Private hire driver from Slough fined following covert operation at Reading Festival

A Transport for London private hire driver from Slough has been fined after he agreed to pick up undercover licensing officers who had not pre-booked during Reading Festival.

Hammad Ashraf Khan Manj, of Railway Terrace in Slough was licensed by Transport for London (TfL) to accept pre-booked fare within the London area.

But on the evening of August 23 last year, undercover licensing officers from Reading, Fareham and South Oxfordshire councils approached Mr Manj’s vehicle on Tessa Road – near to the festival site – and he agreed to take them to Slough railway station for £35, stating the doors were open and they could go now.

It is an offence for private hire drivers to pick up fares on the street that have not been pre-booked.

Despite initially denying any wrongdoing while he was interviewed under caution, Mr Manj pleaded guilty to the offence of plying for hire (transport passengers without a prior booking) on February 7 this year at Reading Magistrates Court.

Credited with entering a guilty plea, Mr Manj was fined £576 for the offence of plying for hire.

He was also handed prosecution costs of £800, and a victim surcharge of £230, bringing the total financial penalties to £1,603.

Cllr John Ennis, Reading Borough Council's lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said: “This is a positive result thanks to the joint efforts of Reading licensing officers in partnership with our colleagues in Fareham and South Oxfordshire.

“Partnership working like this is more important than ever to uphold the high standards expected of private hire drivers and to ensure the safety of our travelling public.

“Reading proudly welcomes over 100,000 visitors during the festival weekend, and their safety remains a top priority.

“I’d like to sincerely thank the officers from Fareham and South Oxfordshire for their assistance with this prosecution.”