
An out-of-town private hire driver received a hefty fine after illegally attempting to pick up unbooked fares following a Manchester United game.
Ali Imran Shan Shreen, 55, from Oldham, was spotted by Trafford Council Licensing Enforcement Officers on Sir Alex Ferguson Way after the Reds' match against Brentford.
He was waiting in his black Toyota Auris, an action only permitted for Trafford Council-registered hackney carriages.
Officers' attention was initially drawn by a fare dispute, as a woman loudly exclaimed to Mr. Shreen: "£25?! Are you joking?!"
When confronted, Mr. Shreen resisted showing his private hire driver's badge multiple times before eventually complying.
Once the officer established that Mr. Shreen was illegally plying for hire—his licence was granted in Wolverhampton—he protested, claiming: "It was only one time!"
At Manchester Magistrates Court, Mr. Shreen was found guilty of:
Illegally plying for hire.
Failing to wear a driver’s identification badge.
Obstructing an authorised officer.
He was fined a total of £1,453, with a victim surcharge of £581 and costs of £1,500, bringing his total penalty to £3,543.
A Trafford Council spokesperson stressed the importance of public safety and fair trading: “We are committed to ensuring the public are protected, and that the trading environment is fair, protecting consumers and drivers that are licensed to operate in the borough.”

Addressing the council’s Licensing and Safety Committee on October 23, Manoj Lacximicant of the Bracknell Hackney Taxi Association painted a bleak picture of the industry.

A draft of the new Hackney Carriage and PH Licensing Policy for 2025 to 2030 was presented to the Licensing Committee on October 27, with an aim to reverse the decline in licensed taxis.

The primary benefit of the move is an improved layout that allows taxi users to be picked up and dropped off without crossing through the bus terminal.

A female taxi driver was rushed to the hospital after being attacked and robbed by two male passengers in Dundee early Tuesday morning.

A 62-year-old Belfast taxi driver, Patrick Griffin, has been disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £250 after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Major Gill, the Coventry taxi branch chairman of the union Unite and a member of the council's Taxi Forum, argues that the current setup is insufficient and puts the public at risk.

Both drivers appeared at Bradford Magistrates Court, where the court was shown footage of each driver refusing a woman and her assistance dog before cancelling the journey and driving off.

Mahbubur Rahman, now 50, was found guilty following a trial at Leicester Crown Court in September 2024.

Ram Sah attended Reading Magistrates Court in relation to an incident where, on 14 February 2025, he approached two Reading Council Licensing officers and offered his services as a taxi.

The advice comes after reports on social media of a man who pulled up on Priestgate in Darlington and approached a woman offering to take her across town for £10.

Non-aligned councillor Jim Kenyon told a full council meeting that "unscrupulous" firms have been charging "up to four times what you’d pay on the meter to get our children to school." 

Figures released today (Thursday 30 October) show there are now 86,021 chargers on Britain’s roads, making it easier than ever for drivers to charge up and go. 

The incident began around 4.15pm on Sunday, October 26, in the Geneva Court area of Bideford, following a report that a white Ford Mondeo taxi had been stolen.

The council is not currently seeking to mandate CCTV, but to permit its use under specific conditions.

Thames Valley Police reported the incident took place on Kensington Drive between 4.10pm and 5.10pm on Saturday, October 18.

Plans by Fife Council to implement a 5% rise in taxi fares from December 5 have been met with fierce opposition, with the move branded a “direct threat to the survival of the trade.”

The incident occurred on Monday, October 27, when the white Toyota swerved off the road, crossed the pavement, and careered down the steps. 

Jonathan Carver launched his attack on the cabbie in Newport after a dispute over a £20 fare, Cardiff Crown Courtheard.

Khalid Mohammad (formerly Haroon Malik), 66, was driving his Toyota Prius in Burslem on September 16 last year when he attempted a turn at a busy junction despite his traffic light being red.

The 47-year-old, who has driven a PHV for 20 years, claims his livelihood is in jeopardy after the council “suspended” his vehicle licence.
