Crime Solicitors

An illegal taxi driver operating in Manchester’s city centre has been prosecuted after being caught having illegally picked up passengers.

In the early hours of Sunday, 1 March 2015, a city council officer working with a Greater Manchester Police traffic officer were patrolling in a police vehicle in the city centre.

The officers pulled over a private hire minibus – licensed to carry eight people – on suspicion the vehicle was overloaded.

The driver was found to be 63-year-old Sarfraz Ahmed Bhamjee, of Worthington Street, Old Trafford in Greater Manchester.

Only eight passengers were confirmed to be travelling in the minibus – but the passengers revealed they had not pre-booked the vehicle through an operator, but had got into the vehicle on Peter Street in Manchester city centre.

The driver was then cautioned and interviewed on suspicion of having committed a plying for hire offence and the associated offence of having no insurance.

Subsequent enquiries with the driver's operator confirmed that the journey had not been pre-booked, which is a legal requirement by a private hire vehicle. It is illegal for private hire taxi drivers to pick up passengers who flag them down on the street – and doing so may invalidate their insurance.

All journeys taken in private hire taxis must be pre-booked through the base operator.

Bhamjee was fined a total of £280, with costs of £621 and a victim of crime surcharge of £28.

He was also handed eight penalty points for driving without valid insurance.

After the hearing, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Nigel Murphy, said:

“When visiting the city centre, remember your journey will not be insured if you flag down a passing private hire vehicle or an out-of-town hackney – only Manchester licensed hackney carriage drivers are allowed to pick passengers up from the side of the road within our city boundaries.

“We regard illegally plying for hire as a serious offence – and the punishment handed out by the court shows they agree.

“Let this be a warning to rogue drivers that the consequences for illegally operating any taxi are both serious and costly.

“Our officers patrol day and night, seven days a week – if you are caught operating illegally, we will not hesitate to prosecute you.”

Duncan Lewis Motoring Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a motoring offence, including driving without a valid licence, driving without insurance, operating as a taxi cab without a valid licence or insurance, speeding offences, DUI, dangerous driving or causing death by dangerous driving – and charges relating to stolen vehicles.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a client at a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on motoring offences, call Duncan Lewis motoring solicitors on 0333 772 0409.