A group of Scunthorpe taxi drivers are planning to take their cars off the roads on Mad Friday after saying they have been the victims of continued anti-social behaviour and targeted attacks.

Cabbies have previously spoken out against persistent attacks on their vehicles and some say the abuse and damage has escalated over the last few months and they try to avoid certain roads in Scunthorpe for fear of what could happen to them.

Since speaking to ScunthorpeLive in October, five drivers say nothing has changed and they plan to take a stand by withdrawing their services on the night of Friday, December 20, expected to be one of the busiest of the year as pre-Christmas revellers seek transport home.

The North Lincolnshire Taxi Association has confirmed the action is not a formal strike but a choice being made by the individual drivers, with a meeting to be held with Humberside Police in the new year to discuss the issue.

One of the drivers planning to withdraw his services on Mad Friday, who did not wish to be named, said: "I have had enough. This cannot continue.

"We need to make a stand and so that is what we are doing.

"I can appreciate that the police and the taxi association plan to meet but we want to do something ourselves."

Another driver, who has worked for several companies over the past 20 years and is well-known in the town, said: "It's ridiculous that I do not feel safe doing my job.

"I do not mind people having fun but it is not funny to throw stones at cars.

"It's not fun to be laughed at because of the colour of my skin."

Another added: " I am having to pay for the damages to my vehicles. I cannot afford this.

"I am with protesting on Mad Friday. It is the only way.

"People continue to get away with it and it's ruining our jobs."

Elizabeth McClury, secretary of the North Lincolnshire Taxi Association, said she was not aware of any potential strike on Mad Friday but instead, it would be a number of individuals taking a stand themselves.

http://bit.ly/2Er7RkQ
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 TRAFFORD/MANCHESTER

A taxi driver who was caught breaking the law during a Trafford Council licensing enforcement operation has been fined in court.

Mosaraf Hossain, a private hire driver licensed by Manchester City Council, pleaded guilty to two offences - picking up a fare without a booking and driving without insurance - at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court.

Mr Hossain, who has been a taxi driver for the last five years, was fined £133 for the first offence, £400 for the second, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £625 and a victim surcharge of £40. He was also given six points on his driving licence.

Mr Hossain, aged 54, of Russell Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, was one of a number of drivers that were caught out as part of a licensing enforcement operation after the Manchester United home game versus Barcelona on Wednesday April 10, 2019. He agreed to take two council enforcement staff, posing as customers, to Deansgate for £15.  His insurance was invalidated by the fact that the fare had not been booked via a licensed operator. The council checks on that day were part of a series of on-going operations, mounted in response to the problem of illegal plying for hire on match days.

Councillor Mike Freeman, Trafford Council’s  Executive Member for Public Safety, Governance and Reform, said

“In addition to being an expensive lesson for Mr Hossain, whereby it has cost him nearly £1200, this prosecution should send a message to others tempted to flout the rules for short term gain. Private hire drivers caught in this way face prosecution and will be referred to the Council issuing their licence which means they also face the prospect of having their licence revoked.”

https://www.instituteoflicensing.org
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Taxi drivers from Glasgow have taken the unique step to ensure the public’s safety by raising funds to pay for enforcement on pirating in the Scottish city.

According to costs detailed by the Unite Glasgow Taxi Section Union sources, the cost will be £113 per hour for two Police Scotland officers working a minimum six hours each night.

The union are aiming to raise £2,712 to initially finance FOUR nights of action.

A new hard-hitting safety campaign was launched in Glasgow earlier this month highlighting the dangers of getting into an illegal non pre-booked private hire vehicle.

The campaign asked the public to ‘Know what you are getting into’ ahead of the busy Christmas period in the Scottish city.

Calum Anderson, Chairman of Unite Glasgow Cab Section said via his fundraiser: “Despite consistent lobbying for action by the Glasgow Cab Section, Police Scotland’s Greater Glasgow Divisional Commander has continued the trend of sweeping the matter under the carpet. Any operations that have been reluctantly undertaken, have been carried out in a half-hearted manner with early finishes and diversions to other tasks being among the excuses for no results.

“In the interests of public safety, Glasgow City Centre’s Area Commander has come up with a resolution of sorts, and offered dedicated officers to work alongside Enforcement... if we’re willing to pay for them.”

The fundraising campaign can be found www.gofundme.com  
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