspector Matt Boyle, said: "This was an extremely reckless act in which two men on a motorbike have discharged a firearm in a busy public street at a moving taxi.

“We believe the target were the passengers in the taxi and not the driver himself and it is only through sheer good fortune that no-one has been hurt.

“We are urgently trying to trace the two passengers who ran from the taxi when the driver stopped as we need to establish that they are safe and uninjured.”


“We are also carrying out extensive enquiries to identify and arrest the two offenders of the motorbike. This incident took place near a popular local park when many local people were still out and about and I would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious to call our guncrime hotline on 0800 230 0600."