Two week license suspension for guide dog taxi ban duo

Two Rochdale taxi drivers, who refused to carry a registered guide dog, have had their licences suspended for two weeks by Rochdale Council.

Mr Talib Hussein and Mr Mohammed Idrees appeared at Rochdale Magistrates Court on Friday 6 February and pleaded guilty to the offence under the Disability Discrimination Act.

The action was taken following a formal hearing held at the council’s licensing office in Telegraph House after allegations were made by a member of the public who uses a registered guide dog.

On 23 May last year the individual complained to the council's Licensing Officers about an incident at the taxi rank at Rochdale train station. Mr Idrees was the driver at the head of the rank on the date in question and when approached by the person with a guide dog, he declined to carry the animal.

Mr Idrees subsequently claimed that this was due to a pet allergy from which he suffered, although he had not applied to the council for an exemption from carrying animals on his licence.

The member of the public then approached the second driver in the queue at the taxi rank, Mr Hussein, who also declined to carry the dog. Mr Hussein later told officers that he did so because he felt it was the duty of the driver at the head of the rank to take the fare.

Andy Glover, Public Protection Manager at the Council and Chairman of the Panel said: "Without exemption from the council, it is unacceptable for the borough’s taxi drivers to decline to carry a guide dog when asked to do so. The council has prosecuted the drivers concerned and also suspended their licence, showing the seriousness with which such matters are treated."

Councillor Keith Swift, portfolio holder for Equality and Diversity on Rochdale Council commented: "The council is strongly committed to principles of equality and diversity, and we are keen to ensure that all members of the community have appropriate access to private hire vehicles in the borough and are treated fairly."