Taxi Driver Online

Some interesting stuff here, particularly as regards the other councils and 'fit and proper'

But one of those where I think I'd take the applicant's side these days, while forty-odd years ago I'd have argued the other way


Man who attacked boy, 14, refused private hire licence

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/sco ... e-licence/

A man who assaulted a 14-year-old boy before dragging him into a shop has been refused permission to work as a private hire driver.

Imran Munir Chaudhry wanted to operate in Glasgow but his licence bid was turned down after an objection from Police Scotland.

An officer told councillors how the applicant had been convicted of two charges following an incident in 2013 at his shop in Stirling.

He said a 14-year-old male had “made a rude gesture” towards Mr Chaudhry, who “left the shop, charged the male, pushed him then attempted to punch him”.

“The male retaliated which resulted in a scuffle,” the officer said, adding the applicant, and another man, then dragged the boy into the shop and closed the door.

Councillors were told the “14-year-old male could then be heard shouting for help by witnesses on the street” and Mr Chaudhry was “also heard shouting for someone to phone the police”.

The officer added the boy was “further assaulted before running from the shop” and informed his parents.

Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, who chairs the city’s licensing committee, said: “What possibly possessed you to do what you did?”

Mr Chaudhry told councillors that he “used to run a shop” and “there were gangs of people” who would “always come”. He said they were “shouting” and “four or five times” he had asked the police for help.

Asked why he wanted to be a private hire driver in Glasgow, he said: “I need a full-time job because I need to support my family.”

Cllr Wilson said: “Ultimately you were charged on two counts. You pushed, attempted to punch a minor and also prevented that person from leaving by putting them in your shop, where a further assault took place. That isn’t acceptable.

“No matter how many times these people come to you and say ‘you’re so and so’, ‘you’re this, you’re that’, they cause trouble… that’s still not acceptable.”

Mr Chaudhry, who said he was a chef, said it was the “first incident” in his 16 years working in the shop.

The police officer said the applicant had been refused a licence in South Lanarkshire, but granted one by Stirling Council. He added police had since “submitted a request for revocation of this licence” and for “further consideration” of the convictions.

The Forth Valley division has also submitted a representation to Stirling Council regarding an application for a taxi vehicle licence from Mr Chaudhry, the officer said.

Glasgow’s licensing committee decided to refuse his bid to operate in the city.

A couple of contrasting views in the comments section

I'm certainly opposed to people getting a free pass because they're from a 'minority group', or whatever, and I think that's the root cause of the likes of CSE in Rotherham and Telford etc.

On the other hand, I tend to take the applicant's side here. But, in essence, that's possibly more about another minority group (kids) being given a free pass and that trumping the rights of another minority group based on ethnicity, or whatever.

I concur

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The fella has a clean record for 10 years since this incident. That should be in the forefront of councillor's minds.

Some might say the fella has been too honest. If he said the lad called him a racist name the fella would be invited to the councillors' Xmas party.

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IDFIMH