France, 15 minute rule for Private Hire Cars.

Uber, SnapCar, et al soon must wait 15 min before meeting fares in France 

The ever proliferating Uber "black car" service and other mobile-app-dispatched driver services will have to wait 15 minutes before picking up any customer starting Jan. 2014, a French bill has decreed. The bill was spotted by the French news organization Libération and passed on by way of TechCrunch. The decree is intended to preserve the state-regulated taxi industry.

The driver services affected by the decree typically let passengers request rides via a mobile app. The app connects them with a nearby driver, who can then accept the fare and pick them up in little time. The proliferation of GPS has enabled such services to make much headway into the taxi monopoly in France and elsewhere, which is exactly what the French government is concerned about and why it issued the decree.

Currently the French taxi system requires new drivers to pay a large sum of money to become licensed. Once they're in the club, so to speak, the government pays the drivers back by helping to maintain a near monopoly on taxis. Up until this year, driver services like the ones mentioned above as well as SnapCar (app screenshot below), LeCab, Chauffeur-privé, Allocab, Voitures Jaunes, and Driver-prive.com weren't considered tax replacements but driver services. But as they are indeed eating into the taxi industry's business, the government decided to step in.

snapcar
Two exceptions to the new rule: Driver services can omit the 15-minute delay when picking up passengers from 4-star and 5-star hotels, or when operating at the behest of trade fair organizers. This is presumably to force driver services back towards their traditionally middle-upper class customer base. It also seems to indicate that the government views its taxi system as intended for the less well-to-do.

The driver services industry is unhappy with the decree to say the least, especially considering the average length of time to meet a fare is about 7 minutes. That's according to the driver service company AFP's CEO Yan Hascoet, who is also Secretary General of the French Federation of Passenger Transport Reservation. The organization, which counts Uber and other companies mentioned in this article as members, will be fighting to overturn the decree, Hascoet vowed.

SOURCE: TechCrunch

Comment; As it takes nearly 10 minutes to service any booking, phone or otherwise and main Hotels and trade fairs are exempt this 15 minute rules would seem to be about as much use as an ash tray on a Motorbike.

Huddersfield.

A man led police on a chase through streets in Huddersfield driving a taxi he had jumped into when the owner left the vehicle running.

Tyrone Letremy was on bail at the time for other offences when he was spotted by police who began to follow the car which had been reported as stolen earlier on November 29 from the Hillhouse area.

Jeremy Lindsay prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court today over the next eight minutes officers described Letremy as narrowly avoiding 10 separate collisions as other vehicles had to get out of his way.

He reaches speeds up to 50mph in areas limited to 30mph, drove the wrong way round a roundabout and at the junction of Long Hill Road and Bradley Boulevard he went straight over without stopping nearly hitting a 4X4.

He drove on the wrong side of the road close to parked vehicles and went through a red light forcing the driver of an HGV to take evasive action.

Eventually in Dalton Bank Road he took a corner too quickly and lost control colliding with an oncoming Vauxhall car causing the taxi extensive damage.

He swerved to a stop and although the police vehicle tried to box him in he managed to get out of the vehicle and ran off only to be chased and arrested. Inside the taxi police found bottles of spirits he had stolen earlier from supermarkets in the Salendine Shopping Centre.

Mr Lindsay said Letremy had a long criminal record including previous offences for taking vehicles.

The court heard he also had a long-standing drugs problem having first taken heroin when he was only 12.

Gillian Batts representing him said the theft offences were committed to get items to sell to fund his drug habit. Since his remand in prison he had managed to stabilise his condition on methadone prescription and hoped to do courses.

Letremy, 29 of New Hey Road, Salendine Nook, Huddersfield, was jailed for 21 months having been committed for sentence to the court for aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, having no insurance, seven charges of theft from shops and one of criminal damage. He also asked for three offences of theft to be taken into consideration.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC told him that the pre-sentence report made bleak reading suggesting he had little motivation to change.

While on bail for shoplifting offences he stole more alcohol and then took a taxi which was unattended and when spotted by police led them on an eight minute chase.

“Eight minutes is an awfully long time to put other road users in danger.”
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Newcastle

Detectives investigating the rape of a woman in Newcastle have appealed fort taxi drivers who were working the night of the attack to come forward.

The 20-year-old woman was helped into a taxi after the alleged rape in the early hours of Saturday (December 28) by a good Samaritan.

Police are also appealing for this man to come forward.


He helped her at around 2 am on the junction of Newgate and Grainger Streets in the city centre.
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Middlesboro

A TAXI driver in Middlesbrough is campaigning for tougher checks on minibus drivers – claiming that people with criminal convictions are being allowed to drive them.

Under the current system, all drivers of both Hackney and private hire cabs have to undergo rigorous criminal records checks before they are granted licences by the council.

But minibus drivers – known as “passenger carrying vehicles” drivers – do not have to go through the same checks unless they are driving groups classed as vulnerable.

Taxi driver Rasub Afsal, who drives in Middlesbrough, has been campaigning for the law to be changed to ensure minibus drivers go through the same checks as taxi drivers.

He said people were at risk because of a loophole in the law – and said he knew “many” drivers who were convicted at court who made the switch to driving minibuses to avoid the criminal checks.

Mr Afsal, a self-employed taxi driver, said: “This loophole is not good. It is putting the public at risk and something needs to be done about it.”

Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald was asked to get involved by Mr Afsal and wrote a letter to the Department for Transport highlighting his concerns. He has pledged to write again to the new under secretary for transport.

He said: “Whilst Mr Rasub Afsal has raised an important issue, his concerns were not shared by the then transport minister, Norman Baker.

“The minister ruled out any immediate prospect of a change in the regulations on the grounds that there was very little risk to the public. Amongst other things, all drivers do have to be CRB checked when driving vulnerable groups where the risk is obvious.

“I have met with Mr Afsal and said in my letter to Norman Baker that I can see the attraction of having a consistent set of regulations that apply to all drivers of Hackney Carriages, Private Hire Vehicle or Passenger Carrying Vehicles. The Minister was of a different view to that of Mr Afsal.


“The Minister said that whilst he wasn’t saying that there wasn’t any risk at all, he felt the risk was low and that the current regime was adequate. He has moved onto another Ministry and in those circumstances it would be useful to see if his successor agrees. I will make that enquiry.”

Withy Grove.  Rank Lies


The Withy Grove Rank opened on December 18. The following Email was sent out.

  Christmas Period - Taxi Marshal Service and Ranks.

  1.   The following Taxi Marshal cover has been agreed for the Christmas and New Year period:

  Thursday 12th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs
  Friday 13th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs
  Saturday 14th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs

  Thursday 19th December 2012. - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs
  Friday 20th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs
  Saturday 21st December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs

  Friday 27th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs
  Saturday 28th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs
  Tuesday 31st December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs

  2.   Commencing on Friday 6th December 2013, an existing rank will be added to the Taxi Marshal scheme.  This is the Whitworth Street West rank outside Sainburys and opposite the Oxford Road Station entrance road in  the City Centre.  The Taxi Marshals will be present from 22-30hrs through  to 04-30hrs every Friday and Saturday and also on the additional dates  mentioned above over Christmas and New Year.  This additional provision  will continue until further notice.

  3.   The physical construction of a new rank on Withy Grove in the City  Centre is almost complete and work on the required traffic order to give  the rank legal standing is underway.  The intention is to have this rank  open in time for Christmas.  Once opened this rank will be manned by Taxi  Marshals from 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs every Friday and Saturday and  also on the additional dates mentioned above over Christmas and New Year.

  Further information on the opening of this rank will be passed on when it  is received.

 For your information the Withy Grove rank is a replacement rank for the one on Corporation Street outside Waxy O'Connors.  Access to the Corporation Street rank will be severely disrupted over the coming months  due to Metrolink works taking place. In the short term the plan is for both ranks to be available for use, however in the new year the  Corporation Street will close at some point.

It came as some surprise that the New Withy Grove rank closed after only five days. The Rank is still closed.

One of the trade reps asked for information on the closure, he got this tissue of Lies in reply.

"My understanding is that the Withy Grove rank has been created primarily as a temporary replacement rankfor when the Corporation Street rank has to close, to enable Metrolink works to be carried out. This means that one rank or the other, not both, will remain open at all times.

Highways made a one off decision to allow both ranks to be open and operational at the same time form a short duration over the busy Christmas and New Year period.

After further consideration by Highways, this period of dual operation when both ranks will be open at the same time has now been reduced and the Withy Grove rank was shut on 23 December."

This was obviously a load of 'Old Bull' what was the real reason for this.???

A quick look at the Legal Notices section of Evening News today 27 December gives us the real reason. The original notice posted in the MEN on December 11, was issued incorrectly.

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Duration of orders and notices under s.14.

(1)Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (5) below, an order under section 14 of this Act shall not continue in force—

(a)if it is in respect of a footpath, bridleway, cycle track or byway open to all traffic, for more than six months; and

TPC Act 1847

Town police clauses Act 1847.


(2)Before appointing any stand for hackney carriages or varying the number of hackney carriages to be at each stand in exercise of the powers of this section, a district council shall give notice to the chief officer of police for the police area in which the stand is situated and shall also give public notice of the proposal by advertisement in at least one local newspaper circulating in the district and shall take into consideration any objections or representations in respect of such proposal which may be made to them in writing within twenty-eight days of the first publication of such notice.

The Lies of the second email were to cover up, this massive error.

The error has further implications. Marshalls have been booked to operate this rank over the Xmas/New year period. They will still have to be paid, by Manchester's long suffering proprietors.

I suggest to all of you that Manchester has the most inept staff in the Country.

Derby Audit

TAXI firms in Derby are to be refunded thousands of pounds by the city council after it charged them money for things it had no right to do so.

The authority, which has apologised, owes companies in both the hackney carriage and private hire trade a total of £25,300.

The issue came to light after a complaint from Gary Matkin, of Chads Cars, to the district auditor, who investigated the council’s accounts.

Mr Matkin said: “I am very pleased that the council has taken swift action to acknowledge its failings and to correct these errors. Hopefully, it will refund those affected in a similar manner.”

The council accepts that the mistakes happened between February 2008 and this year.

John Tomlinson, director of environment and regulatory services, said the authority incorrectly made charges for transferring vehicle licences mid-term, amending private hire operator licences mid-term and changing vehicle details.

It also asked for the wrong amount of cash for providing some personal information, such as when taxi firms called up to find out how many complaints had been made against them.

Mr Tomlinson said the errors were down to a “misreading of the legislation”.

He added: “We have not yet refunded the money but we will do so. The money will come from the taxi licensing budget.

“We apologise to those licence-holders affected by these errors.”

Meanwhile, from April 1 next year, the council is reducing taxi licence charges.

Mr Tomlinson said this was not related to the errors and added: “The taxi licensing fees and charges are reviewed annually.”

Under the new price system, private hire vehicle licences will cost £91 for a new one or a renewal, down from £107.

And hackney carriage drivers will need to pay £116 for a new licence and £91 for a renewal, down from £132 and £107 respectively.

Any objections to the new fees should be made to the city council in writing by January 20.

Liverpool taxi drivers blast council over out-of-town firms 

Liverpool cabbies are to take a vote of no confidence in council taxi licensing bosses over the amount of trade they’re losing to out-of-town firms.

Hackney and private hire drivers said they were losing up to 70% of their business to firms licensed outside the city boundary, but that the council was not doing enough to crack down on out-of-town cab companies which they said should not be operating in Liverpool.

But the council claimed it was doing its best to enforce against drivers and firms breaking the rules, and Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said he wanted customers to use city firms instead of out-of-town firms like Delta.

The council said the law made it difficult to stop firms like Sefton-based Delta from doing business in the city.

On a petition being distributed among the city’s 6,000 hackney and private drivers, the Liverpool Taxi Alliance states: “Our trade morale has now arrived at its lowest, taxi and private hire drivers have lost all quality of family life, some are depressed and suffer stress related illnesses, sometimes up to 80 hours a week to make ends meet.

“It is about time that Liverpool City Council viewed all those taxi and private hire drivers who pay fees ... as honourable custodians of the trade, who deserve help in safeguarding the trade and our jobs.”

Spokesman for the Liverpool Taxi Alliance Jimmy Bradley told the ECHO: “Most taxi drivers are now relying on working tax credits, drivers who are going out of their way to work 50 to 80 hours a week need the government to help them pay the bills.”

He added there were times drivers themselves were having to point out to  enforcement officers what the rules were, and that “the rules seem to be being made up as they  go along.”

A council spokesman said the authority was putting more resources into enforcement in order to protect the trade of legitimate, licensed drivers.

He added: “We are working closely with taxi driver representatives and UNITE to tackle the  issues they are concerned about. We have doubled the size of our enforcement team over the  last year and they now work overnight to deal with issues when pubs and clubs close.

"Over the  past two months alone we have issued a total of 78 summons, written cautions and fixed  penalties tickets to drivers found to be flouting the law and carried out enforcement operations in  partnership with Merseyside Police every single weekend in the city centre and at football  matches. 

“The number of hackney ranks in the city centre has been increased, including a double lane  super-rank on Victoria Street which is marshalled at weekends, and we have also improved signage.”

Mayor Joe Anderson added: “We are restricted and constrained by the law in what we can do  but, as far as I’m concerned I want everyone in Liverpool to use Liverpool registered taxis and  private hire companies.”

Paul McLoughlin, boss of Sefton-registered Delta Taxis, said the rules meant that as long as  the driver, vehicle and operator were all licensed in the same borough, they could operate anywhere in the UK.

The firm this year is on target to have taken 10m bookings, double the nearest competitor in the UK and second only to a firm in Singapore.

He added: “As far as we are concerned, the council’s doing a fantastic job, everything the law requires, but it’s the city taxi drivers who want to take the law back 100 years.

“If other firms invested the same in technology and training as we do then they might have the same success.”

Salford.

Drunk driver crashes into PH Car.

Police were pursuing a Volkswagen Polo when it went through a red light and crashed into a Vauxhall Astra private hire car on the Regent Road roundabout at 3.40am.

Police were pursuing a Volkswagen Polo when it went through a red light and crashed into a Vauxhall Astra private hire car on the Regent Road roundabout at 3.40am on Sunday.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after seven people were injured when a car and a taxi crashed early today.

Police were pursuing a Volkswagen Polo when it went through a red light and crashed into a Vauxhall Astra private hire car on the Regent Road roundabout at 3.40am.

The taxi driver and three passengers were injured in the crash, which happened at the roundabout's junction with the M602.

They were all taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Police began pursuing the car after it was seen being driven erratically on Albion Way. It went through a red light and crashed almost immediately.

Part of the roundabout was closed while emergency services dealt with the scene but reopened shortly after 10am.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "In line with procedure, the patrol driver was automatically suspended from duties but following a review has now been reinstated."

Chief Inspector Mark Dexter said "This is yet another reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving, thankfully the injuries were not serious, the outcome could have been much worse."

A man, 30, has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and has been released on police bail.
----------------------------------------------------
Shropshire

Council blunder over taxi licence fee e-mail

Hundreds of correction notifications have been sent to Shropshire’s taxi drivers after they were given wrong information about licensing fees.

The blunder has prompted one veteran county cabbie to describe Shropshire Council’s taxi licensing system as a “farce”.

Members of the licensing and safety sub-committee agreed on November 28 to various new fees. But an e-mail giving wrong information on the changes was sent out on Monday to taxi firms and drivers.

A council spokeswoman said: “The list of charges that was sent out was the wrong list, it was an administrative error. As soon as the mistake was discovered staff sent about 600 notifications out to taxi drivers apologising and including the correct figure and an apology.”

One error flagged up on the e-mail by Oswestry driver Henry Pugh was the cost of a driver’s badge three-year renewal fee.

Councillors agreed the cost should be £156 from December 2. But the email said it was £172.

Mr Pugh said the mistake was another example of the poor communication between Shropshire Council and the taxi trade.

The 65-year-old, who has been a taxi driver for 21 years, said: “It is just another example of the service given by the licencing authority.

“We all need the correct information. I would describe it as a farce.

“That fee is wrong on the e-mail and I think others may be wrong as well. The e-mail goes out to all the firms and drivers to update us on the fees and it needs to be correct.

“Things have definitely got worse since the unitary authority came into power in 2009.”

Nicholas Cox, from Oswestry Cabs, also criticised the level of service given by the licensing bosses. He said he had driven round with a void external plate for a week before he noticed he had been issued with it.

Mr Cox said: “It included two trips to Manchester Airport. If I had been stopped with a void plate I could have been in all kinds of trouble.”

And Oswestry taxi driver, Mark Higgins, said: “It seems that all the senior, experienced council officers are leaving. We used to be able to access a licensing officer Monday to Friday in Oswestry.

“Now we have to make an appointment between 10am and 1pm on Thursdays only.”

But Richard Price, from the Shrewsbury Drivers’ Action Group, said he was not aware of the error. He said: “I have not heard anything about it and no drivers at the ranks have brought it up.


“Drivers in Shrewsbury think communication from them has massively improved in recent months. It is still an issue but they are much better at keeping us in the loop now. I am aware of the fee changes but I don’t know of any problem with the information which has been given out.”

Various Xmas Taxi warnings

http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/dearne-take-care-when-ordering-a-taxi-council-advises-1-6327217#findTabs-1

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/rogue-taxi-drivers-face-crackdown-146065n.22998409

http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/129360/taxi-marshals-to-be-used-in-rhyl-over-festive-period.aspx

http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/Warning-stay-safe-taxis-holidays/story-20328241-detail/story.html

http://www.swale.gov.uk/unlicensed-taxi-warning/

http://www.itv.com/news/central/story/2013-12-12/police-warn-of-bogus-taxi-drivers-during-christmas-period/

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/10104092.Taxi_warning_to_Pendle_party_goers/

http://www.hu12online.net/east-riding-of-yorkshire-council/get-home-safe-tonight-christmas-and-new-year-taxi-campaign/

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2013-12-20/warnings-over-bogus-taxi-drivers/?

Should anybody from Manchester Council see fit to bother with Public protection, I will of course add their press release to this selection, but, do not hold your breath.

Manchester

2nd City Metrolink  crossing. Diversion from 6th Jan 2014.

Manchester.

I am writing to update you on a number of issues involving the Taxi Marshal Service and Ranks.   

1.   The following Taxi Marshal cover has been agreed for the christmas and new year period: 

Thursday 12th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 
Friday 13th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 
Saturday 14th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 


Thursday 19th December 2012. - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 
Friday 20th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 
Saturday 21st December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 


Friday 27th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 
Saturday 28th December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 
Tuesday 31st December 2012 - 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs 


2.   Commencing on Friday 6th December 2013, an existing rank will be added to the Taxi Marshal scheme.  This is the Whitworth Street West rank outside Sainburys and opposite the Oxford Road Station entrance road in the City Centre.  The Taxi Marshals will be present from 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs every Friday and Saturday and also on the additional dates mentioned above over christmas and new year.  This additional provision will continue until further notice. 

3.   The physical construction of a new rank on Withy Grove in the City Centre is almost complete and work on the required traffic order to give the rank legal standing is underway.  The intention is to have this rank open in time for christmas.  Once opened this rank will be manned by Taxi Marshals from 22-30hrs through to 04-30hrs every Friday and Saturday and also on the additional dates mentioned above over christmas and new year.  Further information on the opening of this rank will be passed on when it is received. 
For your information the Withy Grove rank is a replacement rank for the one on Corporation Street outside Waxy O'Connors.  Access to the Corporation Street rank will be severely disrupted over the comming months due to Metrolink works taking place. In the short term the plan is for both ranks to be available for use, however in the new year the Corporation Street will close at some point. 

I would be grateful if you would distribute this information as widely as possible amongst your members. 

Andy Scragg
Senior Compliance Officer
Licensing Unit

Comment from Riaz . "Which ranks, around the City, are are marshalled, are we assumed to know. ? "

Rochdale, another fiver perverts jailed.

Five men who sexually exploited a 15-year-old girl in Rochdale, have been jailed for a total of 26-and-a-half years.

Congolese refugee Freddie Kendakumana, 27, of Illminster, Rochdale, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years for rape and sexual activity with a child.

Mohammed Rafiq Abubaker, 32, of Freehold, Rochdale was jailed for two-and-a-half years whilst takeaway worker Roheez Khan, 27, of Ashfield Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years for sexual activity with a child and witness intimidation.

A fourth man, Chola Chansa, 33, of Illminster, Rochdale, was jailed for five years for sexual activity with a child.

Taxi driver Abdul Huk, 37, of Ouldfield Close, Rochdale, was sentenced to four years for sexual activity with a child.

The majority of the defendants were first arrested last year after a separate trial at Liverpool Crown Court revealed a largely Pakistani-heritage child sex ring abusing white girls in the town.

But major questions have since been asked after it was revealed that Kendakumana, had been arrested and interviewed before by Greater Manchester police (GMP).

The victim, now 20-years-old but 15 at the time, was described as having a "chaotic early life" who would drink to excess, take drugs, stay out late and sniff lighter fluid and self harm. She spent several years in care before returning to her mother's house where her drink and drug taking continued.

In December 2008 the girl complained to police that she had been raped the month before.

The girl was told at the time by an interviewing male officer to stay away from Kendakumana while the investigation continued. But Sky News understands social care and health professionals dealing with the youngster failed to pass on her other reports in 2008 and 2009, that she was having consensual sexual contact with older men whom she labelled "boyfriends".

Kendakumana was finally charged, along with his co-defendants, in October 2012 - nearly four years after the girl made the initial rape complaints as several men went on to abuse her in the intervening period.

From the end of 2008 to October 2011, the girl had undergone a total of 23 video-recorded police interviews.

The victim was first prompted to go to the police on the advice of a health support worker when she disclosed that Kendakumana was sexually forcing himself on her.

There was no suggestion that the victim had been "passed around" by the different men, although some were known to each other, the court heard.

In a victim impact statement, read out in court, she wrote: "I look back on the years I was drinking and hanging around with these men and see that this period has impacted on my education and what exams I failed to pass, this has followed into my adult life.

"I think a lot about that period of my life, I sometimes blame others like my mum, social services and the men, but I sometimes blame myself," she said.

In May last year, nine men were jailed for the systematic grooming and sexual abuse of five girls - aged between 13 and 15 - in Heywood and Rochdale. Their trial at Liverpool Crown Court resulted in a national debate over the role of gangs of largely Pakistani-heritage men in grooming white girls.

A subsequent report from child safeguarding chiefs ruled that social workers, police and prosecutors had missed opportunities to stop the exploitation in Heywood and Rochdale.

Social workers in Rochdale were criticised for their approach to dealing with underage girls who were deemed to be "making their own choices" in engaging in consensual sex.

Although the girl in the latest court proceedings was being abused at about the same time, she had no known links with any of the defendants who were jailed at Liverpool Crown Court.

The convicted men in the Manchester trials came from a range of nationalities - Kendakumana and Chansa are from Congo, Abubaker is a Kurd, while Huk and Khan are believed to be of Pakistani heritage.

Several knew each other but it was not the prosecution case that they all acted as an organised gang.

The case has been voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Manchester

A taxi driver ended up with an extra passenger when he picked up a young couple - after the heavily pregnant woman gave birth in the back of his taxi cab.

When Pavla Machacova went into labour, boyfriend Pavel Stupka called a taxi to take them to hospital.
Driver Tesfaldet Abraham picked them up at their home in Manchester and took them on the short drive to North Manchester General, but by the time they got there the baby was on its way.

Tesfaldet jumped out to get a trolley for Pavla, and shouted to waiting midwives for help. They raced to the cab and within minutes delivered the baby on the back seat of his Vauxhall Astra estate.

Tesfaldet, 44, who works for city centre cab firm Cresta Cars, told the Manchester Evening News : “It was not a very long distance to the hospital and we were not thinking the baby would come as soon as that, even the husband didn’t seem to know how far gone she was.”

Tesfaldet, from Broughton, added: “The midwives ran out to the car, told me to grab towels and gloves from inside and the baby was born within five minutes. I got into the back of the car to help hand them what they needed.

“I couldn’t be happier. It’s amazing. I picked up two people and delivered three!”
Baby Nicole was born weighing a healthy 7lbs 7oz. And the following day she was allowed home with Pavel, 30, and Pavla, 33, to meet her big sister, two-year-old Kristina.

Pavla said: “It was so unexpected. With Kristina the labour was 12 hours and this was 30 minutes. I’d only had contractions for about five minutes before we rang the taxi and then she was here. It was too fast. I’m really happy to be at home with Nicole.”

Pavel said:“We’re so grateful to the driver and the hospital. We have received a lovely bunch of flowers from Mr Abraham so it’s nice to know he’s thinking of us.”

Derek Brocklehurst, manager of Cresta Cars, said: “It’s great. We wish both the parents and the child all the best.”
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PeterBoro

Wednesday 9.30am: Drivers faced delays in Bourges Boulevard in Peterborough this morning following a collision between a lorry and a taxi.

Emergency services were called to the incident near the McDonald’s restaurant at 6.34am.

One casualty was released by fire crews but it is not believed anyone was seriously injured.

The southbound section of the road was closed to traffic following the incident.


The road has since been re-opened but there are still reports of heavy traffic in the area.
----------------------------------------------------------
Preston, go pre-pay over Xmas.

Taking deposits: Mark Selley of Preston Hackney Carriage Association says it must be up to drivers to be honest when taking pre-payments.

Lancashire Police are asking the public to “not be offended” if they are asked to pre-pay for their taxis over Christmas.

Members of the Community Safety Team at Lancashire Constabulary are promoting the practice of pre-payment with all taxis in the Preston area over the festive period in a bid to reduce the number of bilking offences where passengers evade payment.

Insp Caroline Edwards, Community Safety Team said: “We want to ask the public not to be offended if they are asked for a deposit or pre-payment of fares when they take a taxi.

“Christmas and New Year is an extremely busy time for all taxi drivers and over this period we see an increase in bilking.

Insp Edwards added: “By encouraging pre-payment, we can hopefully reduce the number of these incidents.”

Mark Selley of Preston Hackney Carriage Association said: “I understand that the police will be encouraging this practice because if there is a problem with people running off without paying it takes up their valuable time.”

However, Mark, said it must be up to the taxi drivers to be honest when taking deposits or pre-payment.

He said: “It is the law to have the meter running so if a taxi driver takes money from you, make sure that the amount is taken from the final fare that is displayed on the meter.

“Drivers don’t want to run the risk of payment problems on long journeys in particular.


Mike Thorpe, Licensing Manager at Preston City Council added: “Security of both drivers and passengers is of paramount importance and any measures to reduce the risk of conflict or crime is to be welcomed.”
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Barnsley, Safety warning.

People in the Dearne are being warned to take care when they hire a cab this Christmas.

As the festive season approaches Barnsley Council is asking revellers not to take risks with their safety by using unlicensed taxis or private hire vehicles.

The vehicles will not be insured to carry paying passengers and the vehicle will not have been examined by the council to ensure it is roadworthy.

All licensed vehicles are inspected throughout the year by qualified vehicle examiners, and all licensed drivers undergo a rigorous application process which includes a criminal records check to ensure they are fit and proper to hold a licence with the council.

Coun Charles Wraith, Chairman of the General Licensing Board, said: “I would urge members of the public to avoid using unlicensed vehicles which can put their safety at risk. Unlicensed vehicles will not be insured and I dread to think of the consequences should an unlicensed vehicle be involved in a serious road traffic accident.

“Taxis can be hailed in the street or approached at ranks and do not need to be booked in advance. There are numerous taxi ranks around the town centre from which a taxi may be taken and we will be providing taxi marshals for the busiest nights over Christmas and the New Year to ensure people can hire taxis safely. Private hire vehicles must always be booked in advance through a licensed operator.”

All licensed drivers will have and be able to produce a Licence ID card containing the following information: Barnsley Council’s logo, driver’s photograph and driver’s number.

Always use either a licensed taxi that is clearly displaying door signs and a white licence plate on the rear of the vehicle. Alternatively, use a licensed private hire vehicle displaying a yellow licence plate on the front and rear of the vehicle and signs to the front and rear doors including the operator’s name and contact details.

Anyone with you any doubts that the vehicle or driver is not licensed by the council are advised not to get in the vehicle and inform the Licensing Section at Barnsley Council on 01226 772468 or the Police, dial 101, as soon as possible.

This year in Barnsley there will be two taxi marshals stationed at hackney carriage ranks at New Street (adjacent to Chicago Rock) and Midland Street. The marshals will help people visiting town centre pubs, bars and restaurants get home safely at the end of the evening.

Marshals will be on duty on the evenings of Friday, December 20, Sunday 22, Boxing Day, Saturday 28, and New Year’s Eve.

In addition, officers funded by the Barnsley branch of the Hackney Carriage Association will patrol the area around Queen Street and Eldon Street.

Burnley,

A CHRISTMAS crackdown on unsafe taxis saw 26 taken off the road - almost 60 per cent of those stopped.

Police and council officers were shocked to discover faulty tyres, brakes and seatbelts during a spot-check on cabs in Burnley.

Of 45 faulty vehicles inspected, 26 were deemed to have at least two ‘major faults’ and three drivers were stripped of their licences.

Hackney carriage boss Charles Oakes backed the safety initiative but private hire spokesman Mohammed Arif said Burnley Council’s testing had gone ‘over-the-top’.

Licensing officer Peter Henderson warned drivers that there would be further operations targeting defective vehicles and those who pick fares up illegally.

Mr Oakes, chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association Ltd, which incorporates Burnley Hackney Carriage Association, called for more prosecutions against repeat offenders.

He said: “We support the council in the effort to educate drivers in the safe maintenance of their vehicles.

“They either have to be safe or get out of the job. The trade itself asked for more spot checks to deal with repeat offenders.

“Safety is a top priority but, realistically, we live in tight times and drivers have got to find a way of staying on top of their vehicles.

“If they come a cropper, they have to take responsibility.”

Of the 45 cars with faults, 38 were private hire cars and seven were hackney carriages. The 26 with at least two major faults included 23 private hire cars and three hackney carriages.

Mohammed Arif, chairman of Burnley Private Hire Association, claimed drivers in Burnley ‘do not face a level playing field’.

He said: “I’m not really happy with this. In Burnley, we’re not on a level playing field with other boroughs; the council is far too strict.

“Let me be clear: if it’s seriously unsafe, the vehicle shouldn’t be on the road. But what good is revoking a licence?

“Is it fair to deprive a man of his livelihood? The car can be taken to the garage and fixed.”

Since the operation, Burnley Council’s licensing committee has revoked the licences of two private hire operators and one hackney carriage driver. Two other drivers received warnings for using defective vehicles.

Burnley Council’s executive member with responsibility for taxis, Coun Howard Baker, said: ”The safety of hackney carriage and private hire drivers and passengers is our priority.

“There are some issues in relation to the proper maintenance of vehicles which we are addressing through our programme of targeted enforcement.

“I would like to reassure the public that the majority of drivers in this industry provide a valuable, safe service to their community and I would appeal to their customers to treat them with the respect they deserve.”

A Burnley Council spokesman added: “Those that had their licence suspended can appeal or apply for their licence back, but in that case their enforcement record would be taken into account.”

Birmingham, Special Plying Team

West Midlands Police are keeping Christmas revellers safe during the festive party season by clamping down on rogue and illegal taxi drivers.

As people head en masse to the region’s nightlife hubs between now and New Year, officers are targeting dodgy drivers who look to take advantage of high-spirited partygoers.

The operation focuses on regular drivers falsely posing as cabbies and private hire ‘plyers’ looking to pick up fares at the roadside which is against the law and puts the public at risk. Passengers accepting lifts from private hire drivers plying for business aren’t insured in the event of being injured in an accident.

And in the last two years West Midlands Police have recorded 75 sexual offences committed by drivers – often bogus cabbies – against lone female passengers. One sex assault victim – 19-year-old Sarah from Northamptonshire – has spoken of her ordeal at the hands of a fake cabbie and is urging other partygoers not to put themselves at risk.

Watch the video here: http://bit.ly/1j2ymhK

Police are stressing the importance of planning return journeys in advance, booking taxis before heading out, not drinking to excess, and staying with friends.

28 illegal drivers caught. It would take the 7 man Manchester Compliance team over 5 years to get that many fake drivers, thats why our sex offence rates are the highest in the U.K. per capita. (average 110 per year)

Middlesboro

Taxi drivers want PSV drivers to have DBS checks.

http://vimeo.com/82017665

Christmas is a time for thinking about kids.

With this thought in mind Crime stoppers are calling on all taxi drivers to be aware of the signs which could help rescue kids from the clutches of these perverts.

Police forces around the Country are trying to educate the public to help in this intuitive, sadly GMP are not trying too hard. Try as I might I cannot find any publication from them on this matter, probably worried about cuts. 

I attach a a pic of a poster I nicked off ;

www.national-taxi-association.co.uk

It is to GMP's shame that they have not published it.

Single Tier Licences

The subject of single tier Licences is starting to gather pace. This option is the favored position of Mr Button and the Institute of Licensing. (of which Manchester's Licensing staff are members).

Firstly this exchange of questions in the N. Ireland assembly :

All Northern Ireland Assembly debates on 9 Dec 2013

I thank Mr Weir for that supplementary question.  I am aware of the lobbying that is going on, particularly around the move to single-tier licensing in Belfast and the fears of the implications that that might have for the industry, particularly in Belfast and especially for public hire in Belfast.  That sector has been lobbying not only Mr Weir but parties right across the Chamber on this issue, and I have to say that I have a degree of sympathy with its fears.  However, I am doing my utmost to allay them. 

The demand for the services of Belfast public hire, or indeed any taxi firm, will be determined by the service that is being provided and the price at which it is provided.  Consumers will, and should, be able to exercise choice, and this is a matter for each consumer.  It is for my Department as a regulator to set minimum standards that all operators, vehicles and drivers must meet so that taxi users can receive the service that they expect and then to ensure compliance with those standards.  That is what I have relayed again and again to representatives of Belfast public hire. 

I have also undertaken to work with my counterpart the Minister for Regional Development around issues such as taxi ranks and, perhaps, access to bus lanes for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.  Currently, all Belfast public-hire vehicles are wheelchair accessible, so it is fair to assume that they will still use ranks and that they will still use the bus lanes.  I know that they are looking for some sort of guarantee that that might be for them alone.  I am keen not to alienate anyone —

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2013-12-09.3.12&s=taxi
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Secondly, news from Jersey.

Plans to overhaul Jersey's taxi service "could throw the industry into chaos" according to the head of the Taxi Drivers Association.

The island could have a single type of taxi service under plans by the transport minister Deputy Kevin Lewis.
Currently rank taxis and private hire cabs have different operating conditions and fare structures.
Mick Tostevin, president of the Taxi Drivers Association, says the plans are poorly thought out.

"This raises far more questions than it actually answers," he said.

"This report has no action plan whatsoever, it is just throwing the industry up in the air and saying 'you sort it out'."

In a white paper, Deputy Lewis outlines plans to restructure the taxi service, improve standards and increase the number of drivers.

"We have problems at the airport where cab drivers can't pick up unless there are no taxis there," he said.
"There have been instances in the past where people have come out to get a cab and you have two drivers, a cab and taxi driver, remonstrating with each other and demanding the other leaves."

He said he wanted a "better system" to benefit about 380 people who work in the industry.
In 2012 a survey by the Transport and Technical Services department found few people understood the current two-tier system.

It also found a lack of transparency in pricing and gaps in accessibility for disabled users.
Mr Tostevin said the current system worked well but could do with some "tweaking".

"The taxi service in Jersey is very reasonable and I think the minister is taking the easy route out here," he said.

What the minister should be doing is looking at the parts of the industry that need tweaking and easing."
In his white paper, the minister outlines a number of other recommendations including requirements for taxi drivers around fitness and customer care.

People have until February to share their thoughts on the plans ahead of the minister taking it to the States.

Comment; It is now only 15 weeks (April 1) until we hear news of our fate, here in the U.K. What will happen ? Who is doing anything ? Does anybody care ?

If I were you, I would start to be afraid, I know who my M.P. is, do you. Get some envelopes in quickly.

Withy grove taxi rank

Due to road works for Metrolink’s Second City Crossing Manchester City Council will introduce a new temporary taxi rank on Withy Grove from Wednesday 18 December. This taxi rank will replace the existing site on Corporation Street which will close in January 2014.

Changes to northern rail services at manchester victoria
Thursday 26 December 2013 – Wednesday 1 January 2014

From Thursday 26 December 2013 – Wednesday 1 January 2014 Northern Rail trains will not be able to run into and out of Manchester Victoria station.

Services to the west of Manchester will start and terminate at Salford Central, or will be diverted to Manchester Oxford Road.
Services to the east of Manchester will be replaced by buses between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale/Stalybridge.

Metrolink services will continue to operate from Manchester Victoria during this time, except on Christmas Day.
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Nationwide, Phone Apps.

Comment:
An interesting look at how Phone apps aim to capture most of the Taxi markets. When the National PH license comes next year, will this happen all over the UK. ?

OK, so out in the small towns someone setting up as an Uber driver will indeed be eating into the traffic and thus the revenues of the local cab driver. But the vast majority of cabs are in the big cities. And they almost all use a system of medallions to limit the number of taxis that can operate. These medallions can be fabulously expensive: in NYC currently they cost around $1 million. You’ll not be surprised to find that people who can make a $1 million investment are not found behind the wheel of a cab in the Bronx. Instead those get rented out to a driver for perhaps, as Felix says $75,000 a year. That’s a big bite out of the potential revenues from doing a 12 hour shift looking for fares.

So, along comes Uber, Lyft or any of the other services. They do not have this cost. So, if those new services were to be the same price as a cab ride, or even if they’re cheaper than one, there’s still room for the drivers to make more money than the cab drivers. At which point our old friend, the rising demand for labour comes in. When the demand for labour does indeed rise then, as Karl Marx himself pointed out, in the absence of there being a reserve army of the unemployed then the wages of labour will rise. For the capitalists are now competing between themselves for the profits that can be made by employing that labour and they will thus bid up wages.

Uber can and does offer better incomes than the cab drivers get who are having to pay that $75k a year rent for the medallion. And it’s going to be a reduction of the rent on that medallion that is going to be the equalising factor that raises cab drivers’ wages again. For rise they will have to or they’ll obviously all go off and work for Uber or Lyft instead.

And there’s no doubt at all that this will happen. We’ve seen exactly this happening in Chinese manufacturing wages this past 15 years. As the world has turned to China to do the manufacturing for it then the demand for labour has soared. So much so that manufacturing wages have risen from some $1,000 a year to $6,500 a year in only a decade and a half. Simply and purely because there are now more capitalists wanting to exploit that labour, the competition to make the profits from that exploitation has raised wages.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/12/12/how-lyft-and-uber-will-raise-taxi-drivers-incomes-not-lower-them/?
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Truro's taxi turf wars 

Taxi turf wars have broken out in Truro with violence and intimidating threats.

A driver who normally works in Perranporth has reportedly had his tyres slashed after working in the city.
Taxi driver Malcolm Polkinghorne, known as John, said he had been threatened while working in Truro.

Drivers with a Carrick licence are officially allowed to work anywhere in the area, including on the ranks in Truro.

Perranporth-based taxi driver Malcolm Polkinghorne, known as John, said he had been threatened while working in Truro.
Mr Polkinghorne said a colleague from Perranporth had a total of four tyres slashed on two cars in the early hours of November 23.

The following night Mr Polkinghorne was waiting on the taxi rank in Calenick Street.

He said: “As I’m parked up by L2 a chap just walked up to me and said if I didn’t want the same thing to happen to me I had better get out of Truro.

“They are trying to frighten any outsiders off. It feels like taxi wars.”

Mr Polkinghorne, 57, said he refused to be intimidated and would continue working in the city.

“That plate entitles me to work anywhere in the Carrick zone,” he said. “On a Saturday night I’ve got no choice - I’ve got bills to pay.”

The West Briton spoke with the driver whose tyres were slashed. He said he had not reported the matter to the police and did not want to be named. He put the incident down to local vandalism.

Tony Staffiericorrect from Droskyn Taxis in Perranporth said he had lent a jack to the victim of the attack to put on new tyres.

“They had to have four new tyres put on because they were stabbed in the side,” he said.

Mr Staffieri said he had previously been confronted while working in Truro by a driver who asked him if he thought it was fair people from other towns could come in to work in the city.

“I know they don’t like us going in there but the council made the rules and we are allowed to,” he said.

The owner of Truro’s biggest taxi firm, A2B, said he was not aware of any incidents or confrontations between drivers in Truro.

He said: “It doesn’t bother me one bit if people from outside come in and work in Truro. We are more phone-based and not as dependent on the ranks. The only people it would affect would be the one-man bands.”

Cornwall Council said they had received reports of alleged incidents and had advised the taxi drivers to report the incidents to the police.

A spokesman confirmed any driver with a legitimate Carrick zone hackney licence plate was entitled to operate anywhere within the Carrick zone.

Rochdale, Driver protest.

Taxi drivers protested outside Rochdale council’s headquarters after two colleagues were stripped of their licences.

It comes after two private hire drivers were arrested following an attack near the Cask and Feathers pub in Oldham Road on Sunday December 1, which left two men with head injuries.

Two men, aged 18 and 20, were taken to hospital following the incident, but discharged themselves shortly afterwards.

But the 18-year-old took a turn for the worse and had to be readmitted.

Police arrested two taxi drivers, aged 23 and 33, on suspicion of section 18 wounding. They were questioned and released on bail.

But while inquiries are ongoing, the council has temporarily revoked their taxi licences on a temporary basis.

On Thursday fellow drivers protested against the decision.

Owner of Streamline taxis Mohammed Rizaq said about 60 drivers took part.

He added: “If the police had charged them that would have been different. But they’ve not even been charged and the council has made a decision to take away their livelihood.

“They’re family people, they’ve got wives and children.”

Police confirmed the men had been bailed until January 21.

Director of economy and environment at Rochdale council Mark Widdup said: “We are aware of the allegations made against these private hire drivers.

“In the interest of public safety we have chosen to temporarily suspend their licences as a precautionary measure.”

Proposals to change taxi policy in Hyndburn met with anger


TAXI drivers in Hyndburn could be forced to buy newer cars, modify their vehicles, and remove advertisements, new plans revealed.

Hyndburn Council is proposing several changes to its taxi policy, and is consulting with taxi companies across the borough.

Private hire taxis older than seven years would be taken off the road, all hackney carriages would be required to fit a ‘swivel’ seat for disabled passengers, cars would have to meet emissions targets, and adverts on glasswork would be prohibited, if the council goes ahead with its plans.

But a spokesman for Max Cabs, in Accrington, said the move would ‘kill or cripple an already struggling trade’, and questioned the motive of the council.

He said: “Taxis are exempt from MOTs, but they have an MOT-style check by the council twice a year, and three times when they reach a certain age.

“They are the safest cars on the road and if they have passed the test, what does age matter?”

“We carry out 25,000 journeys a week and have 400 taxis on the road between 6am and 9am taking people to school and work.”

Most drivers at the firm would not be able to afford to buy a newer vehicle without passing that cost on the customer, the spokesman added.

Deputy leader of Hyndburn Council, Clare Pritchard, denied the council was trying to reduce the number of taxis on the road to encourage residents to use the upcoming £40m Pennine Reach bus services, or that it was retaliating after a blunder left the council facing a £200,000 bill because it failed to advertise increases in taxi licensing fees.

Coun Pritchard said: “There is nothing to retaliate against. It was a simple administrative mistake and we are paying the money back.

“There’s no benefit to us whether people use the bus service or taxis, we just want the highest standard of transport in Hyndburn.

“This is about providing a comprehensive plan. We have several policies hanging around and this will bring it into one complete policy. I would hope it would improve standards.”

Leader of the opposition, Peter Britcliffe, called the consultation ‘bureaucracy gone mad’.

He said: “This is victimising the taxi drivers. The consultation should end now and the policy should not change.

“What difference does a car’s age make as long as it is fit to drive? In terms of advertising, we know it’s a very competitive market. Taxis are extremely cheap in Hyndburn so why prevent drivers from getting extra from adverts?”
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Scores on the doors set to drive up standards in taxi trade

Star cabbies across Rochdale could be recognised with a special scoring system as part of moves designed to drive up standards in the borough’s taxi trade. 

The proposals, which are currently open to public consultation, call for the introduction of an awards scheme which would offer private hire operators a bronze, silver or gold award, or no award at all, according to how they perform in regular assessments. 

Licensing staff would look at everything from how the operators support disabled passengers to how many penalty points operators have accrued. 

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet Member for Licensing and Regulation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It’s vital that our taxi drivers adhere to the highest standards because passenger safety is of paramount importance. These proposals will help ensure that our drivers are the best in the business and should help customers make an informed decision about who they travel with. I’d encourage residents to get involved in the consultation and let us know their views.” 

To receive a gold award, operators would need to fulfil a range of criteria including having a customer service charter, ensuring drivers complete a full daily inspection of their cab using a check sheet and having a robust system in place to communicate to drivers messages from the police and other agencies. 

Firms would lose points for, among other things, failing to cooperate with licensing staff, allowing unlicensed drivers to work for the company and not taking action against drivers following customer complaints. 

Stephen Campbell, who runs Heywood-based taxi firm Car 2000, welcomed the move and said “These changes will bring the taxi industry up-to-date. Oldham Council already run a similar star-based scheme and this will really raise the standards for taxi firms across the borough. 

“Our customers can be assured that we will be aiming for the gold award and provide a transparent service for our customers.” 

Companies would display their rating on their vehicles and at their operating base to help customers decide who they want to travel with. 
A second proposal, which is also open to public consultation, would see individual hackney carriage and private hire drivers accrue penalty points for a number of infringements. 

Examples of how drivers could fall foul of the rules include unreasonable prolongation of a journey to hike up a fare (four points), modifying a vehicle without permission from the council (six points) and failing to behave in a civil manner (one-12 points). Drivers who rack up 12 points or more could be stripped of their license. 


People can find out about the proposals in more detail at www.rochdale.gov.uk/consultations and feed their views in writing to Rochdale Council Licensing Section or via email to licensing.reg@rochdale.gov.uk