Two private hire drivers were not fit and proper persons to retain their licences, the courts have confirmed.
Trafford Council revoked the licences of Saheed Abiodun Balogun and Khalid Ali Korai after they had continued to use their vehicles when their current vehicle compliance certificates had expired. As a result their existing insurance was invalid, placing their passengers at further risk in the event of an accident.
Manchester & Salford Magistrates Court has now upheld the decision, taken by the Council’s Public Protection Sub-Committee. Members of the sub-committee viewed the drivers’ actions, in placing their passengers at further risk in the event of an accident, as extremely serious and wholly unacceptable.
The Council ensures only safe and roadworthy vehicles are used to convey the fare paying public by making licensed vehicles, whether it is a private hire or a taxi, undergo a compliance check twice a year.
On 7th June, the Council’s sub-committee heard Mr Korai, 35, of Derby Court, Oldham, had completed 176 jobs, between 23rd February and 16th April without a valid compliance certificate being in place. At his appeal on 9th October, magistrates upheld the earlier decision of the Council. In addition Mr Korai was ordered to pay £850 costs to the Council.
On 17th October, Mr Balogun’s appeal was heard. His licence had been revoked by the Council as a result of him completing 307 jobs between 10th February and 11th April 2018 without a valid compliance for the vehicle. Magistrates again upheld the earlier decision of the Council, instructing Mr Balogun, 51, of Cambert Lane, Gorton, Manchester, to pay £500 of the Council’s costs in defending the appeal.
Councillor Mike Freeman, Trafford Council’s Executive member for Constitutional Reform and Resident Engagement, said:
“Both cases illustrate that the Council takes these matters very seriously. The primary focus of the taxi licensing regime is public safety and passengers need to know that the vehicles being used to convey them are safe.“Information about decisions of the Council to revoke licences are now shared with Licensing Departments nationally so these decisions send a clear message to any licensed driver who may otherwise be tempted to risk using a vehicle with an expired compliance”
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Posted on Thursday 25th October 2018