Posted on the 3rd December 2025 in PHTM News
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE CABBIE ORDERED TO PAY NEARLY £7,000 IN COURT COSTS
A Buckinghamshire taxi driver who had his license revoked for ‘poor standards’ has been ordered to pay nearly £7,000 after losing a court case.
Malik Paracha’s licence was taken away in March 2025 when Buckinghamshire Council officers became aware that he had committed ‘multiple motoring offences’.
Following an investigation, evidence revealed that Paracha ‘clearly demonstrated a deterioration of his standards of driving’.
The disgruntled cab driver appealed the council’s decision, and on November 17 this year, the Magistrates’ Court in High Wycombe supported the notion to remove Paracha’s taxi driver licence.
The court heard how some incidents the driver was involved in, which include a crash, as well as his explanation as to what happened, ‘reflected a concerning pattern indicating deterioration in Mr Paracha’s driving to a level below the high standard expected by Buckinghamshire Council in its policy.’
He has been ordered to pay £6,805.52 in court costs.
Mark Winn, Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory Service, said: “The safety and well-being of the public is of paramount importance to Buckinghamshire Council.
“It is in the best interests of the taxi and private hire trade that the public have confidence in the safety of licensed vehicles and of those driving them, and we therefore remain committed to applying our policies robustly.
“This includes ensuring that only those individuals who are deemed fit and proper hold licences.
“Our firm stance on motoring offences reflects our dedication to safeguarding passengers and maintaining the highest standards of safety within our community."
Under Buckinghamshire Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, any motoring conviction demonstrates a lack of professionalism and will be considered seriously.
While it is accepted that offences can be committed unintentionally, and a single occurrence of a minor traffic offence would not prohibit the grant of a licence, subsequent convictions reinforce the fact that the licensee does not take their professional responsibilities seriously and may not be a safe and suitable person to be granted or retain a licence.
Read another story
- WELL DONE TO THE TAXI CENTRE DIGITAX AND GLASGOW CABBIES FOR SUPPORTING THEIR LOCAL CHARITY
The Taxi Centre has stepped up to support Glasgow’s taxi trade and a local charity, raising a further £2,600 for a cancer charity, bringing the total raised for the charity this year to £4,300.
- HOME SECRETARY SAYS ASYLUM SEEKERS WILL BE BANNED FROM USING TAXIS PHVS FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
Under the new rules, taxi use for medical travel will be restricted to "exceptional" cases such as physical disability, pregnancy or serious illness - and these will require government approval.
- 10 YEARS 9 MONTHS JAIL FOR MAN WHO RECRUITED 5 CABBIES TO SMUGGLE PEOPLE ACROSS THE CHANNEL
Madjid Belabes, 53, arranged for the five cabbies to take people from London to lay-bys in Kent before being put in lorries and taken to France.
- WHEN ONE BAD DRIVER DAMAGES AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY
A driver accused of switching off his meter, quoting inflated prices and demanding cash only, or behaving in a way that’s opposite to what passengers expect from a licensed professional driver.
- NORWICH CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES IT IS MAKING TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE SERVICES SAFER
From 1 December 2025, Norwich City Council is introducing enhanced licensing standards and a fresh look for plates and badges - the latest step to keep taxi journeys safe and professional.
- BRADFORD UBER DRIVER REFUSES TO PICK UP IN RANK DESPITE LEEDS LICENSING OFFICER SAYING HE CAN
However this particular individual who described himself as working for Leeds City Council was gesturing for me to pick him up in the hackney carriage rank.
- UBER WINS DIGITAL PRIVATE HIRE CONTRACT AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT FOR APP WEBB BOOKINGS
Traditional desk operator at Manchester Airport .... tender not awarded???
- BREAKING BUDGET NEWS - NO TOMS SCHEME TO REDUCE VAT LIABILITIES
From 1 January 2026, private hire vehicle operators - ride hailing apps - WILL NO LONGER be able to use the Tour Operators Margin Scheme to reduce their VAT liabilities/
- GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO VAT CONSULTATION ON PHV SECTOR - NO ‘TAXI TAX’
The government will not amend VAT legislation to allow PHVOs to act as agents for tax purposes in all cases
- NORTH AYRSHIRE LICENCE GRANTED TO MAN DESPITE UNDECLARED CONVICTION FOR POLICEMAN ASSAULT
Police Scotland had objected to the licence being granted to Greg Davidson following routine checks that revealed a live conviction which he had failed to declare on his application form.
- TAXI SAFETY CRACKDOWN EIGHT COMPLIANCE NOTICES ISSUED IN BARNSLEY OPERATION
The operation was a joint effort between Barnsley Council enforcement officers, South Yorks Police, and teams from other authorities, including Wolverhampton, Kirklees, Sheffield, and Leeds.
- ALDERSHOT MAN JAILED 13 MONTHS AFTER THREATENING TAXI DRIVER OVER £8 FARE
Craig Mahon, 35, refused to pay the fare and brandished the knife at the driver on Saturday, October 18. The victim was unharmed, and Mahon fled the scene.
- FAIRFUEL PETITION DELIVERED TO DOWNING STREET ON 25 NOVEMBER
On the eve of the Budget, MPs together with Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, delivered a petition to No 10 calling on Chancellor to keep Fuel Duty frozen or even cut it.
- WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL COMPLIANCE TEAM OUT ON PATROL IN ST HELENS TODAY
They came across this Wolverhampton licensed PHV on a taxi rank in the Town Centre.
- BRADFORD UBER DRIVER LOSES APPEAL AFTER 'AGGRESSIVE' CONFRONTATION WITH WARDEN
Mamun appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on November 14 to challenge the Bradford Council's decision, which was made in January of this year.
- NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL LAUNCHES LICENSING REVIEW AMIDST INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
Councillors have unanimously approved the engagement, which will involve a broad range of stakeholders
- BOLT TEST LETS DRIVERS SET THEIR OWN FARES AND INTRODUCES A FLAT COMMISSION
The new model, Bolt Flex, lets drivers out of London set their own trip prices, accept price offers from passengers, run their work like independent businesses, with a flat commission for each trip.
- MPS TO DELIVER CUT FUEL DUTY PETITION TO DOWNING STREET TODAY
At 2pm on Tuesday, 25th November, Lewis Cocking MP for Broxbourne will lead a group of MPs from various parties to deliver a 152,000-signature petition to Number 10 and 11 Downing Street.
- 40 CABBIES LOSE LICENCES AFTER PAST CRIMES, MISCONDUCT UNCOVERED IN BUCKS COUNCIL REVIEW
The findings were published in the council’s annual review of taxis and minicabs, covering the period from October 2024 to September 2025.
- STAGGERING RESULTS AS POLICE FIND UNSAFE UNROADWORTHY TAXIS IN CARDIFF SAFETY BLITZ
The two-day operation over the weekend of November 15 and 16, saw South Wales Police team up with taxi licensing teams from Cardiff and Newport councils, as well as the DVSA.
All content Copyright © 2025
Private Hire and Taxi Monthly Limited