Agenda and minutes

Present:

Ben Thomson – Head of Public Protection – Chair

Cllr. Charlotte Morris – Culture & Economy

Michael Bridge – License Unit Manager

Andy Vernon – GMP Partnership Sergeant

Khalid Hussain – Chairman of Bury Hackney Association

Nazmul Islam – Business Engagement Officer

Muhammed Warraich - Private Hire Drivers Association Bury

Sham Raja – NPHTA

Laura Jones – Deputy Licensing Officer

Gihulam Anbia – Hackney Drivers Association

Laura Swann – Assistant Director Operations Strategy

Anna Wiley - TFGM

Minutes:    Maureen Foden

1.

Welcome & Apologies

David Lawrie, Cllr. Sandra Walmersley, Mathew Freckelton, Habib Rehman

3.

Matters arising Agree minutes of previous meeting 16/06/2022

The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a true record.

The five items on the action log are all covered on today’s agenda.

The minutes have not been uploaded due to technical difficulties; the associations were asked to pass them onto the trade in the interim.

4.

GMP Update

AV reported on the Tell MAMA website  Report in Anti-Muslim Hate or Islamophobia (tellmamauk.org)in response to an action from the last meeting. It supports victims of anti-Muslim hate in relation to racial abuse. This is a reporting website that drivers can use where they will be supported, advised and referred to the police if required. This can be done retrospectively but drivers are urged to contact the police instantly if urgent.

There have also been a number of incidents in Bury relating to taxi/private hire drivers but there was no information as to whether or not the incidents involved Bury Licensed drivers or non-Bury licensed drivers.

·         One incident took place on 02/10 in relation to the kidnap of a driver. The driver had finished work at 1am and was stopped near Gigg Lane, 2 drunken males approached him and wanted to go to Stockport Road in Wilmslow. They got into vehicle made the driver drive around for over 100 miles, whilst they were smoking, drinking and were threatening. They finished up at the arches on Oxford Road. Two males have been arrested for kidnap and drugs offences, investigations are ongoing, where it goes depends on the driver and the CPS.

·         A robbery was reported 22/08 on Derby Way, two victims were assaulted.  Officers were able to detain one male at the time. One of the victims confirmed to police that they had their phone taken. Whilst man was detained the police were approached and another male was named. As a result, all four people were detained with one still under investigation. This is ongoing and will be a CPS decision to progress.

·         Another incident happened at the weekend in Bury town centre, the police were contacted today by a friend of the victim. It was near the Knowlsey Pub and the driver sustained injuries to their face, not aware of any robbery.  The officer who responded to incident has been off for four days which meant that the driver was not updated which is unacceptable. It is still being investigated and CCTV is being looked at, enquiries  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.