top of page
CMT Jan 25.gif

Caught in the act - Pair of private hire drivers guilty of illegally plying for hire

Michael Murphy

Two private hire drivers have been suspended for illegally plying for hire and picking up fares in Glasgow. Hussein Kawere and Mohammad Riaz both faced Glasgow's licensing committee following incidents where they were spotted picking up jobs that were not pre-booked. 

Kawere was reported in March by a hackney carriage driver who said he had touted and accepted what was meant to be his fare. According to a report in the Evening Times, on the night of the incident, the taxi driver was in conversation with a female and her friend, negotiating a price to Hamilton.

The committee heard how Mr Kawere beeped his horn and called the woman over to his vehicle. After a short moment, she and her friend got inside his vehicle, leaving the hackney carriage driver sitting there. 

During Thursday’s hearing, Kawere denied illegally plying for hire, claiming to have been working throughout the entire alleged time.

But records showed he had not logged any legitimate journeys for at least three hours. Committee members didn't believe his claims and agreed to suspend his licence for four weeks. The second offender, Mr Riaz, was caught illegally plying for hire when he agreed to take a man to Cambuslang for a fixed price of £30.

Speaking to the licensing committee, Mr Riaz said: “I told him I could only take pre booked hires and told him to phone my company so I could take him. “I allowed him to make the phone call in the car before driving off with him. I did not want to leave him stranded.” Following a discussion, councillors made the decision to suspend Riaz’s licence for six weeks.

Image: Source; Wikimedia commons 

Image: Author; Ianyou78 

Subscribe to our newsletter. Receive all the latest news

Thanks for subscribing!

TaxiPoint_BannerAd_720x200_Feb24_GIF2.gif
RENT WITH (720 x 200 px) (1).gif
Taxipoint - Web Banner - 12.24.png
IMG_2814.jpeg
Save £££ £3.50 per hour - Compressed (1).gif
1comp.gif
D.4133 LEVC January Offer Campaign_TP__720 x 200.jpg

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers.

All written and image rights are reserved by authors displayed. Creative Common image licenses displayed where applicable.

Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

All written content Copyright of TaxiPoint 2025.

bottom of page