Private hire driver fined for illegally picking up fare from Trafford Centre taxi rank
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
A private hire driver has been fined for unlawfully accepting a fare from a designated Hackney Carriage rank outside the Trafford Centre.
Anees Arif, 52, of Rhodes Hills in Oldham, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court to several offences including unlawfully waiting on a Hackney rank, accepting a fare without a booking, driving without insurance, and failing to wear his driver’s badge.
The court heard that enforcement patrols had been stepped up in the area following complaints from licensed Hackney Carriage drivers. Officers were monitoring Barton Dock Road to ensure only Trafford-licensed Hackney drivers were using the ranks.
During one patrol, a Trafford Council enforcement officer, acting undercover, approached Mr Arif, who was parked in a blue Kia EV6 Horizon licensed by Sefton Council. The officer asked to be taken to Altrincham and agreed a £13 fare. Mr Arif accepted and allowed the officer into the vehicle, where they then identified themselves.
Hackney Carriages are permitted to pick up passengers from ranks or be hailed on the street. Private Hire vehicles, however, must be pre-booked and cannot accept jobs directly from the public.
Mr Arif acknowledged in court that he was aware of the rules and admitted wrongdoing. He told the officer at the scene that he only agreed to the fare as a gesture of help and that his price was lower than that of Uber.
The court imposed a fine of £576, along with a victim surcharge of £230 and prosecution costs of £420, totalling £1,226. He also received six points on his driving licence, bringing his total to 12. Despite reaching the threshold for a disqualification, he avoided a driving ban after the court accepted exceptional circumstances.
Cllr Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Safety, said: “This is another great result thanks to our Licensing Enforcement Team. Our officers are continually out in the community, ensuring that standards are maintained, and the law is complied with. The case sends a clear message that we are here to support our taxi trade, and anyone found contravening the regulations will be held accountable.”
