WIRRAL.

WITH the festive party season about to start, Wirral Council is reminding people to check late night taxis are legitimate before getting in Taxi vehicles and drivers are licensed by the local authority, with the aim of protecting the public.

All licensed drivers must display a valid badge, and their vehicles must carry a plate clearly identifying the car as being properly registered.


Councillor Bill Davies, chair of the licensing committee, said: “This year has seen some changes to public transport, in particular the removal of the cross-river service late on Saturday nights which used to bring people home from Liverpool city centre.

"This means that more people than ever will be looking for taxis after their Christmas nights out.

“People’s safety is the most important thing. We want to reinforce the message that bona fide taxis and their drivers are required to display their licences prominently. If in doubt, don’t get in.”

Taxi ranks are always busy over the festive period, but private hire cabs can be booked in advance.

By law, private hire cabs must be pre-booked.

If you get into one of these vehicles without booking you may not be insured and the driver will be breaking the law.


http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11633909._/?


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A teenager and a man chased down a father-of-two before one of them stabbed him to death, a court was told on Friday.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that 18-year-old Connor Grana and Graeme Carter, 26, chased their victim Stephen McGowan on foot through the streets of Greenock.

And when he managed to jump in a taxi in a bid to escape they commandeered another cab and ordered the driver to follow him.

When Mr McGowan, 23, was dropped off at 49 High Street, Greenock, at around 3am he frantically began buzzing the close entry system.

But Grana in the taxi behind leaped out, in the cabbie's words, "in a real hurry Usain Bolt style." Carter paid the taxi driver.

Inside the close Mr McGowan was stabbed three times by Grana. Despite being fatally injured he managed to walk to his girlfriend's mother's house for help. But after knocking the door he collapsed and died.

On Friday Grana, who is detained in Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, admitted murdering Mr McGowan on July 27.

His co-accused Carter, who is detained at Low Moss, admitted the culpable homicide of Mr McGowan.

Carter was originally charged with murder, but the Crown accepted his plea to the reduced charge.

This was accepted on the basis he was involved in the pursuit, although he did not stab Mr McGowan.

Advocate depute Tim Niven-Smith said one of the stab wounds entered Mr McGowan's heart and another cut into a major blood vessel.

Mr Niven-Smith said that the chase through the streets of Greenock from Lyle Street to Cathcart Street where Mr McGowan entered a taxi was caught on CCTV.

He added: "Taxi driver Neil Munro said he noted that Mr McGowan was out of breath and said, 'they're after me, they're gonnae stab me, want to just drive mate.'"

"Mr Munro told police that he looked in his rear view mirror and saw a man running at his taxi. Mr McGowan, who he described as looking frightened, asked to be taken to High Street."

The court heard that the other taxi driver Lee Cleary was told: "Follow that taxi."

Grana, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the taxi, was asked why he was chasing Mr McGowan and replied: "Because the guy owes me lots of money."

The court heard that about 30 minutes after the killing Grana was boasting saying: "I've stabbed him."

He said he had chased Mr McGowan into a close and in the close he had stabbed him with a knife.

Grana added that he did this while Cater was paying the taxi driver.

Judge Lord Bannatyne deferred sentence on both accused until January next year for background reports.


http://news.stv.tv/scotland/301453-stephen-mcgowan-chased-by-connor-grana-and-graeme-carter/?

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A WORCESTER taxi driver is due to appear for trial at Worcester Magistrates' Court charged with behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The allegations towards Mohammed Ali, 44, of Lark Hill Road, relate to an incident on October 11 this year.

Ali pleaded not guilty to the offence and was grated conditional bail that he does not enter the village of Hatfield and does not pick up lone female fares. The trial date has been set for March 12 next year.