A private hire driver has been fined after illegally picking up a Manchester United fan and his young son outside Old Trafford and charging them £35 for a short four-mile trip.
The Incident Outside Old Trafford
Following United’s win against Leicester City in November 2024, Rehan Mirza, 42, of Crumpsall, Manchester, was parked in his Mercedes at a Hackney Carriage rank on Sir Matt Busby Way.
A supporter and his seven-year-old son requested a journey to Manchester Piccadilly Station. Mirza completed the trip but demanded £35 for the fare – far above the expected price – prompting the passenger to report the matter to Trafford Council’s Licensing Enforcement Team.
Investigation and Court Outcome
Council investigators discovered that Mirza was illegally plying for hire at a Hackney rank and was also uninsured at the time. Private hire drivers are only permitted to carry out pre-booked journeys and cannot legally accept passengers from taxi ranks or street hails.
Mirza’s private hire licence had already been revoked in his absence at a Trafford Council Licensing Sub-Committee meeting. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty and was fined £250. He was also ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge and £300 in costs.
Council Response
A Trafford Council spokesperson said:
“Once again our Licensing Enforcement Team has demonstrated a continued dedication to hold drivers, who put the public at risk, accountable for their actions.
Only Trafford-licensed Hackney vehicles can pick customers up without a pre-booked fare outside Old Trafford. Our enforcement team continue to proactively patrol Old Trafford on match days and respond to complaints to ensure decisive action is taken where necessary.”
Protecting the Public
The case serves as a reminder for football fans and travellers in Manchester to only use licensed Hackney Carriages at taxi ranks, or ensure private hire journeys are booked in advance through a licensed operator. Using unlicensed or uninsured drivers can put passengers at serious risk and may invalidate any protections if incidents occur.
Source: Trafford Council
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