Council crackdown results in two fines and a ban for illegal private hire drivers
READING’S licensing team has successfully prosecuted two out-of-area private hire drivers for operating illegally in town, resulting in fines totalling more than £2,500 and one driver being banned from the road.
In November 2024, Council licensing officers carried out a covert test purchasing operation outside the Grosvenor Casino on Queens Road.
During the operation, Southampton-licensed driver Mr Shafqat Ali, 42, of Faringdon Road, agreed to take an officer to Wokingham for £60 without a prior booking, approximately double the typical fare when booked through a licensed operator.
It is illegal for Private Hire drivers to pick up passengers from the street or a taxi rank. Private Hire fares must be pre-booked; passengers are not covered by insurance in the case of an accident.
At Reading Magistrates Court on 1 May 2026, Mr Ali was found guilty of the offences of Plying for Hire and using a motor vehicle without insurance. He was fined £180 and ordered to pay £500 in costs, as well as a surcharge of £72.
Magistrates also endorsed Mr Ali’s driving licence with eight penalty points. This, along with six he’d previously been given for another offence, means Mr Ali is now disqualified from driving for six months, effective immediately.
In a separate operation in June 2025, licensing officers conducting test purchases in West Street, Reading, approached Mr Amit Malik, a private hire driver, who also agreed to take them on a journey without a prior booking, this time to Market Place in Wokingham for a fare of £35, again in breach of licensing laws.
Mr Malik is licensed by Wokingham Borough Council to accept pre-booked fares within the local authority area.
At court on 11 May 2026, Magistrates handed Mr Malik fines of £225 for the offence of plying for hire, and £594 for using a motor vehicle without insurance. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £328 and a contribution of £1640 towards costs. His Licence was also endorsed with 8 Penalty Points.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:
“Public safety and confidence in regulated and licensed taxis is of paramount importance. Private Hire and Hackney Carriage customers are entitled to trust the person driving is properly vetted, authorised, checked, and licensed.
“Unlicensed drivers who undermine that trust will be robustly dealt with to maintain public confidence and ensure safety in our nighttime economy.
“The Council Licensing Team worked tirelessly to bring this complex case to court, and I am glad Magistrates’ recognised the importance of it.”
Any customer who has any concerns about taxi or private hire drivers can report them in confidence to us at licensing@reading.gov.uk or through the Council Contact Centre on 0118 937 3787.
ENDS