LUTON AIRPORT

TAXI drivers will be protesting outside Luton Town Hall at 1.30pm on Wednesday 22nd June over the awarding of a contract to a London firm.

Drivers who are a member of the RMT trade union are protesting the contract and will congregate outside Luton town hall on Wednesday 22 June at 1:30pm.


Luton Airport awarded a five year contract at the airport to London-based firm Addison Lee, after a contract with Luton Hackney Carriages Association expired in February.

Former taxi driver Barkat Hussain, of Claremont Road, Luton, fears that this could lead taxi drivers to 'flood' the town centre, which could lead to a rise in fares.


He said: "Hackney cab drivers will have no choice but to flood the town with their vehicles, as they need to feed their families and pay their mortgages like the rest of us.

"This will mean all Luton fares will be forced up as otherwise no-one will be able to make a living driving a taxi."

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT demands that the Luton Airport tender be re-run to give proper weight to the contribution from local drivers.

"RMT also demands that the taxi rank at the airport be re-instated. If this does not occur, local drivers face being ruined.

"Further, RMT demands that all local authorities stop trying to fleece local taxis.

"Allowing multi-nationals to gorge themselves on fees earned by providing local services, will simply lead to those services being overpriced and revenue being exported out of the area."

http://goo.gl/uwbplx

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STOKE

A TAXI driver has been jailed and stripped of his licence after he groped a female passenger – before stealing her purse and withdrawing money with her bank card.

Shazad Hussain has been sent to prison for 18 months after being convicted of sexual assault. The 23-year-old was finishing his shift when he picked up his victim, who had been drinking, outside a takeaway in Hanley.

The victim gave him her cash card and pin number so he could withdraw his fare from an ATM. As he drove to drop her off in Biddulph, he sexually assaulted her and did not return her purse.

Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council has condemned Hussain's behaviour, and confirmed he is no longer a licensed driver.


A trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Hussain had been to the city centre takeaway to get some food as he finished his shift at 5am.

A bouncer told him that a woman was waiting outside and wanted a taxi home to Biddulph. Despite living in Blurton, Hussain agreed to take her and withdrew the fare from a nearby cash machine.

After taking a 'circuitous' route to Biddulph he groped her twice – first touching her thigh over her clothing and moving his hand towards her groin. He then touched her breast, again over her clothes.

The court heard as he dropped her at home he offered to waive his fare if she agreed to give him oral sex – which she declined. After she got home – where her mother found her in distress – she realised she did not have her purse and contacted the police.

Meanwhile Hussain drove to several ATMs on his way home withdrawing cash using the victim's bank card – a total of £260 – until he could not carry out any more transactions.

He was later arrested and initially denied theft and sexual assault following the incident last summer. When presented with CCTV evidence by police he admitted two charges of theft, but continued to deny sexual assault. He was found guilty following a trial last month.

Nicholas Tatlow, representing Hussain at his sentencing hearing, said he had never been in trouble before.

"He is a young man of good character and good background," said Mr Tatlow. "It's clear he is very sorry for the way he behaved towards this woman on this night."

The court heard the victim, who was previously 'bubbly, outgoing and fun-loving', had become withdrawn, was drinking more and had been prescribed anti-depressants.

Judge David Fletcher sentenced Hussain, of Blurton Road, Blurton, to 18 months in prison.

He said: "You were a taxi driver. She was a lone woman, early in the morning. There was targeting of the victim and there has clearly been psychological harm caused. This was a serious piece of behaviour."

Councillor Randy Conteh, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet member for housing, communities and safer city, said behaviour like Hussain's 'is not tolerated'.

http://goo.gl/dmVvfz

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EDINBURGH (Update)

Bosses at one of Scotland's busiest airports have called in the police to crack down on cabbies who flout pick-up rules. 

Concerns have been raised at Edinburgh Airport over drivers who pick up fares in the drop-off zone - which is banned under the terminal's byelaws. 

City Cabs is the official taxi provider for the airport, and its drivers are allowed to park close to the main terminal. 


But rival firms are reportedly "poaching" customers before they reach the designated rank in the multi-storey car park. 

Airport bosses said they were working with police - as well as car park operators and the city council - to clamp down on those who breach the rules. 

It is understood Edinburgh City Council's licensing board will be writing to the drivers. 

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: "We're aware that there is an issue with taxis picking up in our drop-off zone. 

"This is not allowed under airport byelaws and we're working with our car park operators Empark, Police Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council Licensing Board to deal with it. 

"Our taxi operators are aware of this issue and support us as we try to ensure our drop-off area is safe, efficient and used for its proper purpose." 

A City Cabs driver, who did not wish to be named, said the problem began when the layout of the airport was changed in April to deal with an increase in passenger numbers. 

He said: "There is major unrest between the official airport taxi companies, which are being charged £2.90 by the airport for each pick-up, and the rest of Edinburgh cabs who are coming into the airport to steal customers from under our noses. 

"It is soul-destroying watching other taxis touting, dropping people off and getting fares straight away while we wait for up to two hours [in the designated rank] not making any money. And some drivers are coming in empty and trying to steal customers. 

"I'm at the end of my tether. They are taking cash out of our pockets." 

But Les McVay, company secretary at City Cabs, downplayed the extent of the problem and said the deal they had made with the airport was a "success story". 

http://goo.gl/iXj0zp