
Three cabbies have been ordered to pay heavy fines and given penalty points after illegally picking up passengers outside major Trafford sports venues, including Old Trafford football ground and Lancashire County Cricket Club.
The offences occurred during high-profile events when the drivers accepted unbooked fares from undercover licensing officers - violating strict regulations that stipulate only hackney carriages licensed within Trafford can be hailed directly in the borough.
Among those prosecuted was Manchester-licensed hackney carriage driver Ka Lun Wong, 59, of Radcliffe, who was convicted in his absence at Manchester Magistrates’ Court of unlawfully plying for hire and driving without valid insurance.
Wong was ordered to pay £1,584 in total - comprising a £660 fine, a £264 victim surcharge, and £660 in costs - and received eight penalty points on his driving licence.
A second driver, Wolverhampton-registered private hire driver Muhammad Adnan, 40, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to plying for hire, driving without insurance, and failing to wear his driver’s badge.
Adnan received eight points and was fined £430, alongside a £172 surcharge and £198 in costs, bringing his total to £800. Both cases related to pick-ups made during an England versus India Test match.
In a separate case heard at Tameside Magistrates’ Court, Tahir Islam, 65, of Bury, pleaded guilty to similar offences taking place ahead of a Manchester United fixture.
Islam was fined £484, ordered to pay a £182 surcharge and £200 in costs, and given eight penalty points.
Emphasising the risks of unbooked fares, a spokesperson for Trafford Council stated: "It is an offence for any vehicle other than a hackney carriage licensed in the district to stand or ply for hire.
"Picking up an un-booked fare automatically invalidates vehicle insurance and leaves passengers vulnerable in the event of a road traffic collision. Trafford Council will continue to take enforcement action where individuals do not adhere to these rules."

The unannounced inspections were carried out to ensure licensed cabs continue to meet strict safety and reliability standards for local passengers.

Despite clear signage prohibiting taxis, local cabbies continue to block the area near the Platform 4 entrance, creating severe congestion for pedestrians and other motorists, especially during evening hours.

Ongoing works on major routes - including Tenter Street, Furnival Road, Clarkehouse Road, and Granville Road - are causing extensive delays, particularly during rush hour traffic.

Starting fares across all tariffs will increase by 30p - with tariff one rising from £2.60 to £2.90 - representing an average fare increase of around 4.28%, whilst tariff two will see a 10% rise.

Scot McCluskey, 37, pleaded guilty at Hamilton Sheriff Court to assaulting the cabbie to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Liberty Mitchell, who had passed her driving test just three weeks prior to the December 2022 crash, was originally sentenced to six years and eight months at Gloucester Crown Court.

An investigation has revealed a dramatic rise in complaints against cabbies across Oxfordshire, with local councils logging 714 reports over 2025/26 - a significant leap from 601 the previous year

Following separate hearings on July 7, 2026, councillors concluded that each case raised serious doubts about whether the individuals remained "fit and proper" to hold or be granted a licence

The committee heard that the 10 per cent boost was considered a "reasonable" adjustment to help drivers cope with rising operational expenses since maximum fares were last raised in October 2022.

The victim, a woman in her 80s, had already lost over £3,000 to a scammer impersonating her bank who later booked a cab to collect her card under the guise of destroying it.

Officers from Cheshire Police teamed up with Cheshire West and Chester Council to pull over 12 taxis and private hire vehicles for random checks.

Following representations from licensing officers, the driver, and his representative, the council concluded that he was "not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver licence."

James Thomas, 30, from Swansea, had been attending a Christmas party at the NEC in Birmingham on December 21 with his partner while a babysitter looked after their ten-month-old child.

For nearly 20 years, an armada of hackney carriages has operated under the informal banner of "Poppy Cabs," providing free transport for war veterans to the annual national Remembrance Day service.

Under current rules, the DfT authorises driverless vehicles on public roads, but TfL holds licensing power over paid passenger services and must grant consent before commercial operations can begin.

Cabbies report that youths on bikes and electric scooters flee the scene quickly, forcing drivers to avoid hotspots such as Parson Cross, Shiregreen, Southey Green, and Woodthorpe during peak hours.

The firm is launching its latest campaign aiming to install Bleed Control Kits across the city to help victims of knife crime. 


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