Sadiq Khan CONVICTED over unpaid tax
Discussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7708vn2yp7o
An unrelated person has registered their 2002 Nissan Micra to a "Sir Sadiq Khan" at the address of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in east London. They've then failed to tax their car.
The DVLA have accepted this as valid, and since Mr Ramsay's restaurant did not respond to their enquiries, prosecuted Sadiq in absentia.
Some magistrate has read this and rubber-stamped the conviction. It would appear neither the DVLA nor the magistrate carried out any independent checks to validate either the owner of the vehicle nor the address it was registered to.
Now of course since it's front-page news, the DVLA are back-pedalling furiously and talking about the conviction as being "withdrawn" although they can't actually do so until tomorrow.
This case seems to illustrate the extent to which "justice" has been reduced to an automated process, a combination of cameras, computers, and officials who leave their brain at home and sit at work signing off criminal convictions without a flicker of conscious thought aside from "where shall I buy lunch today?".
I somehow doubt that an ordinary citizen, faced with a similar situation but whose story would not be emblazoned across the BBC website, will receive such prompt and pro-active service from the DVLA to 'un-convict' them.
I would hope that this case would lead to an enquiry into the DVLA's competence and capability in managing the register of vehicle ownership, and to unpick their apparent 'prosecute first and ask questions later' approach.
BBC said:
The Labour politician, 55, was found guilty of keeping an unlicensed vehicle by a magistrate last month in a criminal prosecution brought by the DVLA.
...
The magistrate, sitting in a private hearing of the Single Justice Procedure in Herefordshire, convicted Khan in his absence
It's a scandal... but it's not the London mayor who's done anything wrong....
The magistrate, sitting in a private hearing of the Single Justice Procedure in Herefordshire, convicted Khan in his absence
An unrelated person has registered their 2002 Nissan Micra to a "Sir Sadiq Khan" at the address of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in east London. They've then failed to tax their car.
The DVLA have accepted this as valid, and since Mr Ramsay's restaurant did not respond to their enquiries, prosecuted Sadiq in absentia.
Some magistrate has read this and rubber-stamped the conviction. It would appear neither the DVLA nor the magistrate carried out any independent checks to validate either the owner of the vehicle nor the address it was registered to.
Now of course since it's front-page news, the DVLA are back-pedalling furiously and talking about the conviction as being "withdrawn" although they can't actually do so until tomorrow.
This case seems to illustrate the extent to which "justice" has been reduced to an automated process, a combination of cameras, computers, and officials who leave their brain at home and sit at work signing off criminal convictions without a flicker of conscious thought aside from "where shall I buy lunch today?".
I somehow doubt that an ordinary citizen, faced with a similar situation but whose story would not be emblazoned across the BBC website, will receive such prompt and pro-active service from the DVLA to 'un-convict' them.
I would hope that this case would lead to an enquiry into the DVLA's competence and capability in managing the register of vehicle ownership, and to unpick their apparent 'prosecute first and ask questions later' approach.
It is a bit worrying that noone thought it was unlikely that Khan would own an ancient Micra, or use a posh restaurant as an accommodation address. And noone made any attempt to contact him- he is not exactly in hiding.
Especially when his position makes him a likely target of malicious acts. And he had apparently been threatened with exactly this.
Not much hope for the rest of us!
Especially when his position makes him a likely target of malicious acts. And he had apparently been threatened with exactly this.
Not much hope for the rest of us!
samoht said:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7708vn2yp7o
An unrelated person has registered their 2002 Nissan Micra to a "Sir Sadiq Khan" at the address of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in east London. They've then failed to tax their car.
The DVLA have accepted this as valid, and since Mr Ramsay's restaurant did not respond to their enquiries, prosecuted Sadiq in absentia.
Some magistrate has read this and rubber-stamped the conviction. It would appear neither the DVLA nor the magistrate carried out any independent checks to validate either the owner of the vehicle nor the address it was registered to.
Now of course since it's front-page news, the DVLA are back-pedalling furiously and talking about the conviction as being "withdrawn" although they can't actually do so until tomorrow.
This case seems to illustrate the extent to which "justice" has been reduced to an automated process, a combination of cameras, computers, and officials who leave their brain at home and sit at work signing off criminal convictions without a flicker of conscious thought aside from "where shall I buy lunch today?".
I somehow doubt that an ordinary citizen, faced with a similar situation but whose story would not be emblazoned across the BBC website, will receive such prompt and pro-active service from the DVLA to 'un-convict' them.
I would hope that this case would lead to an enquiry into the DVLA's competence and capability in managing the register of vehicle ownership, and to unpick their apparent 'prosecute first and ask questions later' approach.
I 100% agree.BBC said:
The Labour politician, 55, was found guilty of keeping an unlicensed vehicle by a magistrate last month in a criminal prosecution brought by the DVLA.
...
The magistrate, sitting in a private hearing of the Single Justice Procedure in Herefordshire, convicted Khan in his absence
It's a scandal... but it's not the London mayor who's done anything wrong....
The magistrate, sitting in a private hearing of the Single Justice Procedure in Herefordshire, convicted Khan in his absence
An unrelated person has registered their 2002 Nissan Micra to a "Sir Sadiq Khan" at the address of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in east London. They've then failed to tax their car.
The DVLA have accepted this as valid, and since Mr Ramsay's restaurant did not respond to their enquiries, prosecuted Sadiq in absentia.
Some magistrate has read this and rubber-stamped the conviction. It would appear neither the DVLA nor the magistrate carried out any independent checks to validate either the owner of the vehicle nor the address it was registered to.
Now of course since it's front-page news, the DVLA are back-pedalling furiously and talking about the conviction as being "withdrawn" although they can't actually do so until tomorrow.
This case seems to illustrate the extent to which "justice" has been reduced to an automated process, a combination of cameras, computers, and officials who leave their brain at home and sit at work signing off criminal convictions without a flicker of conscious thought aside from "where shall I buy lunch today?".
I somehow doubt that an ordinary citizen, faced with a similar situation but whose story would not be emblazoned across the BBC website, will receive such prompt and pro-active service from the DVLA to 'un-convict' them.
I would hope that this case would lead to an enquiry into the DVLA's competence and capability in managing the register of vehicle ownership, and to unpick their apparent 'prosecute first and ask questions later' approach.
It reminds me of the scandal when magistrates were found to be waving through warrants for entry to fit pre paid meters.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64524156
Forcing poor people onto an expensive tariff is already pretty s
tty behaviour, but the magistrates dininish their own office by failing to apply due diligence, or even any thought.Its still going on of course, because whilst everyone is always "sorry" they got caught, no-one wants to spend the money to fix things.
Governance, checks and balances etc all cost money that would get added to the fine level, and we know industry regulators are just funded by the industry anyway, so are generally pretty poor at bringing about behavioural change.
Here's a recent example of how the FCA behave https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/01/b...
I'm sure it was a complete coincidence that the fca are funded by the financial institutions who would have benefitted from campaign groups dropping their legal challenge....
Not sure what people expect here.
The number of offences that get processed, it is just another Khan, just another Sadiq in the same way it would be just another Smith or Jones... it won't necessarily trigger that it is the Mayor of London.
A restaurant as RK address isn't going to mean anything either.
Perfectly plausible that a Micra might be registered to a restaurant.
The restaurant presumably have ignored all the paperwork right up to the point that debt collectors were going to turn up. Sure, they can do that, as they are not the genuine RK, but it isn't helpful.
It is an easy fix - SK can do a Statutory Declaration, and the DVLA will not re-present the offence to the Court.
DVLA can't do anything at present, it has gone past that.
Trivial.
The number of offences that get processed, it is just another Khan, just another Sadiq in the same way it would be just another Smith or Jones... it won't necessarily trigger that it is the Mayor of London.
A restaurant as RK address isn't going to mean anything either.
Perfectly plausible that a Micra might be registered to a restaurant.
The restaurant presumably have ignored all the paperwork right up to the point that debt collectors were going to turn up. Sure, they can do that, as they are not the genuine RK, but it isn't helpful.
It is an easy fix - SK can do a Statutory Declaration, and the DVLA will not re-present the offence to the Court.
DVLA can't do anything at present, it has gone past that.
Trivial.
mac96 said:
It is a bit worrying that noone thought it was unlikely that Khan would own an ancient Micra,
Unlikely? I think a man of Khan's wisdom would appreciate the cam chain rather than belt; low kerb weight; naturally aspirated engine; wishbone front suspension (other cars in tbe class had struts); vented front discs. Plus an outstanding turning circle.I'd assume our political elites are all excellent decision makers and therefore would all run elderly Micras. (Except Liz Truss. She's a f
kwit, probably favours a Fiat Multipla.)I genuinely think this is genius way of highlighting the fact just how easy it is to bypass the system. Zero checks & automation, highlighting a very failed DVLA system.
I think everyone should be doing it! & Im sure many others are already dodging the system untouched by the hand of Kahn.
I think everyone should be doing it! & Im sure many others are already dodging the system untouched by the hand of Kahn.
No ideas for a name said:
Not sure what people expect here.
The number of offences that get processed, it is just another Khan, just another Sadiq in the same way it would be just another Smith or Jones... it won't necessarily trigger that it is the Mayor of London.
A restaurant as RK address isn't going to mean anything either.
Perfectly plausible that a Micra might be registered to a restaurant.
The restaurant presumably have ignored all the paperwork right up to the point that debt collectors were going to turn up. Sure, they can do that, as they are not the genuine RK, but it isn't helpful.
A criminal conviction is only meant to be handed down when it is beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant broke the law.The number of offences that get processed, it is just another Khan, just another Sadiq in the same way it would be just another Smith or Jones... it won't necessarily trigger that it is the Mayor of London.
A restaurant as RK address isn't going to mean anything either.
Perfectly plausible that a Micra might be registered to a restaurant.
The restaurant presumably have ignored all the paperwork right up to the point that debt collectors were going to turn up. Sure, they can do that, as they are not the genuine RK, but it isn't helpful.
If, say, a police officer saw the Micra, it pinged up as untaxed, and they stopped it by the roadside, then they would actually know who was driving the untaxed car. They would then be able to check whether the registered keeper was genuine. Not only would they avoid convicting an innocent mayor, they might even - shock horror - catch an actual criminal too.
The fact that it's cheaper and easier for the authorities to enforce the law using cameras and a computer database does not, or at least in my opinion should not, allow them to discard ancient principles of right and wrong, and the time-tested standard of criminal proof.
BikeBikeBIke said:
mac96 said:
It is a bit worrying that noone thought it was unlikely that Khan would own an ancient Micra,
Unlikely? I think a man of Khan's wisdom would appreciate the cam chain rather than belt; low kerb weight; naturally aspirated engine; wishbone front suspension (other cars in tbe class had struts); vented front discs. Plus an outstanding turning circle.I'd assume our political elites are all excellent decision makers and therefore would all run elderly Micras. (Except Liz Truss. She's a f
kwit, probably favours a Fiat Multipla.)heisthegaffer said:
You are clearly criticising the Fiat Multipla here despite being a brilliant car with leftfield looks. What didnt you like about it? Was it the 6 seats plus luggage space whislt being shorter than a mk 1 Ford Focus? Or was it the fact they drive well with the wheels in each corner?
Suspension issues make up 4 times the average failure rate for suspension. Electrical faults are rife. Prone to rust. Multiplas Fail MOTs at a rate of over 50% per test when tbe average is 28%. Plus cam belts rather than a nice sturdy chain.Sorry dude, but Khan would never tolerate flaws on that scale, when he can have a smart little Micra.
Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Wednesday 2nd September 22:20
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