Two Bradford Uber drivers have been stripped of their private hire licences for refusing to carry passengers with guide dogs.
Mohammed Zubair, 47, of Dickens Street, Bradford, and Muhammad Faisel, 34, of Horton Park Avenue, Bradford, appeared at Bradford Magistrates' Court on Friday, 31st October 2025.
They were each convicted of failing in their duty to allow a disabled passenger to be accompanied by a guide dog. This is an offence under section 170(1) of the Equality Act 2010. It has a maximum sentence on summary conviction of a fine at level 3 (£1,000).
Magistrates heard that Zubair had been booked to pick up a passenger in Smithy Carr Lane, Brighouse, on Saturday, 14th June 2025. On discovering that the woman was accompanied by a guide dog, Zubair refused to accept the fare and drove away leaving her stranded.
The woman, who filmed the encounter, told Zubair his refusal was unlawful and that she would be reporting the matter to Bradford Council. Zubair, who had been a taxi driver for seven years, was later interviewed by council officers, but provided no comment.
Faisel had been booked to pick up a passenger from the same location in Brighouse on the previous day, Friday, 13th June 2025. Given that coincidence, it may well have been the same woman and guide dog.
On discovering the passenger had a guide dog Faisel also refused the fare. The woman told Faisel that it was unlawful for him to refuse to carry her guide dog. Faisel responded by telling her she would need to book an Uber Pet instead. Faisel drove away leaving the woman standing in the street.
The woman reported the matter to Bradford Council, which invited Faisel for interview. In interview he admitted that he was mistaken to refuse the woman and her guide dog, saying that he had forgotten some of his earlier training in relation to disabled passengers.
Zubair was fined £90 and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and £36 surcharge.
Faisel was fined £80 and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and £32 surcharge.
As mentioned earlier, Bradford Council has revoked the private hire licences of both men.
Speaking after these convictions, an Uber spokesman said: "It is totally unacceptable, and illegal, for drivers to refuse to take a rider due to an assistance dog and we investigate every report.
"We remind drivers of this obligation before they start using the Uber app and send regular reminders. Uber can and does permanently remove drivers' ability to use the app when a driver has violated their legal obligations."
2 comments:
Good to see this reported here but, just to clarify, it is an offence under section 170 of the Equality Act 2010, which replaced the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 offence referenced in this article.
I shall check and amend as necessary. Thanks for the heads up.
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