London private hire driver fined for operating illegally at Reading Festival

A TRANSPORT for London (TfL) Private Hire driver has been hit with more than £700 in financial penalties after a covert operation by Licensing Officers from Reading and South Oxfordshire District Councils identified him illegally plying for hire during Reading Festival in August 2024.

Azmat-Hussain Ali, of Branksome Court, Reading, was licensed by TfL to accept pre-booked fares within the London area. On the evening of 25 August 2024, undercover Licensing officers approached Mr Ali’s vehicle on Randolph Road, close to the Reading Festival site. He agreed to take them to Denmark Street, Wokingham, for £15.

As a private hire driver without a prior booking, Mr Ali was not permitted to pick passengers up from the street, and in doing so, invalidated his insurance.

At Reading Magistrates Court on 28 March 2025, Mr Ali entered guilty pleas to both offences of plying for hire and using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Presiding Magistrates credited Mr Ali for his guilty plea and admission of the offences to officers at the roadside and during interview. They also considered the fact that he had no previous convictions.

Mr Ali was fined £240 for the offences of plying for hire and operating without insurance, and his driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points. The court also ordered the payment of prosecution costs of £400, and a victim surcharge of £96, bringing the full financial penalties to £736.

Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“This is the second successful prosecution resulting from our partnership work with South Oxfordshire over the Festival period, and I’d like to thank the officers again for their efforts.

“We’re proud to welcome more than 100,000 visitors to our town over the festival period, and they’re entitled to trust that their driver is properly vetted, authorised, checked, and licensed.

“While the convenience of a cheap fare may be tempting for customers, unlicensed drivers have no safeguards in place, both for the individuals and for their journey.

“Any customer with concerns about taxi or private hire drivers can report them, in confidence, to us at licensing@reading.gov.uk or via the Council Contact Centre on 0118 937 3787.”

ENDS