Two Oldham taxi drivers who used 'NIP farms' to avoid prosecution fined and handed points on their licence

A pair of taxi drivers from Oldham who tried to avoid prosecution for traffic offences by using Notice of Impending Prosecution (NIP) Farms have been found guilty of failing to provide driver details.

NIP farms supply fake driver details to police to help motorists avoid prosecution for traffic offences - such as speeding or being caught using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Ashiq Parvez, 49, of Brewerton Road, Oldham, claimed that on Tuesday 11 October 2022 another individual was test driving his taxi when the car activated a camera on the M62 for failing to comply with red/green arrow/lane closure signals.

Mr Parvez stated he saw the camera flash and subsequently took the details of the person driving his taxi, where in fact, the camera did not flash.

It later transpired that Parvez had a pre-booked fare from Manchester Airport 30 minutes after the camera activation and this would have been his journey to the airport.

The 49-year-old was handed a £288 fine, £85 costs and £115 Victim Surcharge along with six-penalty point endorsement on his driving licence.

Mohammad Rangzaib, 56, of Brompton Street, Oldham tried to trick prosecutors into thinking that he was not the driver of his vehicle that was caught speeding on Oldham Road on Saturday 12 February 2022.

Rangzaib claimed that he returned the Notice of Impending Prosecution to the Central Ticket Office a few days after receiving it through the post, adding the one the Ticket Office had in their possession was not the same one he posted on March 15.

The NIP Farm he used (at the time of receipt of Mr Rangzaib’s notice) had 133 fictitious/misleading nominations.

A check on all mail received within the Central Ticket office for 16, 17 and 18 March 2022 (covering three full days following when Rangzaib stated he had returned his admission) had no returned notice from him.

The 56-year-old was handed a £450 fine, £85 costs and £45 Victim Surcharge along with six penalty point endorsement on his driving licence.

If you have any information about NIP farm scams – people running them or drivers utilising them – then contact us online via our LiveChat facility, or by anonymously calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

More information on keeping safe on our roads can be found here: https://www.gmp.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/