Taxi Driver Online

‘I’m target of vendetta’ says cabbie hit by arson



A taxi driver whose cab was torched by arsonists fears he was the target of a hate campaign after threatening to go the council about alleged fraud in the town’s taxi licencing system.

Tahir Abdullah claims he was the victim of a malicious vendetta when his taxi was deliberately set alight outside his home in Shackleton Way, Woodley, in the early hours of Thursday last week.

The 32-year-old told the Post he had been warned by other cabbies after deciding to take his allegations concerning false references made by Reading Taxi Association to Reading Borough Council.

He claims many drivers have been granted licences based on false information stating they had met council criteria to have worked full time as a taxi driver in the town for three years.

Mr Abdullah said: “People are starting to abuse the licensing criteria. They are pushing through people that are ineligible for the criteria and the council is turning a blind eye.

“It is causing harm to business because legitimate drivers are losing money and having to work like donkeys. It’s like having three people to do one job.

“I’d had enough and was going to go to the council. Other drivers warned me, ‘You don’t know what you’re getting into,’ and said saying it is one thing but proving it is another.

“I believe this is the reason my taxi was torched. The council should be looking into this matter more. It’s just blatant fraud.”

Mr Abdullah, who has been a cabbie in Reading for four years, told of his shock when he was woken and saw the taxi ablaze at around 2am.

He added: “I looked out the window. The flames were high. I couldn’t believe it. There was another car just a few feet away and it could have been worse.

“Whoever did this knew what they were doing. Someone is trying to put me out of work. I’m so angry someone can try to take your livelihood away. It’s unbelievable.”

Appealing for information about the suspected arson, PC Stuart Edwards, of Loddon Valley police station, said: “The vehicle was on fire in the cab area and top of the bonnet. We believe an accelerant may have been used.”

Reading Taxi Association chairman Naeem Sheikh insisted all references handed over to the council were accurate.

He said: “There is nothing to hide.

“Since I took over [as chairman] in January, procedures go through the committee members and it’s all open. We keep records up-to-date of members working day and night and if we are asked to provide information it is correct.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to the fire to come forward.

Call 08458 505 505 and ask to speak to PC Edwards or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

‘Allegations of concern to us’

RBC spokesman Chris Branagan said: “We are currently liaising with Thames Valley Police about the incident, as the allegations Mr Abdullah has made are of concern to us.”

In order for a hackney carriage licence to be issued, the following strict criteria must be met:

- New hackney carriage proprietors’ licences are granted to licensed Reading Borough Council hackney carriage drivers who have been licensed and renting Reading Borough Council licensed hackney carriage vehicles full time (at least 37 hours per week) for at least the last three consecutive years and whose intention it is to personally drive the vehicle for which any licence is issued full time.

- Licences are not granted to any person who has previously been issued a new proprietor’s licence in the past by the council, or to any person who currently owns a Reading Borough Council licensed hackney carriage, or to any person who has previously owned a Reading Borough Council licensed hackney carriage vehicle and has sold or transferred the vehicle to another person within five years.

- Hackney proprietors’ licences are not granted to persons whose spouse, partner or close relatives hold hackney carriage drivers licences, where the proprietors do not drive the vehicles themselves.

- A brand new vehicle must be provided for licensing.

- Successful applicants for the new hackney carriage proprietors’ licences be required to take and pass the two-part council knowledge test and Driving Standards agency driving test, if they have not already successfully done so, within a reasonable time to be determined by the Head of Environment and Consumer Services.

Mr Branagan continued: “Officers determine applications for hackney carriage proprietors’ licences on the above criteria.

“Information relating to the above criteria is determined by the information that the council already has on file for an applicant and that which is provided by the applicant.

"The applicant has to provide details of their accounts and insurances for the last three years to substantiate their application. In addition to this, in some cases information is obtained from other sources which can include Reading Taxi Association.

"Applicants have the opportunity to appeal the decision should they be unsuccessful.”

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

"the council is turning a blind eye. " they seem to be very good at that .

I doubt if this is legal

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Only doubt?

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IDFIMH

The taxi license conditions that were implemented in 2007 were introduced after consultation with the taxi trade, and after reading the minutes of the consultation it is clear to me that practically all of the conditions that we are discussing in another thread on this site were at the behest of the local taxi trade. No wonder they appear extreme, unique and probably illegal.

I don't doubt the allegations of this owner but to burn his cab is outrageous.

Regards

JD

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