A Trafford taxi driver has lost his appeal after his licence was revoked for attempting an unlawful pickup outside a Manchester nightclub.
Licence Revoked After Confrontation
The driver, 35-year-old Waqas Pervez, was registered as a hackney carriage driver in Trafford. However, he was caught last November attempting to pick up passengers without a booking outside the Warehouse Project nightclub in Piccadilly.
Pervez was confronted by another driver and filmed swearing and making threats during the incident. On the video, he was also heard claiming, “Everybody does it.”
Council Rules Driver “Not Fit and Proper”
Following the altercation, Trafford Council’s Licensing Enforcement Team reviewed Pervez’s conduct. In February, the Licensing Sub Committee decided that he was “not a fit and proper person” to hold either his hackney carriage or private hire licences and revoked both.
Pervez challenged the decision at the Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court, but his appeal was dismissed. The court also ordered him to pay £150 in costs to Trafford Council.
Safety Concerns Over Illegal Pickups
During the hearing, Pervez argued the fare had been prebooked through his brother and a Salford operator. However, Ben Moran, Trafford Council’s Licensing Enforcement Team Lead, testified that such a booking would still be unlawful. He explained that illegal pickups invalidate insurance and put passengers at risk, regardless of whether a booking is claimed.
Council Stands Firm on Standards
Commenting on the outcome, Cllr Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Safety, said:
“Where public safety is undermined, we will take action. The standards that we expect of our drivers are very clear.”
This case serves as a reminder to drivers that councils and courts will not hesitate to take strong action against unlawful pickups, which continue to be a major safety concern across Greater Manchester.
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