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Blackburn 2005 Two-week ban for cabbie who punched teen
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Author:  JD [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:46 am ]
Post subject:  Blackburn 2005 Two-week ban for cabbie who punched teen
I don't think we covered this but I could be wrong.

In Blackburn Back in 2005, a driver was of the opinion that the passenger he was sent to pick up was the same person who had absconded from his vehicle the previous week. Reading between the lines the driver not only assaulted the punter but he also robbed him of a certain amount of money. I suspect it was a similar amount to what he thought he was owed? The prosecution negotiated to drop the robbery charges if the driver pleaded guilty to the assault. The driver was advised by his solicitor to take the deal.

What would you have done if a non payer tried to get in your cab a second time?

I would dearly like some feedback from these BTEC Trainers in order that we can all benefit from their wisdom and get the official line on how to deal with such incidents?
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This is Lancashire

October 26, 2005

Two-week ban for cabbie who punched teen

A TERRIFIED victim today spoke of his outrage after a taxi driver who viciously attacked him had his licence suspended for just two weeks.

Christopher Sutton spoke as Blackburn with Darwen Council faced criticism for not imposing a complete ban from driving taxis on cabbie Wajid Akram.

Akram pinned his 18-year-old victim inside his private hire cab before wrongly accusing him of not paying a previous fare and punching his face and head.

The 28-year-old of Lambeth Street Blackburn pleaded guilty to the assaulting the Rishton teenager causing actual bodily harm when he appeared at Burnley Crown Court.

Judge Anthony Russell QC told him he had narrowly escaped being sent to prison - but Blackburn with Darwen Council's licensing committee has decided to suspend him for a only a fortnight.

Today the council refused to reveal its reasons.

But the National Private Hire Association which represents private hire drivers slammed the punishment as 'ridiculously short.'

And Coun Colin Rigby leader of the opposition Tory group said: "The guy shouldn't be on the road at all after what has happened."

At the same meeting another driver was stripped of his licence for a month for picking up a fare which hadn't been booked in advance.

Mr Sutton a painter and decorator and former student at St Wilfrid's High School Blackburn said: "I think it is a disgrace and he should have been banned from driving a taxi so that passengers know they are safe.

"I've always made sure that I've hired a cab from the booking office like we're told to do so I don't end up with some fake.

"I did that and this still happened. I've not travelled in a taxi by myself since and it took me a while to get my confidence back after it happened.

"If you get a cab you should be able to know you will be safe. Banning him for a fortnight is like giving him a holiday."

A spokesman for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust which has campaigned for councils to crack down on rogue cabbies said: "It is important that people can trust the licensed taxi system.

"Safety of the public must be paramount."

The court heard that Akram who was working for Blackburn-based Silverline Taxis pinned Mr Sutton to the inside of his taxi before punching him in the face and the head in August 2004.

He told Mr Sutton he still owed a fare from the previous week even though Mr Sutton insisted he had not used the taxi before.

He was given 100 hours community service.

Today Akram said he only admitted to assault after advice from his solicitor and added: "I was up for robbery as well and was scared into thinking I would go to prison for years. I was told if I admitted to assault the robbery charge would be dropped.

"You get a lot of hassle as a taxi driver. But I have never been in trouble before and I want to clear my name."

The cabbie who lives with his wife and daughter said he would be working for another town centre firm when he got his licence back next week.

Details including the police statements given by Mr Sutton were presented to the council at the request of police.

And a spokesman for the National Private Hire Association said: "Two weeks for a ban is a joke it should have been much longer. It should have been a substantial number of months."

It is understood Akram's licence was only granted in April this year and was due to expire in March next year.

A spokesman for Silverline said: "He no longer works for us."

Coun Frank Connor in charge of licensing at Blackburn with Darwen Council and who was at the meeting said: "All the information was taken into consideration but the council cannot comment on specific cases."

Coun Ron O'Keeffe the Labour councillor who chaired the licensing committee meeting could not be contacted to comment. Tory councillor David Pearson was the other councillor present.
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Author:  Sussex [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Blackburn 2005 Two-week ban for cabbie who punched teen
JD wrote:
What would you have done if a non payer tried to get in your cab a second time?

I suspect the NVQ wouldn't list punching the mush on the nose as an approved way forward, but that's going to be a more common route than being nice and respectful.

In the same way most would deal with a mush who broke into their homes and stole some money.

But for those folks not wanting a ruck, and/or the mush is a big lad, then maybe a route that takes in the police station, or the radio office/rank, might be a good idea to get back up.
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