TfL licensed private hire driver latest out-of-area minicab found illegally plying in Reading
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 10
Reading Council is urging festival visitors to use licensed and booked taxis during this year’s event after another out-of-area private hire driver was fined for illegally picking up passengers at last year’s Reading Festival.
Abdul Mashud, licensed by Transport for London to operate only pre-booked fares, was caught by undercover licensing officers on 23 August 2024. He agreed to take officers from the BP Petrol Station on Richfield Avenue to Slough Train Station for £120 without any booking in place.
Private hire drivers are not permitted to accept passengers from the street or taxi ranks. Without a booking, passengers are not insured if an accident occurs.
At Reading Magistrates’ Court on 5 August 2025, Mashud was found guilty of plying for hire and using a vehicle without insurance. He was fined £399, ordered to pay a £160 surcharge and £1,500 costs, totalling £2,059. His driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points.
With around 105,000 people expected over the August bank holiday, licensing officers are advising festival-goers to use official taxi points and pre-book journeys. The main Hackney Carriage pick-up and drop-off point is on Tessa Road, opposite Rivermead Leisure Centre near Red Gate.
Private Hire pick-up and drop-off areas are located on Cremyll Road and at Hill’s Meadow, George Street, Caversham. Passengers are being told to avoid unbooked rides, regardless of cost or convenience, to ensure safety and insurance protection.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: “This marks the third successful prosecution of a driver operating illegally during Reading Festival 2024, and I am grateful once again to our Licensing Officers for diligently carrying out test purchases to keep our travelling public safe.
“Our town sees more than 100,000 visitors come through the festival gates each year, and it’s vital that everyone can trust their journeys around Reading and beyond are safe, legal, and properly insured.
“To underline the sage advice of our Licensing team, officers recommend pre-booking a ride with a licensed operator, and drivers can use the designated Private Hire vehicle pickup areas off on Cremyll Road, or at Hill’s Meadow, George Street, Caversham.
"While a cheap fare may seem convenient, it’s simply not worth the risk.”
