This has been Taken from Taxileaks, it would be wrong to nick the article, so I post a link.

This has been Taken from Taxileaks, it would be wrong to nick the article, so I post a link.

Liverpool

"Deregulation Bill", Have They Been Tipped The Wink? Anticipation...Or Inside Information

http://www.taxileaks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/have-they-been-tipped-wink.html

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UPDATE

Liverpool cabbies are predicting the outbreak of a “taxi war” after a Merseyside taxi giant announced it had opened a new office in the heart of the city centre.

Sefton-registered Delta Taxis said it had started a mini call centre in the heart of the city centre, raising fears among Liverpool taxi drivers that they could lose even more trade to what they have traditionally regarded as an “out-of-town” firms.

At present, bookings accepted by Delta at its main Bootle call centre can only go to private hire drivers and cars licensed in Sefton, while bookings at the city centre office will only be dispatched to Liverpool-licensed drivers.

But under a Deregulation Bill now going through Parliament, taxi and minicab firms will be able to subcontract business to other firms. This means Delta would be able to dispatch bookings from either its Bootle or Liverpool office, to drivers and cars from both fleets.

Last year hackney and private hire drivers said they were losing up to 70% of their business to firms licensed outside the city boundary.

They said the latest move would put their livelihoods under even greater strain.

Jimmy Bradley, spokesman for the Liverpool Taxi Alliance – which supports the city’s black cab and private hire drivers – claimed they had been badly let down by Liverpool City Council.

Mr Bradley added: “By allowing Delta to open this office in the city centre, they’re creating the circumstances for a taxi war in Liverpool.

“We have paid millions of pounds in licensing fees over the last 25 years, and this comes as a total kick in the teeth.”

Mr Bradley said meetings were taking place among the city’s taxi-driving community to decide on their next course of action.

Cllr Steve Radford, leader of the city’s Liberal group who sits on the council’s licensing committee, said his main concern about the Deregulation Bill was its implications for public safety as it would allow bookings to be subcontracted to other firms, rather than a firm the customer knew and trusted.

He added: “I don’t have a problem with appropriate competition, but I do have concerns about public safety.”


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-cabbies-predict-outbreak-taxi-8202412?

WIRRAL.

WITH the festive party season about to start, Wirral Council is reminding people to check late night taxis are legitimate before getting in Taxi vehicles and drivers are licensed by the local authority, with the aim of protecting the public.

All licensed drivers must display a valid badge, and their vehicles must carry a plate clearly identifying the car as being properly registered.


Councillor Bill Davies, chair of the licensing committee, said: “This year has seen some changes to public transport, in particular the removal of the cross-river service late on Saturday nights which used to bring people home from Liverpool city centre.

"This means that more people than ever will be looking for taxis after their Christmas nights out.

“People’s safety is the most important thing. We want to reinforce the message that bona fide taxis and their drivers are required to display their licences prominently. If in doubt, don’t get in.”

Taxi ranks are always busy over the festive period, but private hire cabs can be booked in advance.

By law, private hire cabs must be pre-booked.

If you get into one of these vehicles without booking you may not be insured and the driver will be breaking the law.


http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11633909._/?


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A teenager and a man chased down a father-of-two before one of them stabbed him to death, a court was told on Friday.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that 18-year-old Connor Grana and Graeme Carter, 26, chased their victim Stephen McGowan on foot through the streets of Greenock.

And when he managed to jump in a taxi in a bid to escape they commandeered another cab and ordered the driver to follow him.

When Mr McGowan, 23, was dropped off at 49 High Street, Greenock, at around 3am he frantically began buzzing the close entry system.

But Grana in the taxi behind leaped out, in the cabbie's words, "in a real hurry Usain Bolt style." Carter paid the taxi driver.

Inside the close Mr McGowan was stabbed three times by Grana. Despite being fatally injured he managed to walk to his girlfriend's mother's house for help. But after knocking the door he collapsed and died.

On Friday Grana, who is detained in Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, admitted murdering Mr McGowan on July 27.

His co-accused Carter, who is detained at Low Moss, admitted the culpable homicide of Mr McGowan.

Carter was originally charged with murder, but the Crown accepted his plea to the reduced charge.

This was accepted on the basis he was involved in the pursuit, although he did not stab Mr McGowan.

Advocate depute Tim Niven-Smith said one of the stab wounds entered Mr McGowan's heart and another cut into a major blood vessel.

Mr Niven-Smith said that the chase through the streets of Greenock from Lyle Street to Cathcart Street where Mr McGowan entered a taxi was caught on CCTV.

He added: "Taxi driver Neil Munro said he noted that Mr McGowan was out of breath and said, 'they're after me, they're gonnae stab me, want to just drive mate.'"

"Mr Munro told police that he looked in his rear view mirror and saw a man running at his taxi. Mr McGowan, who he described as looking frightened, asked to be taken to High Street."

The court heard that the other taxi driver Lee Cleary was told: "Follow that taxi."

Grana, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the taxi, was asked why he was chasing Mr McGowan and replied: "Because the guy owes me lots of money."

The court heard that about 30 minutes after the killing Grana was boasting saying: "I've stabbed him."

He said he had chased Mr McGowan into a close and in the close he had stabbed him with a knife.

Grana added that he did this while Cater was paying the taxi driver.

Judge Lord Bannatyne deferred sentence on both accused until January next year for background reports.


http://news.stv.tv/scotland/301453-stephen-mcgowan-chased-by-connor-grana-and-graeme-carter/?

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A WORCESTER taxi driver is due to appear for trial at Worcester Magistrates' Court charged with behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The allegations towards Mohammed Ali, 44, of Lark Hill Road, relate to an incident on October 11 this year.

Ali pleaded not guilty to the offence and was grated conditional bail that he does not enter the village of Hatfield and does not pick up lone female fares. The trial date has been set for March 12 next year.

BOLTON

A 62-year-old taxi driver claims he has been denied justice after police refused to press charges over an alleged attack in which he was "viciously assaulted" by a passenger.

Mohammed Aslam says the attack took place outside Bolton police station in Scholey Street after he drove a passenger there because he was behaving aggressively.

The veteran Metro driver need to go to hospital with cuts and bruises on his face after the incident on October 15.

Police have now informed Mr Aslam that there will be no further action in the case because of a “conflict” between the accounts of those involved.
He has now complained to Greater Manchester Police, as well as the region’s crime commissioner and local councillors, in his bid for justice.

Mr Aslam said: “It appears that the investigating officer is not pressing charges because he believes the perpetrator acted in self-defence, but this is ridiculous — I am a frail 62-year-old man who cannot physically attack anyone.”

He said he picked up the male customer, thought to be in his twenties, along with another man from an address in Tonge Fold just before 7pm.

He said he had not realised at the time that the passengers wanted to be taken into Manchester and that when he went past the turn off for St Peter’s Way, the younger man became aggressive and started shouting.

He said: “He was swearing a lot and saying racist remarks to me. He was very aggressive so I pulled in and told him to get out.”

“The men wouldn’t get out so I drove them to the police station in Scholey Street.”

Once in Scholey Street, the 62-year-old alleges that the younger man got out and forcefully kicked his car, prompting the driver to get out of the taxi.

“I shouted at him because he kicked the car and that is when he punched me hard in the eye — he followed this with four or five more punches to my head.

“He kicked me and pushed me again but then two police officers came running to help because I think officers inside the station had contacted them on the radio.”

Mr Aslam admits that he grabbed the customer by his shirt to stop him running from the police but said that was the only point at which he touched him.

He then went to hospital and the man was apprehended by police, but Mr Aslam said he never heard back from them regarding charges.

He said: “Three weeks later I asked my nephew to contact them and he said they would not be taking any action — I felt terrible and I couldn’t believe it.

"This man viciously beat me up and he should be punished.

“What upsets me the most is that he had no regard for my age — I am a frail man with a white beard and he showed me no respect or moral decency, and yet he has walked away.

"Surely it should be for the courts to decide if he acted in self-defence?”

A police spokesman said: "It has been decided that no further action will be taken in this case because of a conflict in the accounts of what happened."

Mr Aslam has now been contacted by Jim Battle, the deputy police and crime commissioner, and Bolton councillor Linda Thomas, who have both agreed to look into the the matter.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/11628974._/?
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AYLESBURY

Defect rule change could ‘create taxi shortage’

The council has introduced a points system for dodgy taxis
Had trouble calling a cab recently?

Well it could be down to strict new rules which are taking dodgy vehicles off the road.

Aylesbury Vale District Council has brought in a points system, with spot checks which have left drivers reeling.

They are allowed a maximum of 12 points, and can incur them for a range of safety flaws including no MOT and not displaying a blue drivers’ badge appropriately.

The council says the scheme is a positive move, designed to promote better standards and passenger safety.

But Mohammed Nawaz, of Aylesbury’s Private Hire Association, says it will cripple taxi firms, and lead to a shortage of cabs in the run up to Christmas.

He said: “Some firms could got out of business and this will affect a lot of people.

“They have brought this out of the blue and have not given us any time to make changes.

“Because of the new system safe cars could be taken off the road, because you can get points for not displaying a badge and things like that.

“Officers are going out with the police, the police pull drivers over and give them points, and then officers give them points too, so drivers are getting double points.”

“There has been no consultation with us, and everyone is very unhappy, by Christmas I don’t think there will be many firms left. Some firms have lost most of their cars because the rules are so strict.”

The association will meet next week to discuss the problem, and Mr Nawaz says that a strike has not been ruled out.

But Councillor Brian Roberts, cabinet member for civic amenities, dismissed claims that firms would go out of business.

He said: “Unfortunately it’s the minority ruining it for the majority and I don’t think it’s unfair at all.

“Everyone has to abide by the rules, and if you do then you won’t get any points.

“These people are carrying members of the public and it is important to keep members of the public safe.

“We are the local authority and this is our responsibility, but we are keen to work with these people all the time, but some are not abiding by the rules.

“I haven’t received a negative comment from anyone since this points system was introduced, everyone has said how positive it is.”

http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/more-news/defect-rule-change-could-create-taxi-shortage-1-6441631
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BRADFORD x 2

EIGHTEEN taxi drivers have had their licences suspended after a joint crackdown by the police and Bradford Council. 

Chief Inspector Sarah Baker, of Bradford District police, said: “These checks were carried out to make sure that drivers were complying with the conditions of their licences and for safety reasons. 

“In total, 66 vehicles were stopped with 18 drivers suspended for breaching their conditions. 

“Police will continue to work in partnership with Bradford Council to make sure that private hire drivers comply with their terms and conditions and that the vehicles remain roadworthy.” 

Khurram Shehzad, chairman of the Bradford Private Hire Liaison Service, said he had concerns that some private hire drivers had been unfairly suspended for picking up customers who had not pre-booked. 

He said in a new tactic, enforcement officers had posed as customers, which he suggested could be seen as entrapment. 

Mr Shehzad said the drivers had made a genuine mistake when trying to find the customers who had booked them. 

A council spokesman said: “It’s illegal for private hire drivers to ply for trade and take fares without booking. . .

“There has been no change in the council’s approach to enforcement.” 

The operation ran from October 4 to October 31. 
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TAXI drivers are dodging the district's strict safety checks by exploiting a legal loophole.

And the problem is "out of control", according to the owner of one cab firm.

Some local cabbies are deliberately getting their licences from other local authorities rather than from Bradford Council.

This means Bradford's licensing enforcement officers, who often carry out spot safety checks on cabs, have no jurisdiction over these drivers.

It also means the cabbies can get lower motor insurance premiums, compared to Bradford's high prices, licensing bosses believe.

And other local authorities also have different standards for drivers' criminal records, vehicle safety and other licensing criteria such as whether cabbies have to sit knowledge tests.

Many drivers are getting their licenses from Rossendale Council in Lancashire, a rural area which has no upper limit on the number of hackney carriage licenses it will give out.

Stuart Hastings, the boss of private hire firm Metro Keighley, said he refused to take on drivers who had Rossendale licenses, but he estimated there were 30 to 40 Rossendale drivers in Keighley alone.

He said: "It is out of control."

Mr Hastings said there was a perception that the licensing regime was less strict in Rossendale than in Bradford.


Khurram Shehzad, the chairman of Bradford Private Hire Liaison Service, said he disapproved of the practice of using Rossendale licences.

But he said drivers were doing so out of frustration with Bradford's strict licensing rules.

He said: "I don't think it is a good idea, but the council is forcing drivers to go there, because they are so heavy-handed."

Licensing bosses first started spotting the Rossendale cabs around two years ago, and it is now believed that around 80 drivers in Bradford hold these licences.

But the practice is entirely legal - hackney carriages licensed for one area can lawfully operate as private hire cars anywhere else in the country.

Councillor Brian Morris (Ukip, Keighley West), a former taxi driver, said he was very worried that the safety of the public was being put at risk by a "stupid and ridiculous" law.

He said: "If a Rossendale taxi driver, or any other out-of-town taxi driver, comes and works in Keighley, how does the public know that the man sitting behind the wheel is the man who has actually got the licence? They don't.


http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/NEWS/11621152.Taxi_drivers_dodge_district_s_strict_safety_checks_by_exploiting_legal_loophole/?ref=rss
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Scotland.

Health chiefs pick up £3.5m transport bill

More than £3.5 million was spent by cash-strapped health chiefs on taxi fares and mileage claims last year.

NHS Lothian spent £849,376 – more than most health boards spent in six years – on cabs to ferry staff and patients about, as well as transporting equipment and medical documents such as X-rays and case notes.

A further £2.72m was doled out in mileage claims as bosses admit they are struggling to meet this year’s savings target of £39.4m, with a shortfall of £4m in the first six months.

Jean Turner, a former GP and the executive director of the Scotland Patients Association, said the money would be better spent lightening the load on overstretched staff.

She said: “When you think of all the staff or drugs that could be provided with that, it’s a waste. It would be better spent on frontline services rather than ferrying people and things from one place to another.

“They use taxis for carrying notes and even prescriptions, so the taxi bill is going to be high. If we’re looking to save money then I think it would be a good area to look at and see why we’re using them and if it’s really necessary.”

The 12-month taxi bill is more than four times the £198,675.80 spent between September 2009 to August 2010 and is more than NHS Fife, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Borders and NHS Western Isles each paid between 2007 and 2013.

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/health/health-chiefs-pick-up-3-5m-transport-bill-1-3614048

The leader of an Aberdeen cabbies group has called for the abolition of the city’s taxi licence waiting list.

Graeme McColl, chairman of the Aberdeen Taxi Group (ATG), said a proposal to raise the current limit by 30 would not go far enough towards meeting demand.

Mr McColl spoke out as members of Aberdeen City Council’s licensing committee prepared to discuss a report by CTS Traffic and Transportation, which lists several proposals.

An option to increase the number of licences from the current limit of 1,049 to 1,079 is reported to be the favoured suggestion.

However, Mr McColl said many of the 150 people currently on the waiting list for a taxi licence in Aberdeen were already private hire or rental car drivers applying to become “yellow plate” or “hackney” taxis – and that shifting them over would not lead to more drivers.

He added that another option proposed by CTS Traffic and Transportation – to completely remove the cap and allow everyone on the waiting list to be granted licenses – would be preferable.

Mr McColl said: “The 30 is not enough. There are two options being considered. One is to lift the limit completely.

“You can’t magic up the taxi drivers, it doesn’t actually matter if they lift the cap. There are not going to be more taxi drivers, these drivers are just going to have a hackney car and a hackney plate.

“Lifting the limit is a good thing but lifting by 30 is not. They should lift the cap by the amount on the waiting list at minimum and give all these people the opportunity or have a complete lift on the waiting list.”

CTS Traffic and Transportation was chosen by the council to research the demand for taxis in Aberdeen, particularly at weekends.

The organisation’s figures have shown the number of passengers has risen to 34,095 to 13,427 in the past three years.

George Street and Harbour councillor, Nathan Morrison, said: “If you go to get a taxi at the weekend you expect a wait of at least two hours. Allowing another 30 taxis shouldn’t be enough to have a serious impact on the existing drivers, but it’ll make a difference to people waiting.”

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/408802/lift-of-aberdeen-taxi-licence-waiting-list-needed-says-taxi-group-chairman/?

Rossendale Hackney working for Manchester PH Company injures Cyclist, incident caught on camera.

Station Cars the Company the Rossendale Hackney vehicle was working for claim there is no way they can identify the Driver. Perhaps the reason for that is most of their vehicles are registered in any area's other than the Didsbury location of the operator.

The Cyclist Dan is taking a private action for his considerable injuries. Good luck with that Dan. You will have no chance with the driver, he is not insured. I would suggest you take action against the operator.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/watch-cyclist-records-shocking-moment-8155244?

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/rideshare-app-targets-edinburgh-taxi-trade-1-3613169

REDRUTH TAXI COP

IT’S 1. am on a cold Friday morning in November and I’m travelling away from the Zone nightclub in Redruth in a police car.

Thankfully, I’m sober and in the front, next to neighbourhood beat officer Mark Pearce.

In reaction to an increase in illegal taxi drivers, we are checking cars and chatting to club-goers.

“Illegal taxi drivers are something to be concerned about,” PC Pearce said, “as you don’t know anything about the vehicle or the person driving it. With licensed drivers you have the assurance that they’re accountable to their employers and the council.
“We’ve had no reports of anything happening to passengers, but there’s always the potential, and we want to nip it in the bud before anything does.”

A former retail manager, PC Pearce joined the police relatively late in his career and says this additional life experience has served him well – evident in the ease with which he chats to tipsy revellers and legal drivers about the risks of illegal taxis.

“We’re just looking out for the safety of the public,” he said. “We aren’t targeting people who offer to buy their friends a drink or pay for their club entry in exchange for driving – which, if you’re going by the letter of the law, is giving a lift for reward. We’re looking out for those out to make a profit from operating an illegal service and potentially putting the public at risk.”

After giving advice to drinkers we approach licensed drivers to ask if they know of anyone operating illegal firms. They say a red estate car and a Transit van often drop groups of people off in the Tesco car park and near the Co-operative on School Lane.

Despite hours of searching we don’t spot either vehicle, but PC Pearce is undeterred: “We’ll keep going with operations like this, especially in the run-up to the festive season – and we’ll find the people operating the illegal firms.
  
http://www.westbriton.co.uk/West-Briton-reporter-hunts-illegal-taxi-drivers/story-24561711-detail/story.html?#ixzz3JjpAnhJ7 

A taxi driver and his three friends have been sentenced for a total of 68 years over the rape of a drunk passenger.

Tamseel Virk, 42, Najim U-Saeed, 31, Wakar Akhtar, 21, and Azad Raja, 38, were each handed 17 year jail terms for the 'despicable' attack on the vulnerable woman in Bradford, Yorkshire.

A judge heard how taxi driver Virk picked up the intoxicated victim after she had been out celebrating a friend's birthday in Leeds.

When she came round, she found Raja was having sex with her - while Akhtar told her he had already had sex with her. 

Virk, U-Saeed and Raja were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court. Akhtar was also sentenced but is currently on the run - and is believed to have fled the country after giving evidence, the court heard.

His Honour Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told the court that the victim had been enjoying herself earlier in the evening of May 25. But she ended up 'coming to her senses on a park bench in another city being raped'.

Describing the victim's experience as a nightmare, he told the three men in the dock: 'This was totally despicable, it was utterly callous, it was a degree of inhuman behaviour hard, even for one such as myself inured to evil, to understand.' 

During the two-week trial, in which the men denied conspiracy to rape, the court heard that the teacher had been drunk when she left the party without her bag and was seen at Leeds train station.

The judge said: 'On that day, as was her right, she enjoyed at the birthday party a number of drinks. That is part, gentlemen, of our culture.'

At some point she had got in a taxi to travel to wherever she was staying but had got out again in a confused state - possibly regarding getting her bag back.

It was then, the court heard, that Vick saw her and 'accosted her and secured her in the presence of the cab' according to the judge.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2844528/Taxi-driver-three-friends-sentenced-total-68-years-gang-rape-drunk-woman-passenger.html#ixzz3Jjhng6hd 

Nissan has suspended development of its new London black cab, because it won't meet standards for the planned Ultra-Low Emission Zone

Nissan's controversial design for a new black cab for London appears to be on hold and will remain so unless the proposed Ultra Low Emission Zone in London is not given the go ahead. The taxi design, which features a petrol engine, can't meet the tough vehicle emissions standards for central London that will be brought in if the emissions zone is signed off. 

The news comes as a blow for plans to replace the popular but ageing current black cab, and it appears that London Mayor Boris Johnson's own proposal to make all London taxis zero-emissions capable by 2018 is to blame. Nissan's design, based on its NV200 van-based MPV, is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT gearbox and the powertain can't be adapted meet the proposed emissions standards.

Although the Nissan taxi claims to offer considerably better fuel economy and emissions than the 32mpg and 233g/km of CO2 the current TX4 diesel black cab manages, it seems the firm would have to completely re-engineer the vehicle if the proposed zero-emission zones come into effect.

The proposals, drawn up by London Mayor Boris Johnson, include charging owners of old diesel cars up to £20 every time they drive into the capital. The Mayor also hopes to have 7,000 zero-emissions capable taxis on London streets by 2020.


 http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/nissan/nv200/89544/nissans-new-london-taxi-project-postponed#ixzz3JjY0dqoz

London Trade private prosecution of 4 Uber drivers, referred to the High Court.

http://www.courtnewsuk.co.uk/newsgallery/

Manchester research blows a whole through TfL press release.


http://taxileaks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/are-tfl-putting-private-hire-drivers.html

SAN FRANCISCO

The chaotic cabdriver protest that clogged traffic and stranded travelers at San Francisco International Airport on Monday night will likely not be the last battle in the war between traditional taxis and on-demand ride services like Uber and Lyft.

A recently organized coalition of San Francisco taxi drivers, pleased with the impact of the protest, vowed Tuesday to bring more disruption to SFO unless the airport director agrees to discuss their concerns that the ride services are being given an unfair advantage in serving the airport. 

“That’s just a sample that we showed them,” said Harbir Singh, a taxi driver and board member of the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance, which organized the protest. “We will do it again and again, every now and then. They have to listen to us.”

The protest was the latest skirmish in the ongoing fight between San Francisco’s much-maligned taxi industry and the technology-driven ride-service startups that use untrained drivers in personal cars and are summoned by smartphone apps. Taxi operators complain that the newcomers are barely regulated while the ride services argue that the cab industry was a monopoly in need of a shakeup.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-taxi-drivers-promise-a-repeat-of-airport-5902765.php#photo-7160431
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Is Uber the worst company in Silicon Valley? The taxi app company has proved to be one of the most aggressive of the new generation of tech startups – showing a willingness to take “disruption” to new heights. Governments, states, taxi drivers, tax authorities, rivals, even blind people – all have come up against Uber and lost.

On Monday, the company stepped it up a gear when it was revealed that at least one senior executive at Uber had considered a smear campaign against one journalist who has had the temerity to question the company’s ethics.

At a private dinner last week at Manhattan’s Waverly Inn, Uber’s senior vice-president of business, Emil Michael, suggested the company could spend “a million dollars” to hire “four top opposition researchers and four journalists” to “help Uber fight back against the press” by looking into personal lives of reporters who write unflattering stories about the company, BuzzFeed’s editor-in-chief Ben Smith reported. 

The meeting was part of a series of events apparently meant to be a “charm offensive” to woo the media. Among the attendees for at least one of the events were Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick, BuzzFeed’s Smith and Johana Bhuiyan, the actor Ed Norton, Arianna Huffington, and, reportedly, representatives of the New York Times, Business Insider, Capital New York and Newsweek. Smith was there as a guest of columnist Michael Wolff.

When somebody at the table at the dinner suggested the plan could be problematic for Uber, he allegedly replied: “Nobody would know it was us.” Well, they do now.

On Tuesday, Kalanick tweeted an apology to Lacy and said Michael’s comments “showed a lack of leadership, a lack of humanity, and a departure from our values and ideals.” He said, however, that “folks who makes mistakes can learn from them … and that also goes for Emil,” suggesting that Michael would be remaining with the company.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/18/uber-worst-company-silicon-valley

LONDON

Taxi Price War Escalates With New £5 Fare

The price war over London cab fares has escalated with a new £5 limit being introduced for Christmas by one black cab app.

GetTaxi will tomorrow launch the fare on all booked journeys of up to 10km starting in zones three to six, which could mean savings of up to 80% for passengers.

The move follows the growth of the Uber minicab app which cut its London prices by 15% and lowered its minimum fare in August.

GetTaxi's promotional fare will last until the new year, although it may be extended. The company's bosses have described the move as "revolutionary".

http://www.lbc.co.uk/taxi-price-war-escalates-with-new-5-fare-100583

Nissan NV200, the Taxi of Tomorrow.

The London trade are waiting for the arrival of this much trumpeted vehicle.

Look no further, one is already Licensed and working the streets of Manchester.

One slight snag though, it is registered in Copeland in the Lake District. The administrative centre of which is in Whitehaven, a mere 140 plus, miles away.

It is working in Manchester at a Harpurhey, down market, PH Company.

Manchester PH vehicles are supposed to be white or Silver, this is for Public protection. To pardon a Taxi pun, this vehicle drives a 'Coach and Horses' through the idea of public protection.

You cannot make some stories up.

BRIGHTON

A TAXI driver convicted of benefit fraud has been stripped of his taxi licence.

Khalil Kirollos, 55, from Hangleton, Hove, was given a suspended sentence in March over benefit fraud totalling more than £15,000.

Adur district councillors revoked his Adur Private Hire and Taxi Licence and now magistrates have upheld their decision.

A spokesman for Adur district council said magistrates thought “drivers must have a high standard of integrity” given the need to “protect the public”. 

Brighton and Hove City Council prosecuted him for the benefit fraud.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11607431._/?
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GLASGOW

Unsuspecting cabbie snaps suspect leaving car minutes after schoolgirl hit-and-run took place

JIM MURRAY thought he was just taking a photograph of the man's car after the driver crashed it into his taxi.

A MAN was arrested last night over the hit-and-run death of schoolgirl Sophie Brannan – hours after this picture emerged of a suspect.

Cabbie Jim Murray took the ­photograph after the suspect’s car crashed into his taxi.

Sophie, 11, was killed after the driver of a hire car mounted the pavement near her home in Maryhill, Glasgow.

Her friend Chelsea ­Sommerville, 10, and her uncle Joseph Lloyd, 36, were also hit in Friday’s crash on Sandbank Street.

Chelsea was being treated for a broken leg in Yorkhill Hospital yesterday. Joseph’s shoulder was fractured. He was released from the Western Infirmary on Sunday.

Jim yesterday told how he took a picture on his phone moments after the collision, which happened while he was working.

At that stage he knew nothing about Sophie’s crash, which had just happened close by.
Jim said: “The car just came round the corner and hit the side of my car.

“The car pulled over 200 metres away. At that point, I had no idea about what had happened.”

Jim, a taxi driver for 20 years, only found out about the fatal crash when he rang his bosses.

His five-month-old Ford S-Max taxi, which was left with thousands of pounds worth of damage, was taken by police for forensic ­examinations.           

Jim, 52, from Yoker, said: “I felt sick when I heard what had happened to the poor wee girl.”

Sophie, Chelsea and Joseph are believed to have been on the way to buy ice cream when they were hit in the street, about half a mile from Sophie’s front door.

The car then struck a fence and ­a ­tenement wall before it drove away on to Maryhill Road and then Lochburn Road, where it crashed into Jim’s taxi.
Police have been studying CCTV footage of the route the 
car took.

Sophie’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins yesterday examined flowers and gifts left at the scene.

Her mum Marie Maguire, dad Graham Brannan and brother Graham, 13, have been left devastated by the crash.

Sophie’s cousin John McGhee, 20, said: “My wee cousin is a hero, the best funniest wee cousin you can imagine.

“I’m heartbroken that she’s gone and there will never be a day goes by when I won’t be thinking about my wee cousin.

“No words can describe what our family is going through. Nobody will know what it’s like until they’ve lost somebody that age in their own family.”
-------------------------------------------------
Milton Keynes' Subhan Shafiq resigns over taxi rapist row

Subhan Shafiq resigned as mayor over the affair in August
A councillor who personally vouched for a taxi driver who had convictions for rape and sexual assault has resigned.

Subhan Shafiq, Liberal Democrat at Milton Keynes Council, resigned as mayor in August after Nadeem Ahmed Kiani gained a taxi licence in 2011.

A council report released earlier showed Mr Shafiq gave Kiani a "glowing" reference, despite admitting he had made "mistakes in the past".

In a resignation letter, Mr Shafiq apologised for any distress caused.

The authority revealed in August that Kiani, who had been a local taxi driver for three years, had raped and sexually abused prostitutes in London in 1994. He was jailed for eight years.

'Publicly apologise'
He had been vouched for by Mr Shafiq, who resigned as town mayor when the discovery was made. Licensing committee chairman Stuart Burke and deputy chairman Gladstone McKenzie also stepped down.

Afterwards it was discovered seven other drivers in the city also had criminal convictions.

But a further investigation revealed that councillors knew of Kiani's previous convictions, but they were swayed by the character reference provided by Mr Shafiq.

It said Mr Shafiq, who had known Kiani since childhood, told councillors: "He was a solid member of the mosque, prays every day, he has a wife and children, he made mistakes in the past and wants to move forward."

He later denied any knowledge of his criminal convictions.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-30084620?

Licensed Sex Attackers.

I have had an inquiry from a regular reader and contributor to this site.

He notices that I press the idea that girl's should be careful and only use Black Cabs to get home, I stress that 'Bogus' minicabs are waiting to pick them up.

However as he points out, most of the post's nowadays are relating to Licensed driver's that are committing the attacks.

With that thought in mind I have decided to collate a database along the lines of press reports, where the attacker appears to be a licensed driver.

I list some examples and ask that if you wish to help send any links you may find to the Email addy I enclose below, I will then add them to the list.

acnedriver@gmail.com
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Walsall

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/11/17/taxi-driver-repeatedly-groped-passenger-court-hears/?

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Liverpool

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/

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Kent

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/jail-for-taxi-driver-david-james-26021/

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Nottingham

http://www.nottinghampost.com/Music-star-cabbie-jailed-sex-attack/story-23652101-detail/story.html

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Sheffield

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/sheffield-crack-addict-taxi-driver-jailed-for-sex-attacks-1-4847071

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Devon

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Sex-attack-cab-driver-left-victim-paralysed-fear/story-22059953-detail/story.html

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Hereford

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-20716827

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Glasgow.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/u/sex-attack-cab-driver-is-jailed-for-18-months-after-dna-link-helps-cops-catch-him.1393341045

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Dundee

http://news.stv.tv/tayside/110604-taxi-driver-sexually-assaulted-teenage-passenger-as-he-drove-her-home/

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Bolton

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/1707160.Taxi_driver_jailed_for_sex_attack/

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Norfolk

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/police_appeal_to_taxi_driver_after_sex_attack_in_barford_near_norwich_1_854505

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Accrington

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/hyndburn/9063597.Accrington_taxi_driver_on_rape_charge/

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Newcastle

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-taxi-drivers-barred-sex-1397244

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Dublin

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/meath-taxi-driver-jailed-for-sexual-assault-on-passenger-623601.html

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Birmingham

http://muslimrapewave.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/muslim-taxi-driver-charged-with-killing-white-passenger-and-hiding-her-body-so-his-community-didnt-find-out-they-had-sex/

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WALSALL

Karnail Virk picked up his victim in the early hours of the morning and asked her to sit in the front of his cab and hold his sat nav, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

But during the journey from Walsall the woman's home in Brierley Hill, the 41-year-old repeatedly tried to make physical contact.

Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said: "Virk initially tried to hold her hand and then stroked her right thigh on five occasions. He told her she was a nice girl and that he wanted to take her to dinner.

"After she paid her fare he pulled her towards him and hugged her. She couldn't pull away. He tried to kiss her again and she told him to stop."

He added that he then groped his victim through her coat.

The court was told the woman broke free from Virk's grip and fled into her house from where she telephoned the police.

"The incident has had a significant impact on her life," added Mr Searle.

The court heard Virk's private hire licence was withdrawn as soon as his employers found out her had been charged with sexual assault.

Ms Lynette McClement, defending, said: "He has now lost his livelihood and works for a pizza company. He is clearly someone who misjudges social situations and he has stepped way over the boundaries of what is acceptable."

Virk, of Bescot Crescent, Walsall, admitted sexual assault.

Sentencing him to a three-year community order with supervision, Judge Martin Walsh said: "Anybody, particularly young women who seek to be driven home in private hire vehicles need to feel safe.

"Predatory behaviour of this sort is completely unacceptable. If I was to send you to prison immediately you would not be able to complete a sex offenders' rehabilitation programme.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that if you breach the order it is likely you will receive an immediate term in prison."

Virk was also ordered to complete a sex offenders' rehabilitation programme and was placed on the sex offenders' register for five years following the incident in September.


http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/11/17/taxi-driver-repeatedly-groped-passenger-court-hears/?
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TYNESIDE

A company with a conscience has gone more than the extra mile in a display of outstanding customer service.

Northumberland holidaymaker Hazel Lindley returned from a holiday in Holland with a souvenir windmill.

However, ahead of her taxi ride home, the driver inadvertently placed something heavy on top of the ornament, and it broke.

But in an amazing display of customer service, the taxi firm sent the driver all the way to Holland and back for the sole purpose of getting Ms Lindley a replacement.

The grateful holidaymaker said the company had “made her day”.

Hazel, who lives at Felton, near Morpeth, travelled to Amsterdam for a short break, picking up the quirky wooden souvenir while there.

On arriving back in the North East, she booked a ride home with Tyneside based EastCoast Taxis.

But when the driver was packing her belongings into the car, he crushed the bag containing the windmill leaving it ruined, Hazel upset, and the driver embarrassed and apologetic.

When Tyneside based EastCoast Taxis’ managing director Paul Irwin heard about what had happened, he decided to put things right.

“With more than 200 taxis on the road carrying 70,000 passengers every week, we do expect the odd mishap, but at EastCoast, we like to look after our customers.

“We know that the souvenir windmill wasn’t expensive, but the fact is Hazel couldn’t get a replacement anywhere other than Amsterdam and that was the challenge.”

Paul sent the driver, Kevin Gregg, on a 48-hour mercy mission across the North Sea to locate a replacement wooden windmill.

This he managed to secure from the famous Bloemenmarkt, Dutch for flower market, in the heart of Amsterdam.

“I was delighted to find the windmill stall and bring a replacement back to the customer,” said Kevin. “I was devastated about the original and when Paul asked me to go to Amsterdam to find a replacement, I didn’t hesitate. It’s the most unusual taxi request I’ve ever had.”

The new windmill was presented to Hazel after being carefully wrapped up in protective bubble wrap for the long journey home.

“They really made my day,” she said. “I couldn’t believe the level of customer service they have shown. I’m sure other firms would simply have apologised and left it at that.”

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/tyneside-taxi-driver-brings-back-8118294?

Manchester PH vehicle seized on Motorway in Stafford this morning around 8.30 a.m.

It was stopped for having no insurance, but evidence of Drugs was found. At this stage we do not know if the vehicle was carrying drugs or the driver was under the influence. I have asked @cmpg for the registration number of the vehicle involved, BUT, that may not be forthcoming, for Data protection reasons.

It has been of some concern that in Manchester, you can be issued a Proprietors Licence on production of a 1 week cover note. No further checks are made until you next present the vehicle for inspection. THAT CANNOT BE RIGHT.

The better PH Companies, Radio Cars and Cresta Cars continually update vehicle Insurances. If your cover is ABOUT to run out, you are knocked off the air, until a fresh document is lodged in the office.

MCR Blackcabs were the first Hackney Company to asked for Insurance Doc's before you are given any work. That is the first time I have been asked for my insurance doc's and I had a 29 year association with Mantax.

To be fair to Mantax, the new management have copied MCR and ask for Documents to be lodged now.

This photo and information will be passed to several Cllr's today. I see no point in involving the Compliance Unit, I do not want to interrupt their game of cards.

Thanks to Henry for the notification, it is to our shame that my most usefully contributor is a Post Grad student.

Eire.

There are few companies that have built up as much goodwill as Hailo. Since it arrived on the scene back in 2012, it has been quickly adopted by the country and has expanded to almost all of Ireland.

But while its focus has been mainly on individuals, the taxi company now setting its sights on both businesses and the hospitality industry.

For the latter, the company is currently testing out a new service called Hailo Hub, a web service designed for the hospitality industry. It allows these services to book taxis for their guests, who provide their name and number and receive notifications through SMS making it accessible for non-smartphone users.

Currently, Hailo is trialing the service with a number of businesses in Dublin, but this new focus doesn’t mean it’s neglecting either individual consumers or businesses, according to the company’s general manager for Ireland, Tim Arnold.

Rather than moving away [from individuals], we’re broadening our focus to include businesses and the hospitality industry. We’ve got a business product for companies who want to give Hailo access to all their employees than separately, we’ve got this solution [Hailo Hub] for the hospitality industry and of course, our regular retail customers. We’re still targeting them as well.”

In recent times, the company has been busy adding new features to its service. Alongside Hailo Hub, it incorporated iBeacon, Apple’s Bluetooth-powered location service which allows later iPhones and Android devices to recognise if you’re in a Hailo taxi, to allow those with the app to jump into a taxi and still pay through the app, as well as a redesign of the core apps.

The other areas it’s improved is its business offerings, mainly providing one central account for companies for employees traveling for work purposes, as well as giving the app a cleaner design.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing though. It recently did hit a setback when it announced it was pulling out of North America recently (and its co-founder and co-CEO Jay Bregman left to focus his attention on drones) but its focus is on Europe and Asia as according to Arnold, “they’re the markets where our model is working” (it recently launched in Singapore).

Scaling in Ireland hasn’t been as difficult, it being the first service of its kind to arrive here certainly helped matters, but its quick expansion meant it became the first country to see almost nationwide coverage which gave it a major advantage.

"What’s interesting is in Ireland, it’s easy to expand as there’s one taxi regulator so all of the regulations, they’re all the same and [usually] it’s a challenge for our driver team to build up those drivers in each market that we go into… now that we’ve got coverage all over the country, and we’ve users all over the country, you find that if you use Hailo in Dublin and you go elsewhere, the first thing you’re going to do is to try Hailo. It encourages more taxi use which is great for taxi drivers across Ireland."

While it’s widespread, Arnold puts their success here down to the overall service it provides. By taking care of the drivers, that feel good factor filters down to customers and keeps everyone happy.

“Our model is the most efficient and economical way for drivers to find customers,” says Arnold. “And when you’ve got happy drivers who provide a great service, you have happy customers.”

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/why-next-step-hailo-involves-those-without-smartphones-070549096.html