Appeal Set to Expose More Uber Dirt Pervert Driver
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LTDA The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA LETTERS: p17 #459 14 January 2020 HERO’S LAST WORDS FOR TAXI DRIVERS NEW YEAR ‘Palace attacker’ Pervert p7 faces new driver terror charges p2 avoids jail Appeal set to p12 expose more LTDA The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Uber dirt Association www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA #453 CHARITY: 1 October 2019 p5 PRINCE CHARLES PRAISES CAB TRADE p3 OLD UBER’S LICENCE HANGS BY A THREAD App firm gets just eight weeks to improve passenger UBER safety 2 TAXI |||| 14 January 2020 www.ltda.co.uk |||| @TheLTDA Alleged Palace Attacker ‘Plotted New Horror’ COURT released in late December 2018 showed quite the opposite.” An Uber driver cleared of launching The pair were arrested after a sword attack on police outside police stopped their vehicle in Buckingham Palace later planned to Luton on July 3 last year, as part of attack a major tourist attraction in an investigation by Scotland Yard’s central London, a jury has heard. counter-terrorism command. Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, from It is alleged that between January Luton, was “motivated by dreams of 12 and July 3, 2019, Mohiussunnath martyrdom for the cause of Islam, booked a firearms training course, and inspired by preachers of hate”, requested and selected a firearm and Woolwich Crown Court was told. researched potential attack targets Duncan Atkinson QC, prosecuting, and asked another person to do the said Chowdhury was “keen to take the wool over the eyes of the jury. Chowdhury told undercover officers same. part in an attack on a high profile The court heard that, in August that he had indeed been trying to Chowdhury was an Uber driver and very public target in the UK”. 2017, the defendant had driven a carry out a terrorist attack in 2017 when he set out on the original He added: “The targets mentioned car through police bollards outside and that he had “deceived” the incident in his Toyota Prius. included Madame Tussauds, the Buckingham Palace and came to a earlier jury. It was alleged that was originally Gay Pride parade and an attack halt in front of a police van. Chowdhury faces new charges heading to the Windsor Castle in on tourists on a London open-top Chowdhury was then involved of preparing acts of terror and is Slough but got lost when his satnav tour bus. in a violent scuffle with two police on trial alongside his sister Sneha took him instead from his home in “The object was to unleash officers as they wrestled for control Chowdhury, 25, who is accused Luton to the Windsor Castle pub. death and suffering on non- of a samurai sword the accused had of failing to disclose information He then changed destinations and Muslim members of the public who inside his car. relating to her brother’s alleged plot. headed to the Palace instead. happened to be present, using a The prosecutor said that the His sister had “better reason that A note, addressed to Mr firearm, sword and even a van as defendant had repeatedly shouted anyone to understand what her Chowdhury’s sister, was found in part of an attack.” “Allahu akbar” during the struggle. brother was thinking and wanting to the car and allegedly said: “Tell The 28-year-old, from Luton, was A jury at his Old Bailey trial in achieve”, Mr Atkinson said. everyone I love them and that they acquitted of a terror charge by an 2019 believed Chowdhury’s claim “Whilst she may have hoped should struggle against the enemies Old Bailey jury after attacking police that he had wanted to commit that it was all over when he was of Allah. The queen and her soldiers officers with a sword outside the “suicide by cop” and was planning released from prison - and that his will all be in the hellfire. Queen’s London residence in 2017. a terror attack. They found him not acquittal meant he had not meant “They go to war with Muslims The court heard that after being guilty and he was released. those things, his actions and his around the world and kill them acquitted he boasted about pulling But the Crown claims that conversations with her after he was without any mercy.” LEVC BERKSHIRE NOW OPEN! Experience the TX Electric Taxi today 48 HOUR TEST DRIVES Exclusive to LEVC Berkshire Offer ends 24th December 2019 Reading Hackney Carriage Licence Required • New TX Electric Taxi Showroom • Demonstrator available for Test Drives • Taxi Servicing & Bodyshop • Rapid 22kW Charging Points available • Meter & CC Payment Machine fitting on-site • TX4 Part Exchanges welcome • Full After Sales Facilities available LEVC Berkshire 392 Pop in and we’d be delighted to show you round Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 6JA our new premises and talk you through some of the 01753 523031 ground-breaking features of the new TX Electric Taxi. W44 Endeavour LEVC 141x111 Test Drive Advert V3.indd 1 31/10/2019 16:25 @TheLTDA |||| www.ltda.co.uk 14 January 2020 |||| TAXI 3 With the new Government now bedded in, it’s time for ministers to protect the future of the taxi trade NEW YEAR, FRESH STEVE MCNAMARA CHALLENGES AHEAD TOP TRADE STORY ’d like to start by wishing a happy new year to all LTDA members and our other I regular readers, and to wish you all a safe and successful year ahead. As well as a new year, we welcome a new parliament following December’s General Election. I was particularly pleased to see so many members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taxis returned to the House of Commons, with commiserations to those defeated including Tom Brake and Frank Field. Their support for the trade has always been greatly appreciated and they will be much missed. 2020 will be a vital year for ensuring we get the legislation we need from this May that will be just as important for taxi parliament in order to protect the long-term drivers in London. The next London mayoral My Friend Martin Cordell future of the trade. election will take place in May, with Labour’s It was incredibly disappointing to see no Sadiq Khan hoping to retain the mayoralty I first met Martin shortly after mention of taxis at all, never mind legislation, against challenges from the Conservatives’ getting my badge in the mid- in the post-election Queen’s Speech in Shaun Bailey, the Liberal Democrats’ 80s. Every cabbie I knew had December. It has now been almost a year Siobhan Benita, the Greens’ Sian Berry and recommended him as “the” since the Government promised to bring this independent Rory Stewart. It is vital that you trade accountant, and I duly forward, yet despite words and promises we make clear to all the candidates the issues made my way to Alfred Street are still kept waiting. While Parliament last that matter to you. Whoever the next mayor in Bow. My first impression year was dominated by politicians arguing over will be will have a wide array of powers on of him was that he was larger Brexit, the Government will have no excuse licensing, infrastructure and investment, and than life, and he had the not to bring forward our legislation once the we will be keeping the future of the taxi trade biggest desk I had ever seen. UK leaves the EU at the end of at the forefront of their thinking. He was gregarious, funny and this month. As we have seen, the mayor can take charming and I liked him It is only a matter of time before the decisive action to put unscrupulous firms such instantly. I spent most of my Government’s inaction on bringing taxi and as Uber in their place, which Sadiq Khan did first appointment listening, for PHV legislation into the 21st century leaves for the second time in November. We wait the first time, to his catalogue it responsible for another huge scandal. to see the outcome of their appeal, but in the of cab trade stories, jokes and anecdotes about everything. The longer it waits to take action on cross meantime we’ve continued to see in recent Over the next 35 years I got to know him, not just as my border hiring, national minimum standards weeks what kind of a firm they really are. accountant but as a friend and increasingly as a colleague as I and plying for hire, the more the safety of From unfit drivers to ridiculous surge pricing, got more involved with cab trade politics and affairs. He was the public is put at risk. I have been telling they’ve shown exactly what they’re made of. If a very generous man and donated to virtually every cab trade successive transport ministers time and again the courts have the best interests of the public charity, outing and event and he was always the first to offer of the need to act now, and Grant Shapps at heart, they’ll keep them out help with anything. He was one of the trade’s giants and he knows what needs to be done. It is time now of London for good. u will be sorely missed by his family and friends and everyone for their promises to be put into action. who knew him. Like, so many cabbies I am proud to say Martin While the Government sets out its stall for Steve McNamara is the Cordell was my mate! (See Obituary p23). its next five years, we will see another election LTDA’s General Secretary See your advertisement here TAXI is the membership magazine for the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA).