Kirkby taxi driver denies buying information from Merseyside police officer
Robert Gerrard Sloan accused of getting information from ex PC Barry Parkinson as part of plot to burgle cannabis farms
A taxi driver has denied buying sensitive information from a Merseyside police officer in a plot to burgle cannabis farms.
Prosecutors say Robert Gerrard Sloan, 44, was a “major” cocaine dealer who used information provided by ex-PC Barry Parkinson, 45, to keep “one step ahead”
They also allege that Parkinson passed Sloan the addresses of suspected cannabis farms as part of a conspiracy to break in and steal the drugs.
The pair deny conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to supply cannabis between January 1 and June 27, 2014.
Parkinson, of Beechburn Crescent, Page Moss , also denies a charge of misconduct in a public office.
He has admitted two further counts of this offence, which Sloan, of Steeple View, Kirkby , admits aiding and abetting.
Sloan told Liverpool Crown Court today he had no dealings with cannabis and had not “dealt cocaine by the kilo” as claimed by the prosecution.
But he admitted “I’ve been using steroids on and off all my life” and said he supplied them and growth hormone to friends and family.
Sloan said he once got a call about a £50 bag of cocaine while working as a taxi driver to pass onto a friend - but had nothing else to do with the drug.
The court heard the dad-of-six, who has three grandchildren, grew up in Liverpool but moved to London, where he worked as security for the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed’s family and the 80s pop duo Pepsi & Shirlie.
Under questioning by Charles Lander, defending, the ex-amateur boxer said he returned to Merseyside to work as a doorman and went into the debt recovery business.
Parkinson previously told the jury that Sloan revealed he wanted a better life and to work as a taxi driver instead .
He admitted creating a police report saying that Sloan had been arrested for money laundering, which he said was to help his friend who had people chasing him for debts.
However, Sloan denied having any debts to people outside the city or owing money to “big time drug people”.
He said: “It was just to have any easy life and to get out of doing favours and jobs and the line of work I was in.”
Sloan said there was no truth in a police intelligence report suggesting that a man called Stuart O’Leary was dealing cocaine on behalf of him from his taxi.
He said: “Barry has known me long enough. He would know I’m not selling kilos of cocaine.”
Sloan said he and Parkinson - nicknamed “Barry the Bizzie” - would often text and call each other to chat about football and betting tips, but never discussed cannabis farms.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/kirkby-taxi-driver-denies-buying-10363205
Friday, 30 October 2015
Friday, 23 October 2015
The passenger must remain at the centre of the debate on the future of the private hire industry. In my Lords’ debate this week I raised the issues the industry now faces. The future of the taxi and private hire industry is dominated by the IT revolution. Having a smart phone in your pocket has completely changed how use public transport making it easier, more flexible and more convenient for passengers.
Despite these rapid changes (or perhaps because of them) the laws relating to taxis and private hire are very outdated. Pre-booking a private hire car used to be a slow process yet recent development of apps, by such companies as Addison Lee and Uber, now mean that a car appears quickly and a fixed fare is quoted, regardless of any congestion that may be encountered. Payment is made with a mobile, often automatically, with no money directly changing hands.
However, the Black Cab trade, which is an iconic symbol of London, with all its regulations, checks, and rules, is suffering. The number of private hire cars applying to operate in London is rising steeply. There is a danger in the present condition there might be a “race to the bottom” with the Black Cab and those allied to the more ‘formal’ end of the private hire market being driven (excuse the pun) from the business. It is a situation faced by other businesses; the book trade has seen Amazon driving many small book shops out of business, and iTunes has created similar changes in the music industry.
Black Cabs are expensive to buy, have to meet tight, and possibly outdated, specifications including such things as a light turning circle and full wheelchair accessibility and drivers must pass a stringent knowledge test which takes a long time to acquire. The cabs must be clean and mechanically in good condition. Black Cab drivers have to pass a criminal records check and must be able to speak English. In return for this Black Taxis have the right to ply for hire and respond to hailing in the street.
Uber, who face much less stringent regulation, are expanding to several cities outside London. The same pressures faced in our capital will become evident elsewhere both on licensed taxis and private hire vehicles.
There is a long list of issues which must still be clarified. These include insurance, the degree of English spoken so that driver and passenger can understand one another, vehicle maintenance, what provision is made for the disabled, whether the vehicle pays the congestion charge, and the vexed question of enforcement. And, no less importantly, the tax paid by operators and drivers has also to be calculated.
There is no doubt the Black Cab trade needs to review its practices and bring them up to date to put them in a position where they can compete. It is equally clear that the private hire market, including Uber, need to listen to the issues being raised. Improvements to how the industry is regulated will lead to a better protection, service and care for passengers and ultimately, no matter the influence of technology, it is the customer who comes first.
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Liverpool man died after being run over by black cab 'that would have failed MOT'
A man died in Liverpool after being run over by a black cab later found to be not fit for the road, an inquest heard.
John McShane, 49, was knocked down by the Hackney cab in St Anne Street in the early hours of April 9 this year .
He suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Royal Liverpool Hospital , where he sadly died.
Liverpool Coroner’s Court heard that Asad Shahzad’s cab was later called into question after a mechanical examination revealed it would not pass its MOT.
The vehicle had power steering and brake faults.
But police told coroner Anita Bhardwaj that it was impossible to say whether the cab defects contributed to Mr McShane’s death, partly because of a lack of witnesses.
The inquest heard Mr Shahzad, was not under the influence and appeared to be driving within the speed limit of 30mph.
Mr Shahzad had a passenger in the back but he was apparently drunk and did not want to give evidence.
In a statement to the police, Mr Shahzad said: “I was looking straight ahead. The man fell in front of the cab - he came out of nowhere.”
On the day of the tragedy, Mr McShane had been with his brother, Joseph, and had been drinking with him since the late afternoon.
They then went back to watch the football at Joseph’s flat, where it was suggested that Mr McShane stay the night.
Joseph last saw his brother at about 11pm on April 8.
CCTV footage in court showed a car - Mr Shahzad’s taxi - driving along St Anne Street and applying emergency brakes.
It also showed a car in the distance, which put on high beam lights for nearly ten seconds before driving off.
Appeals to the driver of the car have been unsuccessful. Mr McShane was not visible in the footage.
Giving a verdict of accidental death, Ms Bhardwaj told the family: “I know that we have not been able to answer all of your questions.
“This is because it’s not known the direction John was travelling or where John was positioned at the time of the crash.
“There is also no evidence that the taxi defects contributed to the collision.
“John had consumed alcohol and cocaine but it is unclear how this affected him and if it contributed to the collision.”
http://bit.ly/1MHKMF9
-------------------------------------------
A Londoner woke up on the weekend to discover his Uber profile had been hacked and his bank account emptied.
Neil Thomas, 35, from Ladbroke Grove, was billed just over £2700 for four journeys he never made.
He's adamant no one else had access to his phone, which was by his bedside all night, and is protected by a six digit pass code and touch ID fingerprint recognition.
Musician Neil noticed payments for £5, £756.03, £1395.89 and £551.97 had left his account overnight when he checked his bank statement on Saturday morning.
“I contacted Nationwide and was told Uber had made a number of withdrawals from my account,” Neil told us.
“I’m a struggling musician with very little money at the best of times and it crippled me.”
When he contacted Uber to find out how his account had been hacked, Neil was given a cyber security lecture.
They advised him not to use the same passwords and email addresses across different platforms.
Worryingly, they also told him: “instances like this aren’t always preventable.”
As an apology, they offered Neil £12.95 off his next Uber – over two pounds less than new customers get just for signing up!
“They gave me the usual line of ‘we take your security very seriously’,” Neil told us.
“But I want to know how somebody can go into your account and take your money.
“I’m disappointed Uber doesn’t have any safeguards against this – it’s obvious that a fare of £1,395 is suspicious.
“Offering me £12.95 was just insulting.”
It’s not the first time doubts have been cast over the Uber app’s security.
Earlier this year thousands of customers, including TV presenter Anthea Turner, also claimed they were charged for trips they did not make.
Whilst Uber have refunded Neil, he has no way of withdrawing money because the hack prompted Nationwide to cancel his debit card.
“I’ve had to cancel events as I can’t get there or pay entry so it’s been a major inconvenience,” Neil explained.
We contacted Uber to ask them to explain how Neil’s account was hacked and how other users can stay safe.
Here’s what they told us:
“Someone would have got access to his password and logged into his account.”
When we asked them how users can stay safe, they repeated the line they have Neil:
“Our advice to Uber customers would be - don’t use the same username and password on all your online accounts.”
Not satisfied with this response, Neil has brought his complaint to A Spokesman Said to raise awareness.
“There has been no contrition and no effort towards meaningful compensation for crippling me financially for a week.”
https://goo.gl/ZCrs0m
A man died in Liverpool after being run over by a black cab later found to be not fit for the road, an inquest heard.
John McShane, 49, was knocked down by the Hackney cab in St Anne Street in the early hours of April 9 this year .
He suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Royal Liverpool Hospital , where he sadly died.
Liverpool Coroner’s Court heard that Asad Shahzad’s cab was later called into question after a mechanical examination revealed it would not pass its MOT.
The vehicle had power steering and brake faults.
But police told coroner Anita Bhardwaj that it was impossible to say whether the cab defects contributed to Mr McShane’s death, partly because of a lack of witnesses.
The inquest heard Mr Shahzad, was not under the influence and appeared to be driving within the speed limit of 30mph.
Mr Shahzad had a passenger in the back but he was apparently drunk and did not want to give evidence.
In a statement to the police, Mr Shahzad said: “I was looking straight ahead. The man fell in front of the cab - he came out of nowhere.”
On the day of the tragedy, Mr McShane had been with his brother, Joseph, and had been drinking with him since the late afternoon.
They then went back to watch the football at Joseph’s flat, where it was suggested that Mr McShane stay the night.
Joseph last saw his brother at about 11pm on April 8.
CCTV footage in court showed a car - Mr Shahzad’s taxi - driving along St Anne Street and applying emergency brakes.
It also showed a car in the distance, which put on high beam lights for nearly ten seconds before driving off.
Appeals to the driver of the car have been unsuccessful. Mr McShane was not visible in the footage.
Giving a verdict of accidental death, Ms Bhardwaj told the family: “I know that we have not been able to answer all of your questions.
“This is because it’s not known the direction John was travelling or where John was positioned at the time of the crash.
“There is also no evidence that the taxi defects contributed to the collision.
“John had consumed alcohol and cocaine but it is unclear how this affected him and if it contributed to the collision.”
http://bit.ly/1MHKMF9
-------------------------------------------
A Londoner woke up on the weekend to discover his Uber profile had been hacked and his bank account emptied.
Neil Thomas, 35, from Ladbroke Grove, was billed just over £2700 for four journeys he never made.
He's adamant no one else had access to his phone, which was by his bedside all night, and is protected by a six digit pass code and touch ID fingerprint recognition.
Musician Neil noticed payments for £5, £756.03, £1395.89 and £551.97 had left his account overnight when he checked his bank statement on Saturday morning.
“I contacted Nationwide and was told Uber had made a number of withdrawals from my account,” Neil told us.
“I’m a struggling musician with very little money at the best of times and it crippled me.”
When he contacted Uber to find out how his account had been hacked, Neil was given a cyber security lecture.
They advised him not to use the same passwords and email addresses across different platforms.
Worryingly, they also told him: “instances like this aren’t always preventable.”
As an apology, they offered Neil £12.95 off his next Uber – over two pounds less than new customers get just for signing up!
“They gave me the usual line of ‘we take your security very seriously’,” Neil told us.
“But I want to know how somebody can go into your account and take your money.
“I’m disappointed Uber doesn’t have any safeguards against this – it’s obvious that a fare of £1,395 is suspicious.
“Offering me £12.95 was just insulting.”
It’s not the first time doubts have been cast over the Uber app’s security.
Earlier this year thousands of customers, including TV presenter Anthea Turner, also claimed they were charged for trips they did not make.
Whilst Uber have refunded Neil, he has no way of withdrawing money because the hack prompted Nationwide to cancel his debit card.
“I’ve had to cancel events as I can’t get there or pay entry so it’s been a major inconvenience,” Neil explained.
We contacted Uber to ask them to explain how Neil’s account was hacked and how other users can stay safe.
Here’s what they told us:
“Someone would have got access to his password and logged into his account.”
When we asked them how users can stay safe, they repeated the line they have Neil:
“Our advice to Uber customers would be - don’t use the same username and password on all your online accounts.”
Not satisfied with this response, Neil has brought his complaint to A Spokesman Said to raise awareness.
“There has been no contrition and no effort towards meaningful compensation for crippling me financially for a week.”
https://goo.gl/ZCrs0m
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
LORDS DEBATE 20 October
LORD CALLANAN...20 October 2015.
The supply of taxis in most cities in the UK has been artificially restricted for years. I have long believed that the ridiculous distinction between private hire and hackney carriages is outdated and out of time. Those differences, in my view, should be abolished. Indeed, as my noble friend Lord Borwick pointed out, that is effectively being done by new technology. So long as they are appropriately licensed, insured and with a safe vehicle, let all who want to do so operate a service in a safe manner, whether by an app, hailing in the street, telephone or any other means that they want to use to operate that service.
Needless to say, it should come as no surprise to us that the incumbent operators are resistant to change in the market. That is understandable: typists were opposed to word processors and typesetters were against desktop publishing software. They failed in the end—you cannot resist the march of technology. Surely, in here of all places, we should be on the side of consumers rather than of producers. Consumers are demonstrating in their millions that this is a service they want and require and, frankly, they will use it irrespective of what we choose to do in this place.
That is the essence of consumer choice. Let us not restrict one market mechanism in favour of another; let us deregulate.
http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/ca191421-849b-45ab-9cfc-4ccded7682de?in=19:55:00&out=22:40:00
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2015-10-20a.638.0
LORD CALLANAN...20 October 2015.
The supply of taxis in most cities in the UK has been artificially restricted for years. I have long believed that the ridiculous distinction between private hire and hackney carriages is outdated and out of time. Those differences, in my view, should be abolished. Indeed, as my noble friend Lord Borwick pointed out, that is effectively being done by new technology. So long as they are appropriately licensed, insured and with a safe vehicle, let all who want to do so operate a service in a safe manner, whether by an app, hailing in the street, telephone or any other means that they want to use to operate that service.
Needless to say, it should come as no surprise to us that the incumbent operators are resistant to change in the market. That is understandable: typists were opposed to word processors and typesetters were against desktop publishing software. They failed in the end—you cannot resist the march of technology. Surely, in here of all places, we should be on the side of consumers rather than of producers. Consumers are demonstrating in their millions that this is a service they want and require and, frankly, they will use it irrespective of what we choose to do in this place.
That is the essence of consumer choice. Let us not restrict one market mechanism in favour of another; let us deregulate.
http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/ca191421-849b-45ab-9cfc-4ccded7682de?in=19:55:00&out=22:40:00
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2015-10-20a.638.0
New London taxi unveiled by Geely
London Taxi Company of Coventry has revealed the all-new TX5 cab it hopes will capture a major slice of the London taxi market, and carve itself a much larger international export business when it hits the market in 2017.
The unveiling is timed to coincide with a UK meeting today between David Cameron and the Chinese premier, Xi Jinping, who will be first to see the all-new design in the flesh.
Engineered from the ground up on a new plug-in hybrid platform - to give the zero-emissions performance required of all new cabs in London from 2018 - the new LTC design is part of a £250m effort by its new owner, Chinese manufacturer Geely, to revitalise the venerable Coventry-based firm. Li Shufu, Geely's chairman, will also be on hand for the new taxi's debut.
The recent expenditure includes £50m to build an all-new factory that will make at least 36,000 cars a year and will eventually build up to seven different electric vehicles based on the same architecture, an all-aluminium spaceframe clad with composite panels. The current London demand for cabs is only about 3500 units a year.
Geely has so far given no details of the new TX5's mechanical layout beyond the fact that it is a hybrid that uses a nose-mounted four-cylinder petrol engine as a key component, but can run for an extended period entirely on battery power. It obeys all the well-known London taxi requirements for wheelchair access, luggage capacity beside the driver, a tiny turning circle and face-to-face passenger seating (for six people, not five).
"It is little taller and a little longer than its ancestors", says Geely group design boss Peter Horbury, who oversaw the project. "But it's no wider; taxi drivers we talked to told us that was important."
The new taxi was styled at Geely's (formerly Volvo's) design studio in central Barcelona, run by David Ancona, using a mechanical package created at LTC in Coventry. Ancona describes the task of replacing "the only singular taxi in the world" as a deceptively simple brief that gets harder the more you work at it.
Using design influences from the FX4 from 1958, which Ancona and Horbury believe has a greater authenticity than later designs, Geely's designers produced many iterations and two complete designs before they were satisfied, discarding their first major proposal because they felt it lacked gravitas.
"Our first car did the job, re-interpreting things like the vertical grille, the haunches, the bustle-back and the forward opening passenger doors," says Horbury, "but it was a bit too cute. A London cab has to fit effortlessly into the modern scene; to have an air of authority and trustworthiness. We're confident we have that now."
London Taxi Company of Coventry has revealed the all-new TX5 cab it hopes will capture a major slice of the London taxi market, and carve itself a much larger international export business when it hits the market in 2017.
The unveiling is timed to coincide with a UK meeting today between David Cameron and the Chinese premier, Xi Jinping, who will be first to see the all-new design in the flesh.
Engineered from the ground up on a new plug-in hybrid platform - to give the zero-emissions performance required of all new cabs in London from 2018 - the new LTC design is part of a £250m effort by its new owner, Chinese manufacturer Geely, to revitalise the venerable Coventry-based firm. Li Shufu, Geely's chairman, will also be on hand for the new taxi's debut.
The recent expenditure includes £50m to build an all-new factory that will make at least 36,000 cars a year and will eventually build up to seven different electric vehicles based on the same architecture, an all-aluminium spaceframe clad with composite panels. The current London demand for cabs is only about 3500 units a year.
Geely has so far given no details of the new TX5's mechanical layout beyond the fact that it is a hybrid that uses a nose-mounted four-cylinder petrol engine as a key component, but can run for an extended period entirely on battery power. It obeys all the well-known London taxi requirements for wheelchair access, luggage capacity beside the driver, a tiny turning circle and face-to-face passenger seating (for six people, not five).
"It is little taller and a little longer than its ancestors", says Geely group design boss Peter Horbury, who oversaw the project. "But it's no wider; taxi drivers we talked to told us that was important."
The new taxi was styled at Geely's (formerly Volvo's) design studio in central Barcelona, run by David Ancona, using a mechanical package created at LTC in Coventry. Ancona describes the task of replacing "the only singular taxi in the world" as a deceptively simple brief that gets harder the more you work at it.
Using design influences from the FX4 from 1958, which Ancona and Horbury believe has a greater authenticity than later designs, Geely's designers produced many iterations and two complete designs before they were satisfied, discarding their first major proposal because they felt it lacked gravitas.
"Our first car did the job, re-interpreting things like the vertical grille, the haunches, the bustle-back and the forward opening passenger doors," says Horbury, "but it was a bit too cute. A London cab has to fit effortlessly into the modern scene; to have an air of authority and trustworthiness. We're confident we have that now."
Monday, 19 October 2015
SOUTH DERBYSHIRE
An unlicensed taxi driver drove a severely disabled and wheelchair-bound teenager to school while high on cocaine and cannabis, a court has heard.
Peter McKay, of West Bridgford, was followed by an off-duty police officer who saw him hit kerbs and swerve into the path of oncoming traffic while carrying the 17-year-old, who has cerebral palsy.
The 27-year-old, who represented himself at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court, said he felt "embarrassed" by what he had done and knew he was "lucky" that no-one was killed or seriously injured.
McKay claimed he did not realise his taxi licence had expired and believed the drugs, which he took the day before, would not be in his system.
http://goo.gl/wv5i8o
An unlicensed taxi driver drove a severely disabled and wheelchair-bound teenager to school while high on cocaine and cannabis, a court has heard.
Peter McKay, of West Bridgford, was followed by an off-duty police officer who saw him hit kerbs and swerve into the path of oncoming traffic while carrying the 17-year-old, who has cerebral palsy.
The 27-year-old, who represented himself at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court, said he felt "embarrassed" by what he had done and knew he was "lucky" that no-one was killed or seriously injured.
McKay claimed he did not realise his taxi licence had expired and believed the drugs, which he took the day before, would not be in his system.
http://goo.gl/wv5i8o
Boris Johnson, mayor of London, said the state has a duty to protect black cabbies in their war against the taxi-hailing app Uber because they "have been told that they, and they alone, will be able to ply for hire on the streets".
Uber drivers, of which there are more than 15,000 in London, have private hire licences and are classed as minicabs. The city's 22,500 black cab drivers have taxi licences and are regulated more heavily. They must stick to strict rules on their vehicles, which govern things such as emissions and disability access.
But they are also given privileges, such as the exclusive use of taximeters, because they have taken "The Knowledge", which tests comprehensively a diver's understanding of the city's roads and routes. So black cab drivers were furious after the High Court ruled that the Uber app does not breach taximeter rules because it does not itself calculate fares. The app sends data to Uber servers in the US, where the fare is then calculated based on journey time and distance travelled.
"The fundamental distinction between a black cab and a minicab [...] has been obliterated by technology," Johnson said at the CityLab conference in central London, where he was joined by the former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"It's unfair on the black cabs who have consecrated their lives to the study of routes and who have special vehicles and who in return for that very great expenditure they have made on their vehicles have been told that they, and they alone, will be able to ply for hire on the streets.
"So the question is how to strike a balance which respects what's happened to the cab drivers and try to help them where you can, but also reflects the fact that technology is out there. It's changed. You can't put the genie back in the bottle. People want Uber and there are more than a million users of Uber here in London.
"Since the days of Oliver Cromwell, the black Hackney carriage trade had been regulated and governed by the state. Now if the state is going to do that to these people then they've got a duty I think to try and manage [the change]."
Johnson also said there were congestion problems to think about. He blamed Uber for a sharp rise in the number of minicabs entering central London's congestion zone. The mayor, who is also an MP after being elected at the 2015 general election, said two years ago just one in 100 vehicles in the congestion zone was a minicab – now it is one in ten.
Bloomberg challenged Johnson, arguing that Uber was simply meeting demand and that they may well be displacing other vehicles. The billionaire founder of the Bloomberg empire said the taxi industry should be opened up to market forces and competition to the benefit of consumers.
He also suggested the Uber technology is beneficial to cab drivers because it allows them to rate their clients. "So when you go on Uber and hit the 'get me a car' button, Uber drivers in the neighbourhood see whether you are a good client or a bad client, and they rush to take very good clients," Bloomberg said. "All of a sudden, if you're an asshole you're not going to get a cab."
Despite overcoming the High Court challenge, Uber is facing a new threat from Transport for London, which governs the city's minicab system. TfL is consulting on a number of measures that would crack down on Uber, including forcing its drivers to wait at least five minutes before picking up a fare – the current average is three minutes – and forcing them to take bookings up to seven days in advance. Uber does not offer an existing pre-booking service.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/boris-johnson-uber-city-hall-132922966.html#t5OC5rT
----------------------------------------
MIDDLESBORO
A TAXI driver who may have information about the attempted rape of a woman in Middlesbrough is being asked to come forward by police.
The woman was attacked on Whitfield Avenue, Middlesbrough, after being approached by a man close to the Royal Cars taxi rank on Marton Road, at around 4am on Sunday, October 4.
The suspect approached her near the rank and they both walked from Park Vale Road on to Angle Street and then on to Whitfield Avenue, where the attempted rape took place.
The woman was left with minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment.
Detectives from Cleveland Police want to trace the driver of a black and yellow taxi which collected the victim after the offence, between the old White Rose pub and St Joseph’s Church at the junction of Marton Road and Park Road South.
The driver is described as an Asian male in his early 30s, of medium build with bald or shaven hair. Police say he may be able to help with inquiries.
Detectives are also hoping to trace another potential witness, a man who was standing close to the Royal Cars taxi rank when the victim was approached by the subject.
They said he could have “vital information” which could help officers.
He is described as a white male, aged in his late forties to early fifties, of medium build with a ‘short back and sides’ hairstyle and wearing blue jeans and a red top.
It is believed that two cyclists were also in the area of Marton Road near to the junction with Southfield Road around the time of the incident. A 46-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and he has been bailed pending further enquiries.
http://goo.gl/iFj6cE
----------------------------------------
CORK
A taxi driver was convicted of punching a female passenger in the jaw as the judge dismissed his allegations that he had been racially abused.
Charles Ibebugwu, aged 40, of 24 Coolmore Gardens, Shanbally, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, was ordered to do 200 hours or community service instead of three months in prison for assaulting Cathy Brogan on May 31 2014.
Judge Olann Kelleher said that when Garda Aisling Murphy and Sergeant Pat Lingane arrived at the scene, there was no complaint by Ibebugwu of having been racially abused. Such an allegation was not made until he subsequently gave a statement and again in court.
Ibebugwu did not have his shirt torn when gardaà met him at the scene. However, before they left, the front of his t-shirt was torn. Inspector Eileen Foster suggested he had torn it himself. The defendant denied tearing his shirt to make it look like he had been the one assaulted.
Judge Olann Kelleher said: “I am totally satisfied there was no allegation on the night of racist comments. I do not believe these words were spoken at all.”
The accused claimed he was racially abused as a “black monkey” and told to go back to his own country. In his statement, he said Ms Brogan made the racist comment. Ms Brogan denied it and said she found it very upsetting to be accused of making racist comments as it was something she would never do.
When Ibebugwu came to give evidence yesterday in Cork District Court he said it was Brendan Cullinane — Ms Brogan’s then boyfriend, now husband — who made the comment. He also denied saying any such thing.
The couple got into the taxi after being out socialising. Each of them said they had about eight drinks and got the taxi from Grand Parade to Innishannon. The journey in the defendant’s taxi only got as far as Cork University Hospital.
Mr Cullinane said he asked the driver what way he was going when he took the third exit at Wilton roundabout rather than the second one which they felt would have been more direct.
Both of them said the driver told them to get out of the car as soon as the route was queried. They said that even though he told them to get out he prevented them from walking away until the €11 of the fare to that point was paid. They felt they should not pay as they had been put out of the car.
“He hit me into the right side of my jaw with a closed fist. Then he started saying, oh my God, oh my God, I’m sorry,” Ms Brogan said.
Ibebugwu, who was never in trouble before, was convicted of that assault. A charge of assaulting Mr Cullinane was dismissed.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/mhgbaucwojey/rss2/
Uber drivers, of which there are more than 15,000 in London, have private hire licences and are classed as minicabs. The city's 22,500 black cab drivers have taxi licences and are regulated more heavily. They must stick to strict rules on their vehicles, which govern things such as emissions and disability access.
But they are also given privileges, such as the exclusive use of taximeters, because they have taken "The Knowledge", which tests comprehensively a diver's understanding of the city's roads and routes. So black cab drivers were furious after the High Court ruled that the Uber app does not breach taximeter rules because it does not itself calculate fares. The app sends data to Uber servers in the US, where the fare is then calculated based on journey time and distance travelled.
"The fundamental distinction between a black cab and a minicab [...] has been obliterated by technology," Johnson said at the CityLab conference in central London, where he was joined by the former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"It's unfair on the black cabs who have consecrated their lives to the study of routes and who have special vehicles and who in return for that very great expenditure they have made on their vehicles have been told that they, and they alone, will be able to ply for hire on the streets.
"So the question is how to strike a balance which respects what's happened to the cab drivers and try to help them where you can, but also reflects the fact that technology is out there. It's changed. You can't put the genie back in the bottle. People want Uber and there are more than a million users of Uber here in London.
"Since the days of Oliver Cromwell, the black Hackney carriage trade had been regulated and governed by the state. Now if the state is going to do that to these people then they've got a duty I think to try and manage [the change]."
Johnson also said there were congestion problems to think about. He blamed Uber for a sharp rise in the number of minicabs entering central London's congestion zone. The mayor, who is also an MP after being elected at the 2015 general election, said two years ago just one in 100 vehicles in the congestion zone was a minicab – now it is one in ten.
Bloomberg challenged Johnson, arguing that Uber was simply meeting demand and that they may well be displacing other vehicles. The billionaire founder of the Bloomberg empire said the taxi industry should be opened up to market forces and competition to the benefit of consumers.
He also suggested the Uber technology is beneficial to cab drivers because it allows them to rate their clients. "So when you go on Uber and hit the 'get me a car' button, Uber drivers in the neighbourhood see whether you are a good client or a bad client, and they rush to take very good clients," Bloomberg said. "All of a sudden, if you're an asshole you're not going to get a cab."
Despite overcoming the High Court challenge, Uber is facing a new threat from Transport for London, which governs the city's minicab system. TfL is consulting on a number of measures that would crack down on Uber, including forcing its drivers to wait at least five minutes before picking up a fare – the current average is three minutes – and forcing them to take bookings up to seven days in advance. Uber does not offer an existing pre-booking service.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/boris-johnson-uber-city-hall-132922966.html#t5OC5rT
----------------------------------------
MIDDLESBORO
A TAXI driver who may have information about the attempted rape of a woman in Middlesbrough is being asked to come forward by police.
The woman was attacked on Whitfield Avenue, Middlesbrough, after being approached by a man close to the Royal Cars taxi rank on Marton Road, at around 4am on Sunday, October 4.
The suspect approached her near the rank and they both walked from Park Vale Road on to Angle Street and then on to Whitfield Avenue, where the attempted rape took place.
The woman was left with minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment.
Detectives from Cleveland Police want to trace the driver of a black and yellow taxi which collected the victim after the offence, between the old White Rose pub and St Joseph’s Church at the junction of Marton Road and Park Road South.
The driver is described as an Asian male in his early 30s, of medium build with bald or shaven hair. Police say he may be able to help with inquiries.
Detectives are also hoping to trace another potential witness, a man who was standing close to the Royal Cars taxi rank when the victim was approached by the subject.
They said he could have “vital information” which could help officers.
He is described as a white male, aged in his late forties to early fifties, of medium build with a ‘short back and sides’ hairstyle and wearing blue jeans and a red top.
It is believed that two cyclists were also in the area of Marton Road near to the junction with Southfield Road around the time of the incident. A 46-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and he has been bailed pending further enquiries.
http://goo.gl/iFj6cE
----------------------------------------
CORK
A taxi driver was convicted of punching a female passenger in the jaw as the judge dismissed his allegations that he had been racially abused.
Charles Ibebugwu, aged 40, of 24 Coolmore Gardens, Shanbally, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, was ordered to do 200 hours or community service instead of three months in prison for assaulting Cathy Brogan on May 31 2014.
Judge Olann Kelleher said that when Garda Aisling Murphy and Sergeant Pat Lingane arrived at the scene, there was no complaint by Ibebugwu of having been racially abused. Such an allegation was not made until he subsequently gave a statement and again in court.
Ibebugwu did not have his shirt torn when gardaà met him at the scene. However, before they left, the front of his t-shirt was torn. Inspector Eileen Foster suggested he had torn it himself. The defendant denied tearing his shirt to make it look like he had been the one assaulted.
Judge Olann Kelleher said: “I am totally satisfied there was no allegation on the night of racist comments. I do not believe these words were spoken at all.”
The accused claimed he was racially abused as a “black monkey” and told to go back to his own country. In his statement, he said Ms Brogan made the racist comment. Ms Brogan denied it and said she found it very upsetting to be accused of making racist comments as it was something she would never do.
When Ibebugwu came to give evidence yesterday in Cork District Court he said it was Brendan Cullinane — Ms Brogan’s then boyfriend, now husband — who made the comment. He also denied saying any such thing.
The couple got into the taxi after being out socialising. Each of them said they had about eight drinks and got the taxi from Grand Parade to Innishannon. The journey in the defendant’s taxi only got as far as Cork University Hospital.
Mr Cullinane said he asked the driver what way he was going when he took the third exit at Wilton roundabout rather than the second one which they felt would have been more direct.
Both of them said the driver told them to get out of the car as soon as the route was queried. They said that even though he told them to get out he prevented them from walking away until the €11 of the fare to that point was paid. They felt they should not pay as they had been put out of the car.
“He hit me into the right side of my jaw with a closed fist. Then he started saying, oh my God, oh my God, I’m sorry,” Ms Brogan said.
Ibebugwu, who was never in trouble before, was convicted of that assault. A charge of assaulting Mr Cullinane was dismissed.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/mhgbaucwojey/rss2/
Sunday, 18 October 2015
CHELMSFORD
TWO taxi drivers must pay nearly £2,000 after a landmark court case for refusing to take a blind grandfather's guide dog on board.
Braintree hackney cabbies Ramesh Krishnan and Saleh Attia appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday last week for refusing to take on Philip Lee's black labrador Nan.
Mr Lee, a married 58-year-old father-of-three, said: "If another guide dog user didn't have the confidence to stand up to them this kind of thing could carry on.
"I did it for the other guide dog users."
The court heard that on Thursday, February 12, the grandfather-of-one was travelling to Braintree College to see his daughter, but not knowing Braintree well, he got off a bus in Manor Street to take a taxi instead. But Krishnan and Attia, in separate cabs, both refused to take on his seven-year-old guide dog Nan, before he successfully took a third taxi to the college.
"I went up to the first taxi and he said he doesn't take any dogs," said Mr Lee, who says Nan is "essential".
"I explained it was a guide dog, but he said again that he doesn't take any dogs, so I asked him for an exemption certificate and he just said again, 'I don't take dogs'.
"He told me his name and taxi number and I then approached a second taxi and got the same treatment.
"I was surprised at first because I'd stood up for myself and argued that they should be taking me. I was angry, but when I got that treatment from the second driver I was not only angry, I was also taken aback because I thought 'how am I going to get to the college?' It knocked my confidence and shook me up a bit."
The next day Mr Lee approached Guide Dogs UK engagement officer Sue Forster, who is blind herself, and together they took the case to the district council.
Prosecutor Braintree District Council, and Guide Dogs for the Blind, whose representatives were at court supporting Mr Lee, believe it could be the first such prosecution in Essex.
"If they had turned around and said they were scared of dogs or had an exemption certificate I would have completely understood," said Mr Lee, who volunteers at Guide Dogs UK, RNIB, Essex Cares and at an Essex County Council access group.
"I don't want them to lose their livelihood but I want to stick up for other guide dog users. I had to think long and hard about taking this to court."
Krishnan and Attia each pleaded guilty to one count of refusing to convey an assistance dog contrary to the Equalities Act 2010.
Krishnan, of Nottage Crescent, was fined £150, ordered to pay £50 compensation to Mr Lee, and £718 in costs.
Attia, of Coggeshall Road, must pay a £150 fine, £50 compensation, £707 in costs.
At the end of the hearing, prosecutor Gurvynda Paddan-White said the pair had failed to "comply with their legal duty" and that they were restricting Mr Lee's "freedom of movement".
Chairman of the bench Shaun Rayner said: "If someone with an assistance dog comes asking for help, you help them."
http://goo.gl/xG4BU1
---------------------------------------------
BRIGHTON
City chiefs considering whether to allow Uber to operate in Brighton have been told they would be "out of their minds" to ban the taxi-hailing app.
Councillors will discuss whether to grant a licence to Uber on Monday.
Objections have come from the GMB union and taxi companies, but calls have also been made for the council to support Uber drivers as small business owners.
Councillor Mary Mears said there were serious concerns and urged the council to refuse the licence.
Founded six years ago, San Francisco-based Uber "connects riders to drivers" with an app that uses GPS technology to locate available vehicles.
Users tap their phone to hail a cab and pay automatically on arrival with a credit card.
Drivers sign up as independent contractors and are their own boss.
In Brighton, objections to the application raised issues about identification of Uber cars, whether vehicles would be wheelchair accessible, whether customers' data was secure, and how drivers would be checked.
But Darren Fell, founder of Hove-based Crunch Accounting, which works for micro-businesses including Uber drivers, said the city had to embrace change.
He said there were already 15,000 Uber drivers in the country, the smartphone app was creating thousands of new business owners, more and more platforms were emerging in the marketplace and the world was changing.
Arguing that Uber would bring an economic boost to Brighton and Hove, he said: "The council would be out of their minds to consider banning it. We are an entrepreneurial, dot com-savvy city.
"I want to see the council behind it. Do they support digital business or don't they?
"Users absolutely love it and all around the world we see people trying to ban it."
He said Uber offered a livelihood for someone who could not invest in a Hackney carriage - and it also offered drives balanced lives.
"Many of the drivers are family men," Mr Fell said.
"They can spend time with their family, their wife can go to work, they can see their children, and then they can go out to work in the evening in complete control of their lives.
"This is what the freelancing world gives people."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-34553127
---------------------------------------
SWINDON
TAXI licensing fee hikes of up to seventy per cent are set to be approved by councillors this week despite widespread opposition and petition sporting more than a hundred signatures.
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet has been advised to push through the fee hikes, which will see a significant jump in the price paid for renewing drivers’ licences, knowledge tests and operators’ licences.
The matter was first considered by the cabinet in July before a consultation took place prompting a raft of responses from Swindon’s taxi industry in opposition to the rises.
In a report submitted for Wednesday’s meeting, the cabinet member for finance, people and performance, Councillor Russell Holland (Con, St Margaret & South Marston), said the proposals should be adopted.
“It is recommended that the proposed changes are implemented in order to ensure the income covers the cost of the service recognising that no increases have been implemented in the last three years,” the report said.
“The service must be self-financing and all fees must be re-invested back into the service with an additional post being employed to allow capacity for improved administration, systems and enforcement to the benefit of the service.”
Tracey Kirk, fleet manager for Private Hire Rental and CMH Car Hire, which own approximately 150 vehicles between them, was responsible for pulling a petition together which now has 125 signatures opposing the fee increase.
ADVERTISING
“We are disappointed with the outcome of the fee increases as it is going to make life a lot more difficult for drivers, who are already struggling to make a living from it,” she said.
“At this point, I don’t think any of us will be bothering to make a protest. We have already done as much as we can and they are still not going to pay any attention.
“You wonder why you bother.”
Among the proposed increases, the largest jump is for those drivers wishing to sit a knowledge test, who would fork out £50 for their first attempt, as opposed to £30 as it is now.
Those existing drivers looking to renew their minicab licences would be required to pay out 54 per cent more, at £70 rather than £45.50.
Operators like United Radio Cars, including V Cars, Cross Street Cars and SN1 Cars, which service more than 20 vehicles, will now be needed to fork out £450 for a licence, up from £309 in 2014/15.
Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United, said: “I’m very disappointed the council hasn’t taken any notice of the opinions of the people who are affected.
“Everybody will be suffering: the drivers, the companies and even the council themselves.
“When they take the fees up it will be less attractive for people to become drivers.
“They don’t know the number of people who might have wanted to join. That’s a hidden figure behind all this.
“At the end of the day, there’s going to be a great impact on a lot of lives in Swindon.
“If the decision’s made, it’s like everything else: you have a voice and want to make it heard, but when they hear your voice they totally ignore it.”
In a letter to Tracey, Richard Bell, head of planning and regulatory services at Swindon Borough Council, said higher costs are incurred for additional checks, a more rigorous knowledge test and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
He also said there would be additional enforcement to protect the reputation of the industry in Swindon and other road users by ensuring all taxis are properly insured.
http://goo.gl/VHvxhp
TWO taxi drivers must pay nearly £2,000 after a landmark court case for refusing to take a blind grandfather's guide dog on board.
Braintree hackney cabbies Ramesh Krishnan and Saleh Attia appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday last week for refusing to take on Philip Lee's black labrador Nan.
Mr Lee, a married 58-year-old father-of-three, said: "If another guide dog user didn't have the confidence to stand up to them this kind of thing could carry on.
"I did it for the other guide dog users."
The court heard that on Thursday, February 12, the grandfather-of-one was travelling to Braintree College to see his daughter, but not knowing Braintree well, he got off a bus in Manor Street to take a taxi instead. But Krishnan and Attia, in separate cabs, both refused to take on his seven-year-old guide dog Nan, before he successfully took a third taxi to the college.
"I went up to the first taxi and he said he doesn't take any dogs," said Mr Lee, who says Nan is "essential".
"I explained it was a guide dog, but he said again that he doesn't take any dogs, so I asked him for an exemption certificate and he just said again, 'I don't take dogs'.
"He told me his name and taxi number and I then approached a second taxi and got the same treatment.
"I was surprised at first because I'd stood up for myself and argued that they should be taking me. I was angry, but when I got that treatment from the second driver I was not only angry, I was also taken aback because I thought 'how am I going to get to the college?' It knocked my confidence and shook me up a bit."
The next day Mr Lee approached Guide Dogs UK engagement officer Sue Forster, who is blind herself, and together they took the case to the district council.
Prosecutor Braintree District Council, and Guide Dogs for the Blind, whose representatives were at court supporting Mr Lee, believe it could be the first such prosecution in Essex.
"If they had turned around and said they were scared of dogs or had an exemption certificate I would have completely understood," said Mr Lee, who volunteers at Guide Dogs UK, RNIB, Essex Cares and at an Essex County Council access group.
"I don't want them to lose their livelihood but I want to stick up for other guide dog users. I had to think long and hard about taking this to court."
Krishnan and Attia each pleaded guilty to one count of refusing to convey an assistance dog contrary to the Equalities Act 2010.
Krishnan, of Nottage Crescent, was fined £150, ordered to pay £50 compensation to Mr Lee, and £718 in costs.
Attia, of Coggeshall Road, must pay a £150 fine, £50 compensation, £707 in costs.
At the end of the hearing, prosecutor Gurvynda Paddan-White said the pair had failed to "comply with their legal duty" and that they were restricting Mr Lee's "freedom of movement".
Chairman of the bench Shaun Rayner said: "If someone with an assistance dog comes asking for help, you help them."
http://goo.gl/xG4BU1
---------------------------------------------
BRIGHTON
City chiefs considering whether to allow Uber to operate in Brighton have been told they would be "out of their minds" to ban the taxi-hailing app.
Councillors will discuss whether to grant a licence to Uber on Monday.
Objections have come from the GMB union and taxi companies, but calls have also been made for the council to support Uber drivers as small business owners.
Councillor Mary Mears said there were serious concerns and urged the council to refuse the licence.
Founded six years ago, San Francisco-based Uber "connects riders to drivers" with an app that uses GPS technology to locate available vehicles.
Users tap their phone to hail a cab and pay automatically on arrival with a credit card.
Drivers sign up as independent contractors and are their own boss.
In Brighton, objections to the application raised issues about identification of Uber cars, whether vehicles would be wheelchair accessible, whether customers' data was secure, and how drivers would be checked.
But Darren Fell, founder of Hove-based Crunch Accounting, which works for micro-businesses including Uber drivers, said the city had to embrace change.
He said there were already 15,000 Uber drivers in the country, the smartphone app was creating thousands of new business owners, more and more platforms were emerging in the marketplace and the world was changing.
Arguing that Uber would bring an economic boost to Brighton and Hove, he said: "The council would be out of their minds to consider banning it. We are an entrepreneurial, dot com-savvy city.
"I want to see the council behind it. Do they support digital business or don't they?
"Users absolutely love it and all around the world we see people trying to ban it."
He said Uber offered a livelihood for someone who could not invest in a Hackney carriage - and it also offered drives balanced lives.
"Many of the drivers are family men," Mr Fell said.
"They can spend time with their family, their wife can go to work, they can see their children, and then they can go out to work in the evening in complete control of their lives.
"This is what the freelancing world gives people."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-34553127
---------------------------------------
SWINDON
TAXI licensing fee hikes of up to seventy per cent are set to be approved by councillors this week despite widespread opposition and petition sporting more than a hundred signatures.
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet has been advised to push through the fee hikes, which will see a significant jump in the price paid for renewing drivers’ licences, knowledge tests and operators’ licences.
The matter was first considered by the cabinet in July before a consultation took place prompting a raft of responses from Swindon’s taxi industry in opposition to the rises.
In a report submitted for Wednesday’s meeting, the cabinet member for finance, people and performance, Councillor Russell Holland (Con, St Margaret & South Marston), said the proposals should be adopted.
“It is recommended that the proposed changes are implemented in order to ensure the income covers the cost of the service recognising that no increases have been implemented in the last three years,” the report said.
“The service must be self-financing and all fees must be re-invested back into the service with an additional post being employed to allow capacity for improved administration, systems and enforcement to the benefit of the service.”
Tracey Kirk, fleet manager for Private Hire Rental and CMH Car Hire, which own approximately 150 vehicles between them, was responsible for pulling a petition together which now has 125 signatures opposing the fee increase.
ADVERTISING
“We are disappointed with the outcome of the fee increases as it is going to make life a lot more difficult for drivers, who are already struggling to make a living from it,” she said.
“At this point, I don’t think any of us will be bothering to make a protest. We have already done as much as we can and they are still not going to pay any attention.
“You wonder why you bother.”
Among the proposed increases, the largest jump is for those drivers wishing to sit a knowledge test, who would fork out £50 for their first attempt, as opposed to £30 as it is now.
Those existing drivers looking to renew their minicab licences would be required to pay out 54 per cent more, at £70 rather than £45.50.
Operators like United Radio Cars, including V Cars, Cross Street Cars and SN1 Cars, which service more than 20 vehicles, will now be needed to fork out £450 for a licence, up from £309 in 2014/15.
Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United, said: “I’m very disappointed the council hasn’t taken any notice of the opinions of the people who are affected.
“Everybody will be suffering: the drivers, the companies and even the council themselves.
“When they take the fees up it will be less attractive for people to become drivers.
“They don’t know the number of people who might have wanted to join. That’s a hidden figure behind all this.
“At the end of the day, there’s going to be a great impact on a lot of lives in Swindon.
“If the decision’s made, it’s like everything else: you have a voice and want to make it heard, but when they hear your voice they totally ignore it.”
In a letter to Tracey, Richard Bell, head of planning and regulatory services at Swindon Borough Council, said higher costs are incurred for additional checks, a more rigorous knowledge test and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
He also said there would be additional enforcement to protect the reputation of the industry in Swindon and other road users by ensuring all taxis are properly insured.
http://goo.gl/VHvxhp
Friday, 16 October 2015
EIRE
Three taxi drivers, who took a case against the Government in relation to the sudden deregulation of the taxi market in 2000, have had their case dismissed today.
The drivers argued that the change completely devalued the taxi plates from almost €100,000 to practically zero.
The case was dismissed in the High Court today by Mr Justice Michael Peart.
The judge apologised for the two-year delay in giving a judgement on the case, which involved 13 boxes of documents and 30 days evidence in the High Court.
If the case has been won by the taxi drivers, a further 1,400 drivers would have been affected and there would have been serious costs for the State.
The drivers were hoping to claim industry-wide compensation of up to €360m.
It is not yet known if the three drivers will have to pay the costs of the 30-day High Court case.
Tommy Gorman, former president of the National Taxi Drivers Union, said that the judgement will be scrutinised to see if there are grounds for appeal.
“Obviously, our legal team are looking at that now,” he said.
“As I say, 140 pages contain an awful lot of words and sentences. They’ll look at it and then we’re going to look [to see if] have we any grounds for an appeal - to take it back to the Appeals Court, and then maybe on to the Supreme [Court] and then maybe on to Europe.”
Three taxi drivers, who took a case against the Government in relation to the sudden deregulation of the taxi market in 2000, have had their case dismissed today.
The drivers argued that the change completely devalued the taxi plates from almost €100,000 to practically zero.
The case was dismissed in the High Court today by Mr Justice Michael Peart.
The judge apologised for the two-year delay in giving a judgement on the case, which involved 13 boxes of documents and 30 days evidence in the High Court.
If the case has been won by the taxi drivers, a further 1,400 drivers would have been affected and there would have been serious costs for the State.
The drivers were hoping to claim industry-wide compensation of up to €360m.
It is not yet known if the three drivers will have to pay the costs of the 30-day High Court case.
Tommy Gorman, former president of the National Taxi Drivers Union, said that the judgement will be scrutinised to see if there are grounds for appeal.
“Obviously, our legal team are looking at that now,” he said.
“As I say, 140 pages contain an awful lot of words and sentences. They’ll look at it and then we’re going to look [to see if] have we any grounds for an appeal - to take it back to the Appeals Court, and then maybe on to the Supreme [Court] and then maybe on to Europe.”
TFL V UBER
Everybody by now, knows Uber won. The Judge (Reg Houldsworth) did as he was asked and declared Uber's app is not a meter.
The LTDA say they are appealing this decision to the Supreme Court.
A couple of things worry me here.
1. The LTDA started this case against Uber. TFL then asked if they could take it over. The LTDA agreed to release the case to TFL presumably to indemnify from any fee's.It was important to TFL that they led the case, because their Barrister then threw the towel in the moment he entered Court. So much so that the Hearing finished early, the first day.
2. The LTDA now wish to go to the Supreme Court. They will have to obtain 'Leave to Appeal' to do this. This is often tricky because the Judiciary stick together. They do not like to overturn each other. The LTDA were not the Plaintiff here, they left it to TFL.
TFL have no reason to appeal, they got the result they 'engineered'.
I think the LTDA are two to one against, getting an appeal. If however they do get an appeal, that would mean a delay of another 12 months minimum, in which UBER get further entrenched.
Not a good outcome, but, in my opinion the blame rest with the LTDA.
Everybody by now, knows Uber won. The Judge (Reg Houldsworth) did as he was asked and declared Uber's app is not a meter.
The LTDA say they are appealing this decision to the Supreme Court.
A couple of things worry me here.
1. The LTDA started this case against Uber. TFL then asked if they could take it over. The LTDA agreed to release the case to TFL presumably to indemnify from any fee's.It was important to TFL that they led the case, because their Barrister then threw the towel in the moment he entered Court. So much so that the Hearing finished early, the first day.
2. The LTDA now wish to go to the Supreme Court. They will have to obtain 'Leave to Appeal' to do this. This is often tricky because the Judiciary stick together. They do not like to overturn each other. The LTDA were not the Plaintiff here, they left it to TFL.
TFL have no reason to appeal, they got the result they 'engineered'.
I think the LTDA are two to one against, getting an appeal. If however they do get an appeal, that would mean a delay of another 12 months minimum, in which UBER get further entrenched.
Not a good outcome, but, in my opinion the blame rest with the LTDA.
Thursday, 15 October 2015
Your taxi has arrived: Uber launches its first Scottish service in Glasgow
TAXI app Uber will launch in Scotland for the first time today when it opens a booking office in Glasgow.
The controversial online taxi service, which matches customers to their closest available drivers using smartphone technology, will begin taking bookings from 4pm today [Friday].
Uber applied to Glasgow City Council for a three-year licence for their booking office earlier this year, but has only been granted a licence for one year initially.
The council also stipulated as a condition of granting permission that only licensed drivers and vehicles could be used, applying to same restrictions to the Uber business as any other private hire taxi firm.
The company has faced criticism in other countries for using drivers who are untrained, unlicensed and uninsured, and avoiding taxes and licensing fees.
It has been banned in Spain and London cabbies have been angered by lost trade and allegedly poor regulation of the service.
In August, court papers lodged in California accused Uber of not doing enough to check the backgrounds of drivers in the United States, claiming it had employed former murderers, sexual offenders and thieves.
Stephen Flynn, vice chairman of Glasgow Taxis Ltd said: “Our track record speaks for itself. Glasgow Taxis Ltd is proud to continue to serve the people of Glasgow, support local causes and be there when really needed, especially in times of crisis.
“Passenger safety is absolutely paramount and that is where we stand apart as all our drivers have full PVG disclosure approved by the local authority. There can be no substitute for safety.”
Uber stressed that all its partner-drivers in the UK must pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and it would bring "safe, convenient and low-cost travel" to Glasgow.
Max Lines, General Manager for Uber Glasgow, said: “Today, for the first time, Scotsmen and women will be able to sign up and ride in an uberX, Uber’s affordable, fast and reliable service.
“Uber is not only incredibly convenient for riders, it also enables professional drivers the opportunity to partner with us and become their own bosses, choosing when they work.”
A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council: “Uber, the mobile phone app for taxi hire, was granted a licence for a booking office in Glasgow for one-year following a decision by the Licensing Committee on April 29.”
Uber has also applied to launch its app in Edinburgh but a shortage of suitable candidates to oversee the business north of the Border is expected to delay its launch in the capital until 2016.
A spokesman for the firm previously said they were seeking people with a background in banking and management consultancy.
http://goo.gl/08iNQi
------------------------------------------
USA
Verifone (PAY), the world’s leader in payments and commerce solutions, today announced an expansion of its taxi and car-for-hire electronic hailing (e-hail), payment and media business with the acquisition of Curb®, a business that connects people in approximately 60 U.S. cities with rides from professional, insured, and fully-licensed taxi drivers. Using Curb’s e-hail app, passengers take more than 100,000 rides each month. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Based in Alexandria, Virginia, Curb has partnered with more than 90 cab companies and provides e-hail access to 35,000 cars from a smartphone app that combines hailing and payment. Curb’s media-enabled payment terminals are installed in approximately 15,000 cars, adding to the approximately 40,000 U.S. taxis already equipped with Verifone payment terminals.
The acquisition enhances Verifone’s e-hail and payment app business with additional technology and an expanded network of vehicles and drivers across the United States. Curb’s e-hail app for iPhone and Android devices includes web- and SMS text-based booking tools that will enable Verifone Taxi Systems to aggressively improve and scale its e-hail offering as well as its complete suite of taxi technology solutions, empowering its taxi clients to more effectively compete with transportation network companies.
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/verifone-expands-taxi-e-hail-110000586.html
------------------------------------------
EIRE
The Central Bank of Ireland has imposed a fine of €5,000 on Irish Taxi Owners’ Co-Op Credit Union Ltd for breaches of its obligations under the Credit Union Act 1997.
This is the first enforcement case to be taken against a credit union since the administrative sanctions procedure became fully applicable to the sector on August 1st 2013.
The regulator found that the credit union had failed to submit its prudential returns within the required timelines in respect of the quarters ending September 30th 2013 to September 30th 2014 inclusive.
It also failed to have adequate systems and controls in place to ensure that the returns were submitted within the required timelines.
In addition, the regulator announced that a settlement agreement had been reached with Michael Hogan, relating to his participation in certain breaches by Irish Taxi Owners’ Co-Op Credit Union Limited.
Mr Hogan was responsible for preparing and submitting the prudential returns on behalf of the credit union.
---------------------------------------
WAKEFIELD
People could be able to flag down a taxi and travel into the city centre for just £1.
Wakefield Hackney Carriage Association wants to introduce a Pound Back into Town scheme, which could help boost trade for drivers.
Under the scheme, hackney carriage drivers could be flagged down on their way back to the ranks in the city centre.
The passengers would then be charged £1 per person for the journey.
And all journeys except for those back to the taxi rank would be charged as normal.
The Pound Back into Town scheme has already proved successful in Bradford, Barnsley and Wycombe.
Wakefield Council’s licensing committee will decide if the hackney carriages participating in the scheme will be allowed to display the Pound Back into Town logo in their vehicles at a meeting on Friday.
The logo says “flag me down for £1 per person into town”.
http://goo.gl/vXb7Ok
TAXI app Uber will launch in Scotland for the first time today when it opens a booking office in Glasgow.
The controversial online taxi service, which matches customers to their closest available drivers using smartphone technology, will begin taking bookings from 4pm today [Friday].
Uber applied to Glasgow City Council for a three-year licence for their booking office earlier this year, but has only been granted a licence for one year initially.
The council also stipulated as a condition of granting permission that only licensed drivers and vehicles could be used, applying to same restrictions to the Uber business as any other private hire taxi firm.
The company has faced criticism in other countries for using drivers who are untrained, unlicensed and uninsured, and avoiding taxes and licensing fees.
It has been banned in Spain and London cabbies have been angered by lost trade and allegedly poor regulation of the service.
In August, court papers lodged in California accused Uber of not doing enough to check the backgrounds of drivers in the United States, claiming it had employed former murderers, sexual offenders and thieves.
Stephen Flynn, vice chairman of Glasgow Taxis Ltd said: “Our track record speaks for itself. Glasgow Taxis Ltd is proud to continue to serve the people of Glasgow, support local causes and be there when really needed, especially in times of crisis.
“Passenger safety is absolutely paramount and that is where we stand apart as all our drivers have full PVG disclosure approved by the local authority. There can be no substitute for safety.”
Uber stressed that all its partner-drivers in the UK must pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and it would bring "safe, convenient and low-cost travel" to Glasgow.
Max Lines, General Manager for Uber Glasgow, said: “Today, for the first time, Scotsmen and women will be able to sign up and ride in an uberX, Uber’s affordable, fast and reliable service.
“Uber is not only incredibly convenient for riders, it also enables professional drivers the opportunity to partner with us and become their own bosses, choosing when they work.”
A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council: “Uber, the mobile phone app for taxi hire, was granted a licence for a booking office in Glasgow for one-year following a decision by the Licensing Committee on April 29.”
Uber has also applied to launch its app in Edinburgh but a shortage of suitable candidates to oversee the business north of the Border is expected to delay its launch in the capital until 2016.
A spokesman for the firm previously said they were seeking people with a background in banking and management consultancy.
http://goo.gl/08iNQi
------------------------------------------
USA
Verifone (PAY), the world’s leader in payments and commerce solutions, today announced an expansion of its taxi and car-for-hire electronic hailing (e-hail), payment and media business with the acquisition of Curb®, a business that connects people in approximately 60 U.S. cities with rides from professional, insured, and fully-licensed taxi drivers. Using Curb’s e-hail app, passengers take more than 100,000 rides each month. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Based in Alexandria, Virginia, Curb has partnered with more than 90 cab companies and provides e-hail access to 35,000 cars from a smartphone app that combines hailing and payment. Curb’s media-enabled payment terminals are installed in approximately 15,000 cars, adding to the approximately 40,000 U.S. taxis already equipped with Verifone payment terminals.
The acquisition enhances Verifone’s e-hail and payment app business with additional technology and an expanded network of vehicles and drivers across the United States. Curb’s e-hail app for iPhone and Android devices includes web- and SMS text-based booking tools that will enable Verifone Taxi Systems to aggressively improve and scale its e-hail offering as well as its complete suite of taxi technology solutions, empowering its taxi clients to more effectively compete with transportation network companies.
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/verifone-expands-taxi-e-hail-110000586.html
------------------------------------------
EIRE
The Central Bank of Ireland has imposed a fine of €5,000 on Irish Taxi Owners’ Co-Op Credit Union Ltd for breaches of its obligations under the Credit Union Act 1997.
This is the first enforcement case to be taken against a credit union since the administrative sanctions procedure became fully applicable to the sector on August 1st 2013.
The regulator found that the credit union had failed to submit its prudential returns within the required timelines in respect of the quarters ending September 30th 2013 to September 30th 2014 inclusive.
It also failed to have adequate systems and controls in place to ensure that the returns were submitted within the required timelines.
In addition, the regulator announced that a settlement agreement had been reached with Michael Hogan, relating to his participation in certain breaches by Irish Taxi Owners’ Co-Op Credit Union Limited.
Mr Hogan was responsible for preparing and submitting the prudential returns on behalf of the credit union.
---------------------------------------
WAKEFIELD
People could be able to flag down a taxi and travel into the city centre for just £1.
Wakefield Hackney Carriage Association wants to introduce a Pound Back into Town scheme, which could help boost trade for drivers.
Under the scheme, hackney carriage drivers could be flagged down on their way back to the ranks in the city centre.
The passengers would then be charged £1 per person for the journey.
And all journeys except for those back to the taxi rank would be charged as normal.
The Pound Back into Town scheme has already proved successful in Bradford, Barnsley and Wycombe.
Wakefield Council’s licensing committee will decide if the hackney carriages participating in the scheme will be allowed to display the Pound Back into Town logo in their vehicles at a meeting on Friday.
The logo says “flag me down for £1 per person into town”.
http://goo.gl/vXb7Ok
NEWS FROM LONDON indicates that Uber Pop the ridshiring service will soon be starting there.
Many of you will think this will not happen. I would not be to sure.
The Press, coincidently (my Arse) yesterday, rehashed an interview with the Business Seceretary who says the consumer should be put first.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/uber/11930938/Sajid-Javid-attacks-heavy-handed-Uber-crackdown.html
It should be also noted that as long ago as 1985 the last Consevative Majority Government laid provision for ride sharing with Taxis and Hire Cars.
Section 10 1985 Transport Act
Many of you think you will not be affected, as you are licensed in other parts of the Country. Think again and remember the old saying
"When London sneezes, we all catch a cold."
Watch this space.
The Press, coincidently (my Arse) yesterday, rehashed an interview with the Business Seceretary who says the consumer should be put first.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/uber/11930938/Sajid-Javid-attacks-heavy-handed-Uber-crackdown.html
It should be also noted that as long ago as 1985 the last Consevative Majority Government laid provision for ride sharing with Taxis and Hire Cars.
Many of you think you will not be affected, as you are licensed in other parts of the Country. Think again and remember the old saying
"When London sneezes, we all catch a cold."
Watch this space.
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
TAMESIDE PROTEST AGAINST FAILING ADMINISTRATION
A taxi protest brought rush hour traffic to a standstill in Ashton.
Black cabs and private hire vehicles blocked both lanes of Manchester Road near the police station.
The protest came as relations between taxi drivers and Tameside Council hit an ‘all time low,’ organisers said.
Drivers said there were a number of ‘long running, unresolved’ issues with the council’s licensing department.
Jon Vickerstaff, general secretary of Tameside Owners and Drivers Association, said the trade felt it had no option but to protest.
He said: “We are not happy with the service we are getting from the council.
“There are a number of disputes that have been ongoing for too long and the council don’t seem to want to work with us.
“We are not happy with the vehicle age policy, the test and badge fares, they have not responded to our Freedom of Information requests and they owe us refunds for fee increases.
“There are other drivers within the borough who are charging much higher tariffs and ripping off the public.
“We want all fares to be fair and transparent for the public. It protects them and it protects the drivers.”
Around 100 drivers of Hackney cabs and private hire vehicles took part in the protest during rush hour on Tuesday.
The drivers started in Clarence Street, through the town centre, before dispersing at Crickets Lane.
Onlookers said the protest ‘caused chaos’ for other road users.
Tony McGhee, 53, from Ashton, said: “It was horrendous. Both lanes were shut all the way passed the police station as you were coming into Ashton town centre.
“It stopped all traffic from moving around the roundabout near Bayley Street.
“It was completely gridlocked.”
Some commuters took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
One said: “Some kind of #taxi protest going on in #Ashton - roads blocked and noisy horns. Lovely.”
Another added: “What the hell is going on in Ashton -Taxi protest? #parkedup”.”
Some suggested the drivers were protesting against private hire firm Uber - which was recently given a licence in Tameside.
However Mr Vickerstaff said it concerned the council only.
A spokesman for Tameside Council was not available to comment.
http://goo.gl/aT2YTa
A taxi protest brought rush hour traffic to a standstill in Ashton.
Black cabs and private hire vehicles blocked both lanes of Manchester Road near the police station.
The protest came as relations between taxi drivers and Tameside Council hit an ‘all time low,’ organisers said.
Drivers said there were a number of ‘long running, unresolved’ issues with the council’s licensing department.
Jon Vickerstaff, general secretary of Tameside Owners and Drivers Association, said the trade felt it had no option but to protest.
He said: “We are not happy with the service we are getting from the council.
“There are a number of disputes that have been ongoing for too long and the council don’t seem to want to work with us.
“We are not happy with the vehicle age policy, the test and badge fares, they have not responded to our Freedom of Information requests and they owe us refunds for fee increases.
“There are other drivers within the borough who are charging much higher tariffs and ripping off the public.
“We want all fares to be fair and transparent for the public. It protects them and it protects the drivers.”
Around 100 drivers of Hackney cabs and private hire vehicles took part in the protest during rush hour on Tuesday.
The drivers started in Clarence Street, through the town centre, before dispersing at Crickets Lane.
Onlookers said the protest ‘caused chaos’ for other road users.
Tony McGhee, 53, from Ashton, said: “It was horrendous. Both lanes were shut all the way passed the police station as you were coming into Ashton town centre.
“It stopped all traffic from moving around the roundabout near Bayley Street.
“It was completely gridlocked.”
Some commuters took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
One said: “Some kind of #taxi protest going on in #Ashton - roads blocked and noisy horns. Lovely.”
Another added: “What the hell is going on in Ashton -Taxi protest? #parkedup”.”
Some suggested the drivers were protesting against private hire firm Uber - which was recently given a licence in Tameside.
However Mr Vickerstaff said it concerned the council only.
A spokesman for Tameside Council was not available to comment.
http://goo.gl/aT2YTa
Monday, 12 October 2015
UBER USA. National Strike
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EASTBOURNE
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an inquiry after a senior Sussex Police officer was accused of racially abusing an Eastbourne taxi driver. The watchdog is investigating two officers following claims the senior of the two made racist and offensive remarks to the driver, who subsequently complained to the force.
The off-duty officers reportedly became confrontational and argued with two different taxi drivers on 5 September. One is alleged to have threatened to have the taxi licence removed from one of them. Subsequent inquiries by Sussex Police showed one of them accessed a police IT system in relation to the incident, reportedly without lawful purpose.
The IPCC is considering possible public order offences for the senior officer, while the other officer faces potential charges under the Data Protection Act and the Computer Misuse Act. He is also under investigation for failing to adequately challenge and report the improper conduct of the other officer.
Sussex Police has suspended the senior officer for the duration of the investigation into allegations of racist and offensive behaviour. IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor said: "That a senior officer has been accused of such serious and criminal misconduct in a public setting, and racist behaviour towards a member of the public, is of significant concern and it is therefore appropriate that the IPCC provides independent oversight of this investigation."
Deputy Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: "We take any report of racism very seriously, along with any inappropriate access to police IT systems, and we will co-operate with the IPCC in their investigation. Sussex Police cares about developing and has invested in building its relationship with BME communities, through its neighbourhood policing teams and support from an independent race advisory group. We remain fully committed to providing a fair and non-discriminatory policing service to our communities."
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sussex-police-racism-ipcc-investigate-after-senior-officer-racially-abused-eastbourne-taxi-1523597
The off-duty officers reportedly became confrontational and argued with two different taxi drivers on 5 September. One is alleged to have threatened to have the taxi licence removed from one of them. Subsequent inquiries by Sussex Police showed one of them accessed a police IT system in relation to the incident, reportedly without lawful purpose.
The IPCC is considering possible public order offences for the senior officer, while the other officer faces potential charges under the Data Protection Act and the Computer Misuse Act. He is also under investigation for failing to adequately challenge and report the improper conduct of the other officer.
Sussex Police has suspended the senior officer for the duration of the investigation into allegations of racist and offensive behaviour. IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor said: "That a senior officer has been accused of such serious and criminal misconduct in a public setting, and racist behaviour towards a member of the public, is of significant concern and it is therefore appropriate that the IPCC provides independent oversight of this investigation."
Deputy Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: "We take any report of racism very seriously, along with any inappropriate access to police IT systems, and we will co-operate with the IPCC in their investigation. Sussex Police cares about developing and has invested in building its relationship with BME communities, through its neighbourhood policing teams and support from an independent race advisory group. We remain fully committed to providing a fair and non-discriminatory policing service to our communities."
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sussex-police-racism-ipcc-investigate-after-senior-officer-racially-abused-eastbourne-taxi-1523597
------------------------------------
Sunday, 11 October 2015
PARIS
A group of Uber drivers staged a protest outside the company's Paris office Friday morning over a recent reduction in rates across the French capital. As the French newspaper L'Express reports, the group of about 50 chauffeurs were demonstrating against a 20 percent fare reduction for the company's UberX service and a 25 percent cut for UberPool, which went into effect today. The protesters were eventually dispersed by police in riot gear.
Uber introduced the rate cut in response to recent promotional campaigns from French taxi companies, which have offered lower fares for young passengers and late night trips. The San Francisco-based company said it would compensate drivers for the difference over the next six weeks, writing in a blog post that the increased volume of passengers would ultimately boost their revenue. The post also noted that drivers in New York saw their hourly turnover increase by 50 percent following a similar fare reduction, but the drivers protesting this morning apparently aren't convinced.
Uber's rate reduction in Paris comes more than two weeks after France's highest court upheld a ban on the company's low-cost UberPop service, which was at the center of widespread protests that taxi unions staged earlier this year. Uber has faced regulatory hurdles in many of the countries it currently operates in, but the opposition from French taxi unions has been particularly fierce. Two Uber France executives are currently facing criminal charges related to the operation of UberPop.
Drivers in the US have staged protests over rate cuts, as well. Earlier this year, The New York Observer reported on an Uber fare reduction in Washington, DC, where some drivers accused the company of "undercutting Uber’s competition at any cost." Drivers who spoke to The Observer said they were working harder for less money following the cut, and that they had considered striking in protest.
An Uber France spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on today's demonstration.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/9/9486041/uber-france-drivers-protest-paris-fare-cut
A group of Uber drivers staged a protest outside the company's Paris office Friday morning over a recent reduction in rates across the French capital. As the French newspaper L'Express reports, the group of about 50 chauffeurs were demonstrating against a 20 percent fare reduction for the company's UberX service and a 25 percent cut for UberPool, which went into effect today. The protesters were eventually dispersed by police in riot gear.
Uber introduced the rate cut in response to recent promotional campaigns from French taxi companies, which have offered lower fares for young passengers and late night trips. The San Francisco-based company said it would compensate drivers for the difference over the next six weeks, writing in a blog post that the increased volume of passengers would ultimately boost their revenue. The post also noted that drivers in New York saw their hourly turnover increase by 50 percent following a similar fare reduction, but the drivers protesting this morning apparently aren't convinced.
Uber's rate reduction in Paris comes more than two weeks after France's highest court upheld a ban on the company's low-cost UberPop service, which was at the center of widespread protests that taxi unions staged earlier this year. Uber has faced regulatory hurdles in many of the countries it currently operates in, but the opposition from French taxi unions has been particularly fierce. Two Uber France executives are currently facing criminal charges related to the operation of UberPop.
Drivers in the US have staged protests over rate cuts, as well. Earlier this year, The New York Observer reported on an Uber fare reduction in Washington, DC, where some drivers accused the company of "undercutting Uber’s competition at any cost." Drivers who spoke to The Observer said they were working harder for less money following the cut, and that they had considered striking in protest.
An Uber France spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on today's demonstration.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/9/9486041/uber-france-drivers-protest-paris-fare-cut
WOLVERHAMPTON
Private hire taxi drivers are being given licences without having to demonstrate they know their way around, because they can use a sat nav.
Wolverhampton council has been accused of quietly dropping the Knowledge-style practical exam for private hire licences, although it remains in force for black cabs. All drivers still have to be trained and learn the key locations. And they also have training to recognise potential child sexual exploitation, which councils have brought in after the Rotherham sex abuse scandals.
Previously all drivers had to sit a practical assessment lasting around two hours to demonstrate their local knowledge.
It included 50 locations and key destinations such as West Park, New Cross Hospital and Bentley Bridge. But the test no longer applies to private hire drivers, whose cabs are booked in advance with an agreed fare.
Drivers have also been tested on their English since 2012.
Colin Parr, licensing manager for Wolverhampton council, said: “We scrutinise prospective drivers’ previous motoring convictions and depending on their nature they may have a bearing on their ability to secure a licence.
“The robust Knowledge-style practical examination continues to be undertaken by new Hackney Carriage drivers. This is no longer a requirement of new Private Hire driver, though an understanding of the city’s geography remains a component of the training.
“This is because Hackney Carriage drivers charge a metered fare, and therefore need to demonstrate to us that they have an intimate knowledge of Wolverhampton unaided by a sat nav.
“By the same token, private hire fares are agreed at the time of booking and it is standard industry practice now for private hire drivers to use sat navs.”
A taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said: “They’ve rushed this through and got rid of the driving test element, which has been quietly dropped.
“Now as long as a private hire vehicle has a sat nav, that’s enough for him to demonstrate he knows where he’s going.” Parminder Sekhon, chairman of the Wolverhampton Taxi Owners’ Association, said: “A sat nav is a tool but it doesn’t replace your knowledge. You couldn’t rely on one in Wolverhampton city centre at the moment with all the changes.”
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/10/12/sat-navs-spell-end-for-taxi-driver-tests/
------------------------------------------
THREE OF DUBLIN’S largest taxi firms have come together to launch a new app that allows users to order, track and pay for their taxis through their phones.
The eCab app – a collaboration between Xpert Taxis, National Radio Cabs and VIP Taxis – is being launched today with the aim at providing a “more professional and higher quality taxi service” than existing competitors.
The partnership will see a fleet of close to 2,000 cars being readily available to collect and drop customers in the greater Dublin area.
All drivers signed up to the service will be garda vetted, uniformed and trained by the participating taxi companies.
Dublin Lord Mayor CrÃona Nà Dhálaigh welcomed the initiative ahead of its launch, saying the companies involved are “setting the standards for the Irish taxi market” by providing a service that will “enhance public safety”.
The eCab app – which charges participating companies a small commission - is already available in five other countries, including France and Canada.
But unlike many of its competitors, it only works with drivers from fully licensed taxi companies, something those behind the Dublin partnership say will provide customers with a better quality experience than other services.
Dubliners who download the app from today will get €10 off their first taxi ride.
Plans are in place to expand the service’s remit to other parts of the country over the coming months.
http://www.thejournal.ie/taxis-dublin-ecab-mobile-app-2381423-Oct2015/
Private hire taxi drivers are being given licences without having to demonstrate they know their way around, because they can use a sat nav.
Wolverhampton council has been accused of quietly dropping the Knowledge-style practical exam for private hire licences, although it remains in force for black cabs. All drivers still have to be trained and learn the key locations. And they also have training to recognise potential child sexual exploitation, which councils have brought in after the Rotherham sex abuse scandals.
Previously all drivers had to sit a practical assessment lasting around two hours to demonstrate their local knowledge.
It included 50 locations and key destinations such as West Park, New Cross Hospital and Bentley Bridge. But the test no longer applies to private hire drivers, whose cabs are booked in advance with an agreed fare.
Drivers have also been tested on their English since 2012.
Colin Parr, licensing manager for Wolverhampton council, said: “We scrutinise prospective drivers’ previous motoring convictions and depending on their nature they may have a bearing on their ability to secure a licence.
“The robust Knowledge-style practical examination continues to be undertaken by new Hackney Carriage drivers. This is no longer a requirement of new Private Hire driver, though an understanding of the city’s geography remains a component of the training.
“This is because Hackney Carriage drivers charge a metered fare, and therefore need to demonstrate to us that they have an intimate knowledge of Wolverhampton unaided by a sat nav.
“By the same token, private hire fares are agreed at the time of booking and it is standard industry practice now for private hire drivers to use sat navs.”
A taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said: “They’ve rushed this through and got rid of the driving test element, which has been quietly dropped.
“Now as long as a private hire vehicle has a sat nav, that’s enough for him to demonstrate he knows where he’s going.” Parminder Sekhon, chairman of the Wolverhampton Taxi Owners’ Association, said: “A sat nav is a tool but it doesn’t replace your knowledge. You couldn’t rely on one in Wolverhampton city centre at the moment with all the changes.”
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/10/12/sat-navs-spell-end-for-taxi-driver-tests/
------------------------------------------
THREE OF DUBLIN’S largest taxi firms have come together to launch a new app that allows users to order, track and pay for their taxis through their phones.
The eCab app – a collaboration between Xpert Taxis, National Radio Cabs and VIP Taxis – is being launched today with the aim at providing a “more professional and higher quality taxi service” than existing competitors.
The partnership will see a fleet of close to 2,000 cars being readily available to collect and drop customers in the greater Dublin area.
All drivers signed up to the service will be garda vetted, uniformed and trained by the participating taxi companies.
Dublin Lord Mayor CrÃona Nà Dhálaigh welcomed the initiative ahead of its launch, saying the companies involved are “setting the standards for the Irish taxi market” by providing a service that will “enhance public safety”.
The eCab app – which charges participating companies a small commission - is already available in five other countries, including France and Canada.
But unlike many of its competitors, it only works with drivers from fully licensed taxi companies, something those behind the Dublin partnership say will provide customers with a better quality experience than other services.
Dubliners who download the app from today will get €10 off their first taxi ride.
Plans are in place to expand the service’s remit to other parts of the country over the coming months.
http://www.thejournal.ie/taxis-dublin-ecab-mobile-app-2381423-Oct2015/
Saturday, 10 October 2015
ROSSENDALE Council has hit back at its Bradford counterpart in the escalating row about taxi licences.
The leader of of the east Lancashire authority rejected claims made by Councillor Val Slater, who accused Rossendale of licensing hundreds of drivers who were only interested in crossing the Pennines to work as private hire vehicles in Bradford.
Cllr Slater, who is deputy leader of the Bradford authority and its portfolio holder for transport, also claimed standards were lower in the Lancashire council's area than in Yorkshire.
Rossendale Council has been accused of approving too many hackney carriage licences. It has 1,864 drivers who have been issued with taxi licences and just two for private hire for a population of 65,000.
In contrast Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Chorley and Pendle currently have jointly issued 336 taxi licences and 1,973 private hire permits for a combined population of 700,000.
Bradford has 222 black cab licences and 2,700 private hire vehicle permits for its 500,000 residents.
Rossendale Council leader Alyson Barnes and its taxi association boss David Lawrie accused Bradford and other Yorkshire and East Lancashire councils of operating an unlawful cap on black cab licences.
But Cllr Slater’s fears were echoed by Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson and Blackburn cab drivers’ leader Mohammed Younis.
Cllr Slater also claimed drivers turned down in Bradford were going to Rossendale.
She said she had not been able to convince Rossendale to tackle the problem despite repeated attempts.
“We have tried to talk to their leader about why they are setting these low standards,” she said.
“I would not get in a private hire that was licensed in Rossendale.”
Cllr Slater said Rossendale had lower standards for knowledge tests, English tests and criminal record checks and that cabs with its licenses are also immune from Bradford’s safety spot-checks.
Last month, an enforcement officer from Rossendale Council joined Bradford staff on a spot-checking exercise finding problems with all four of its licensed vehicles stopped.
Cllr Barnes said: “We are following the law regarding taxi licences.
“The government says there should be no arbitrary cap as operated by other councils and this needs sorting out.
“We reject allegations that our standards for driver or cab safety are lower but we are reviewing our policies.
“Two thirds of applications are refused.
“We may be issuing too many licences and are reviewing our procedures to include new maths and English tests.
“We are looking at introducing a test for drivers over whether they intend use their vehicles mainly in the borough.”
Mr Lawrie said: “The reason people come here is that other councils operate a cap on the number of hackney carriage licences, contrary to clear government policy.
“If they did not operate that cap, which in my view is not legal, drivers would not be coming to Rossendale for licences.
“Bradford and other councils need to look at their own licensing regime not blame Rossendale.”
A spokesman for Rossendale Council’s licensing department said the £783,000 a year revenue from taxi licensing was ring-fenced to cover the significant costs of the licensing service.
Hyndburn Council leader Miles Parkinson said: “We set high standards for taxis.
“Unfortunately when a vehicle is licensed elsewhere we are not able to carry out the same rigorous checks.
“How Rossendale Council acts is a matter for them, although I do know that this approach has been criticised by a number of authorities around us.”
Mr Younis said: “We have problem in the borough with Rossendale taxis operating as private hire vehicles here.
“The council there issues too many hackney carriage licences and they operate as minicabs all over the North-West and the country.”
Cllr Slater added: "We are proud of our licensing system. We set high standards and I do not apologise for that. I think that is what passengers in Bradford deserve."
http://goo.gl/IBRIVB
The leader of of the east Lancashire authority rejected claims made by Councillor Val Slater, who accused Rossendale of licensing hundreds of drivers who were only interested in crossing the Pennines to work as private hire vehicles in Bradford.
Cllr Slater, who is deputy leader of the Bradford authority and its portfolio holder for transport, also claimed standards were lower in the Lancashire council's area than in Yorkshire.
Rossendale Council has been accused of approving too many hackney carriage licences. It has 1,864 drivers who have been issued with taxi licences and just two for private hire for a population of 65,000.
In contrast Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Chorley and Pendle currently have jointly issued 336 taxi licences and 1,973 private hire permits for a combined population of 700,000.
Bradford has 222 black cab licences and 2,700 private hire vehicle permits for its 500,000 residents.
Rossendale Council leader Alyson Barnes and its taxi association boss David Lawrie accused Bradford and other Yorkshire and East Lancashire councils of operating an unlawful cap on black cab licences.
But Cllr Slater’s fears were echoed by Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson and Blackburn cab drivers’ leader Mohammed Younis.
Cllr Slater also claimed drivers turned down in Bradford were going to Rossendale.
She said she had not been able to convince Rossendale to tackle the problem despite repeated attempts.
“We have tried to talk to their leader about why they are setting these low standards,” she said.
“I would not get in a private hire that was licensed in Rossendale.”
Cllr Slater said Rossendale had lower standards for knowledge tests, English tests and criminal record checks and that cabs with its licenses are also immune from Bradford’s safety spot-checks.
Last month, an enforcement officer from Rossendale Council joined Bradford staff on a spot-checking exercise finding problems with all four of its licensed vehicles stopped.
Cllr Barnes said: “We are following the law regarding taxi licences.
“The government says there should be no arbitrary cap as operated by other councils and this needs sorting out.
“We reject allegations that our standards for driver or cab safety are lower but we are reviewing our policies.
“Two thirds of applications are refused.
“We may be issuing too many licences and are reviewing our procedures to include new maths and English tests.
“We are looking at introducing a test for drivers over whether they intend use their vehicles mainly in the borough.”
Mr Lawrie said: “The reason people come here is that other councils operate a cap on the number of hackney carriage licences, contrary to clear government policy.
“If they did not operate that cap, which in my view is not legal, drivers would not be coming to Rossendale for licences.
“Bradford and other councils need to look at their own licensing regime not blame Rossendale.”
A spokesman for Rossendale Council’s licensing department said the £783,000 a year revenue from taxi licensing was ring-fenced to cover the significant costs of the licensing service.
Hyndburn Council leader Miles Parkinson said: “We set high standards for taxis.
“Unfortunately when a vehicle is licensed elsewhere we are not able to carry out the same rigorous checks.
“How Rossendale Council acts is a matter for them, although I do know that this approach has been criticised by a number of authorities around us.”
Mr Younis said: “We have problem in the borough with Rossendale taxis operating as private hire vehicles here.
“The council there issues too many hackney carriage licences and they operate as minicabs all over the North-West and the country.”
Cllr Slater added: "We are proud of our licensing system. We set high standards and I do not apologise for that. I think that is what passengers in Bradford deserve."
http://goo.gl/IBRIVB
Thursday, 8 October 2015
TAXI fares in Bury could rise, it has been warned, unless council bosses give drivers a fairer licence deal.
A court ruling has forced local authorities across the UK to re-think how they set annual licensing fees for taxi drivers.
Some councils have put fees up and, though Bury has reduced the fees by £3.33 a year, some drivers believe it could be cheaper.
Charles Oakes, chairman of the Hackney Drivers' Association, which represents dozens of black-cab drivers in Bury, said members of the public could still bear the brunt of fare rises.
"I am taking this stand not just for the drivers I represent, but for every resident of Bury," said Mr Oakes.
He continued: "For a long time now, taxi drivers have been squeezed and costs keep rising.
"They are struggling to make a profit and yet they have held off pressing for fare rises for a long time because they don't want to charge people more, but how long can that last?"
Councils used to charge taxi drivers £60 a year for their licence, but Mr Oakes claims that the new fee of £170 for a three-year licence could be even cheaper, and has called on licensing officials to publish figures to explain how the fee was worked out.
A council spokesman said: "Drivers actually pay £10 less for a three-year licence than they would have done paying annually over the next three years.
"Our licensing service is committed to ongoing communication and has been sharing information on this matter with both hackney carriage and private hire licensed drivers since July 2014.
"A meeting is currently being arranged with Mr Oakes and relevant parties to discuss matters affecting the trade."
http://goo.gl/dptalu
------------------------------------------
BISHOP AUCKLAND
A TAXI driver who lost his business, home and has been left severely disabled following a car crash involving a drink driver has warned of the tragic consequences of getting behind the wheel when drunk.
Keith Foster was on his last call of the night near Bishop Auckland when he was critically hurt in the crash which claimed the life of the other driver involved.
Kieran Arkless, 23, from Willington, near Crook, was over the drink drive limit when his Ford Focus was in a head-on smash with Mr Foster’s Skoda Octavia taxi on a bend on the A689 near Newton Cap viaduct at around 12.30am on December 14.
http://goo.gl/xudYqw
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
CARDIFF, Brainless Licensing.
A young woman was refused a taxi home from work at 4am despite having to walk past the scene of three sex attacks.
DJ Jasmine Freeman, 23, was turned away by the taxi firm after she finished work - and was told that her mile-long journey was "too short."
It comes just weeks after three young women were victims of serious sex assaults in the space of five days in Cardiff city centre.
The DJ had finished work at Cardiff's Buffalo Bar around 4am when her boss said he'd phone a taxi for her.
But the cab firm told her they weren't picking customers up from the bar - and told her to look elsewhere.
Jasmine lives in Cathays - a five-minute drive from the bar and past the scene of the three sex attacks.
She said: "The nearest taxi rank is a five to 10-minute walk away and there are never many taxis there.
"A taxi firm should have a duty of care to get people home safely and they certainly didn't in this case."
Her bosses said: "After all the goings on in Cardiff we do our best to make sure our staff and customers get home OK. To be refused is a joke."
Cardiff Council said private hire cabs operated under a different licence to Hackney Carriages - and who private companies choose to pick up is at their own discretion.
A spokesman said: "Private hire is basically a contract between the driver and the person getting the taxi. At that point in time, when the phone call was made, it would be that all the cars were booked, no drivers were available or any other similar scenario."
Two men have been arrested and charged with rape in connection to two of the three Cardiff sex attacks.
Khalid Alahmadi, 23, and Rebus Hamza, 40, will both appear at Cardiff Crown Court on October 12.
Alahmadi was arrested in connection with the sexual assault on a 19-year-old girl on September 24, and Hamza with the sexual assault of a 20-year-old on September 20.
Police are still investigating the third assault which took place during the early hours of September 22.
http://goo.gl/Xg6GQu
Comment; Cardiff Licensing spokesman states
* "Private hire is basically a contract between the driver and the person getting the taxi." *
A ride booked with a PH Driver is a criminal offence. Rides have to be booked with A PH Operator and then passed to the driver.
----------------------------------------
OXFORD
A Barrister who operated a cab company without a licence has been fined £600 by the bar regulator.
Ahtiq Raja, who was a barrister at 9 King’s Bench Walk until September this year, was the director of taxi company Call a Cab. The firm was last year found guilty at Oxford Magistrates’ Court of five separate offences for operating a cab in a controlled district without a licence.
According to local news reports at the time, Raja and his taxi firm were ordered to pay a fine of £25,000 after a two-year legal battle. The firm was also banned from operating in Aylesbury.
The Bar Standards Board found Raja culpable of professional misconduct for behaving in a way that was likely to diminish trust and confidence in the profession. The finding was as a result of determination by consent.
http://goo.gl/rk9tA3
----------------------
A young woman was refused a taxi home from work at 4am despite having to walk past the scene of three sex attacks.
DJ Jasmine Freeman, 23, was turned away by the taxi firm after she finished work - and was told that her mile-long journey was "too short."
It comes just weeks after three young women were victims of serious sex assaults in the space of five days in Cardiff city centre.
The DJ had finished work at Cardiff's Buffalo Bar around 4am when her boss said he'd phone a taxi for her.
But the cab firm told her they weren't picking customers up from the bar - and told her to look elsewhere.
Jasmine lives in Cathays - a five-minute drive from the bar and past the scene of the three sex attacks.
She said: "The nearest taxi rank is a five to 10-minute walk away and there are never many taxis there.
"A taxi firm should have a duty of care to get people home safely and they certainly didn't in this case."
Her bosses said: "After all the goings on in Cardiff we do our best to make sure our staff and customers get home OK. To be refused is a joke."
Cardiff Council said private hire cabs operated under a different licence to Hackney Carriages - and who private companies choose to pick up is at their own discretion.
A spokesman said: "Private hire is basically a contract between the driver and the person getting the taxi. At that point in time, when the phone call was made, it would be that all the cars were booked, no drivers were available or any other similar scenario."
Two men have been arrested and charged with rape in connection to two of the three Cardiff sex attacks.
Khalid Alahmadi, 23, and Rebus Hamza, 40, will both appear at Cardiff Crown Court on October 12.
Alahmadi was arrested in connection with the sexual assault on a 19-year-old girl on September 24, and Hamza with the sexual assault of a 20-year-old on September 20.
Police are still investigating the third assault which took place during the early hours of September 22.
http://goo.gl/Xg6GQu
Comment; Cardiff Licensing spokesman states
* "Private hire is basically a contract between the driver and the person getting the taxi." *
A ride booked with a PH Driver is a criminal offence. Rides have to be booked with A PH Operator and then passed to the driver.
----------------------------------------
OXFORD
A Barrister who operated a cab company without a licence has been fined £600 by the bar regulator.
Ahtiq Raja, who was a barrister at 9 King’s Bench Walk until September this year, was the director of taxi company Call a Cab. The firm was last year found guilty at Oxford Magistrates’ Court of five separate offences for operating a cab in a controlled district without a licence.
According to local news reports at the time, Raja and his taxi firm were ordered to pay a fine of £25,000 after a two-year legal battle. The firm was also banned from operating in Aylesbury.
The Bar Standards Board found Raja culpable of professional misconduct for behaving in a way that was likely to diminish trust and confidence in the profession. The finding was as a result of determination by consent.
http://goo.gl/rk9tA3
----------------------
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
MANCHESTER
Punters enjoying an afternoon pint were forced to run for cover after a taxi smashed into the front of a pub.
The driver, who was left with cuts and scrapes, said he had been trying to avoid another car when he ploughed into the front of the White Hart pub in Middleton in Greater Manchester this afternoon.
Pictures show the front of the car embedded in the front of the building, leaving behind a smashed window.
Taxi driver Arshad Hussain, 45, from Rochdale, told the Manchester Evening News he was forced to swerve into the pub when another driver failed to stop at a junction.
He said: "I tried to swerve and not hit her and ended up in the wall.
"I am a bit disorientated at the minute."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/punters-forced-run-cover-after-6586305?
-----------------------------------------
ROSSENDALE
AN East Lancashire council has become involved in a taxi cab row after issuing licences to more than 1,800 drivers.
Rossendale Council has been accused of approving too many hackney carriage licences which has led to its drivers acting as minicabs across the North-West and into Yorkshire.
It has 1,864 drivers who have been issued with taxi licences and just two for private hire for a population of 65,000.
In contrast Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Chorley and Pendle currently have jointly issued 336 taxi licences and 1,973 private hire permits for a combined population of 700,000.
This week the issue prompted a ‘War of the Roses’ with Bradford City Council’s deputy leader Val Slater accusing Rossendale borough of licensing hundreds of drivers who were only interested in crossing the Pennines to work as private hire vehicles in her city.
She claimed standards were lower in the Lancashire council’s area than in Yorkshire.
The leader of Rossendale borough Alyson Barnes and its taxi association boss David Lawrie have rejected her claims.
They accused Bradford and other Yorkshire and East Lancashire councils of operating an unlawful cap on black cab licences.
But Cllr Slater’s fears were echoed by Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson and Blackburn cab drivers’ leader Mohammed Younis.
Bradford has just 222 black cab licences and 2,700 private hire vehicle permits for its 500,000 residents.
Cllr Slater also claimed drivers turned down in Bradford were going to Rossendale.
She said she had not been able to convince Rossendale to tackle the problem despite repeated attempts.
“We have tried to talk to their leader about why they are setting these low standards,” she said.
“I would not get in a private hire that was licensed in Rossendale.”
Cllr Slater said Rossendale had lower standards for knowledge tests, English tests and criminal record checks and that cabs with its licenses are also immune from Bradford’s safety spot-checks.
Last month, an enforcement officer from Rossendale Council joined Bradford staff on a spot-checking exercise finding problems with all four of its licensed vehicles stopped.
Cllr Barnes said: “We are following the law regarding taxi licences.
“The government says there should be no arbitrary cap as operated by other councils and this needs sorting out.
“We reject allegations that our standards for driver or cab safety are lower but we are reviewing our policies.
“Two thirds of applications are refused.
“We may be issuing too many licences and are reviewing our procedures to include new maths and English tests.
“We are looking at introducing a test for drivers over whether they intend use their vehicles mainly in the borough.”
Mr Lawrie said: “The reason people come here is that other councils operate a cap on the number of hackney carriage licences, contrary to clear government policy.
“If they did not operate that cap, which in my view is not legal, drivers would not be coming to Rossendale for licences.
“Bradford and other councils need to look at their own licensing regime not blame Rossendale.”
A spokeswoman for Rossendale Council’s licensing department said the £783,000 a year revenue from taxi licensing was ring-fenced to cover the significant costs of the licensing service.
Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson said: “We set high standards for taxis.
“Unfortunately when a vehicle is licensed elsewhere we are not able to carry out the same rigorous checks.
“How Rossendale Council acts is a matter for them, although I do know that this approach has been criticised by a number of authorities around us.”
Mr Younis said: “We have problem in the borough with Rossendale taxis operating as private hire vehicles here.
“The council there issues too many hackney carriage licences and they operate as minicabs all over the North-West and the country.”
Punters enjoying an afternoon pint were forced to run for cover after a taxi smashed into the front of a pub.
The driver, who was left with cuts and scrapes, said he had been trying to avoid another car when he ploughed into the front of the White Hart pub in Middleton in Greater Manchester this afternoon.
Pictures show the front of the car embedded in the front of the building, leaving behind a smashed window.
Taxi driver Arshad Hussain, 45, from Rochdale, told the Manchester Evening News he was forced to swerve into the pub when another driver failed to stop at a junction.
He said: "I tried to swerve and not hit her and ended up in the wall.
"I am a bit disorientated at the minute."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/punters-forced-run-cover-after-6586305?
-----------------------------------------
ROSSENDALE
AN East Lancashire council has become involved in a taxi cab row after issuing licences to more than 1,800 drivers.
Rossendale Council has been accused of approving too many hackney carriage licences which has led to its drivers acting as minicabs across the North-West and into Yorkshire.
It has 1,864 drivers who have been issued with taxi licences and just two for private hire for a population of 65,000.
In contrast Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Chorley and Pendle currently have jointly issued 336 taxi licences and 1,973 private hire permits for a combined population of 700,000.
This week the issue prompted a ‘War of the Roses’ with Bradford City Council’s deputy leader Val Slater accusing Rossendale borough of licensing hundreds of drivers who were only interested in crossing the Pennines to work as private hire vehicles in her city.
She claimed standards were lower in the Lancashire council’s area than in Yorkshire.
The leader of Rossendale borough Alyson Barnes and its taxi association boss David Lawrie have rejected her claims.
They accused Bradford and other Yorkshire and East Lancashire councils of operating an unlawful cap on black cab licences.
But Cllr Slater’s fears were echoed by Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson and Blackburn cab drivers’ leader Mohammed Younis.
Bradford has just 222 black cab licences and 2,700 private hire vehicle permits for its 500,000 residents.
Cllr Slater also claimed drivers turned down in Bradford were going to Rossendale.
She said she had not been able to convince Rossendale to tackle the problem despite repeated attempts.
“We have tried to talk to their leader about why they are setting these low standards,” she said.
“I would not get in a private hire that was licensed in Rossendale.”
Cllr Slater said Rossendale had lower standards for knowledge tests, English tests and criminal record checks and that cabs with its licenses are also immune from Bradford’s safety spot-checks.
Last month, an enforcement officer from Rossendale Council joined Bradford staff on a spot-checking exercise finding problems with all four of its licensed vehicles stopped.
Cllr Barnes said: “We are following the law regarding taxi licences.
“The government says there should be no arbitrary cap as operated by other councils and this needs sorting out.
“We reject allegations that our standards for driver or cab safety are lower but we are reviewing our policies.
“Two thirds of applications are refused.
“We may be issuing too many licences and are reviewing our procedures to include new maths and English tests.
“We are looking at introducing a test for drivers over whether they intend use their vehicles mainly in the borough.”
Mr Lawrie said: “The reason people come here is that other councils operate a cap on the number of hackney carriage licences, contrary to clear government policy.
“If they did not operate that cap, which in my view is not legal, drivers would not be coming to Rossendale for licences.
“Bradford and other councils need to look at their own licensing regime not blame Rossendale.”
A spokeswoman for Rossendale Council’s licensing department said the £783,000 a year revenue from taxi licensing was ring-fenced to cover the significant costs of the licensing service.
Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson said: “We set high standards for taxis.
“Unfortunately when a vehicle is licensed elsewhere we are not able to carry out the same rigorous checks.
“How Rossendale Council acts is a matter for them, although I do know that this approach has been criticised by a number of authorities around us.”
Mr Younis said: “We have problem in the borough with Rossendale taxis operating as private hire vehicles here.
“The council there issues too many hackney carriage licences and they operate as minicabs all over the North-West and the country.”
Monday, 5 October 2015
BOLTON DRIVERS STRIKE.
There were the dramatic scenes as angry taxi drivers stormed into council offices to protest against an increase in licensing charges.
Scores of protesters loudly chanted “we won’t pay” and cheered and clapped as they flooded into the One Stop Shop building in Bolton Town Hall.
The demonstration was the culmination of a morning of action which also saw hundreds of cars flood into the town centre. Major routes around the borough were disrupted by drivers, badly affecting people’s journeys into work.
It is believed that an emergency meeting has now been arranged between union representatives and council bosses — and drivers are threatening more action if they are not heard.
Yasir Amir, chairman of the Bolton Private Hire Association, said: "This is just the start. We are protesting against the council for the increases in licence fees.
"The major strike will be very soon, this is just a few hours of protest this morning, we are very happy with the turnout today but we have got bigger plans.
"If the council are prepared to sit down with us then we can stop this, but if they don't we will carry on."
The row stems from a decision ratified by Bolton Council’s Licensing Committee last week to raise the cost of a licence to run both private hire and hackney cabs in Bolton.
The changes came in response to a national review of licensing prices across the country, following a landmark ruling in Westminster which found that sex shops were being overcharged for licences.
The review — which has been independently audited — found that in order to correctly cover its costs, the licensing department must raise the cost of a first time licence for private hire and hackney drivers from £80 to £195 — a rise of 143 per cent.
For current drivers, the cost of renewal licences has gone up as well — from £41 to £82 (50 per cent) for hackney cabs and from £41 to £114 (178 per cent) for private hire drivers.These rises will, however, be staggered across three years, to limit the impact on drivers and will not reach the full new price until 2017/18.
The council has also pointed out that its new renewal fee of £204 is on the lower end in Greater Manchester, with only Salford and Manchester offering cheaper deals.
Cllr Martin Donaghy, Bolton Council’s licensing chairman, said the increase, although 'not ideal', was agreed by all parties on the committee as the fairest way to implement the results of the review.
He said: “The fact the increase will be phased in means the charge will actually only be going up by 52 pence per week and we have used £140,000 of one-off funding to allow for that phasing.
“We have looked at other boroughs and found that our plans are competitive and average and it is important to point out that for our new three-year licence fee includes everything needed to be on the road.”
This was not a view shared by the hundreds of protesting drivers.
Cabbie Mike Hammond said: “Enough is enough, it feels like they are changing the rules — we don’t mind them putting up the fees a bit, but 178 per cent is ridiculous.”
Yasif Khan, secretary of the Private Hire Association, added: “Our licence fee was £41 and will go to £114 — that is a 178 per cent rise, inflation is only three per cent at the moment.
“If they did this to the council tax there would be an uproar everywhere, they have to talk to us and come to their senses, we are not going to pay it.”
The major protest caused problems for thousands of commuters attempting to get into and around the borough and there was anger directed towards the striking drivers.
Ashley Unsworth was attempting to make her way into Bolton for work. She said: “This is really stupid and I don’t agree with it at all. It is stopping normal people from being able to come to work — I was really delayed by it.”
Bolton College student Francis Greenall, aged 27, was delayed by more than an hour on his bus route from Bury to Bolton.
He said: "It wasn’t great — my journey took 90 minutes, when it should only be 30 minutes.
“I am going to be late for my lectures now and will have to catch up on work.”
A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “We are disappointed by the strike as we have met regularly with the drivers’ associations and kept them informed about the changes.
Share article
“The new charges ensure we comply with statutory regulations and all money gathered through licence fees is invested directly back into the service. We are happy to meet the drivers’ representatives again to discuss their concerns.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13804732.UPDATE__Taxi_protest_brings_Bolton_to_a_standstill/?ref=rss
There were the dramatic scenes as angry taxi drivers stormed into council offices to protest against an increase in licensing charges.
Scores of protesters loudly chanted “we won’t pay” and cheered and clapped as they flooded into the One Stop Shop building in Bolton Town Hall.
The demonstration was the culmination of a morning of action which also saw hundreds of cars flood into the town centre. Major routes around the borough were disrupted by drivers, badly affecting people’s journeys into work.
It is believed that an emergency meeting has now been arranged between union representatives and council bosses — and drivers are threatening more action if they are not heard.
Yasir Amir, chairman of the Bolton Private Hire Association, said: "This is just the start. We are protesting against the council for the increases in licence fees.
"The major strike will be very soon, this is just a few hours of protest this morning, we are very happy with the turnout today but we have got bigger plans.
"If the council are prepared to sit down with us then we can stop this, but if they don't we will carry on."
The row stems from a decision ratified by Bolton Council’s Licensing Committee last week to raise the cost of a licence to run both private hire and hackney cabs in Bolton.
The changes came in response to a national review of licensing prices across the country, following a landmark ruling in Westminster which found that sex shops were being overcharged for licences.
The review — which has been independently audited — found that in order to correctly cover its costs, the licensing department must raise the cost of a first time licence for private hire and hackney drivers from £80 to £195 — a rise of 143 per cent.
For current drivers, the cost of renewal licences has gone up as well — from £41 to £82 (50 per cent) for hackney cabs and from £41 to £114 (178 per cent) for private hire drivers.These rises will, however, be staggered across three years, to limit the impact on drivers and will not reach the full new price until 2017/18.
The council has also pointed out that its new renewal fee of £204 is on the lower end in Greater Manchester, with only Salford and Manchester offering cheaper deals.
Cllr Martin Donaghy, Bolton Council’s licensing chairman, said the increase, although 'not ideal', was agreed by all parties on the committee as the fairest way to implement the results of the review.
He said: “The fact the increase will be phased in means the charge will actually only be going up by 52 pence per week and we have used £140,000 of one-off funding to allow for that phasing.
“We have looked at other boroughs and found that our plans are competitive and average and it is important to point out that for our new three-year licence fee includes everything needed to be on the road.”
This was not a view shared by the hundreds of protesting drivers.
Cabbie Mike Hammond said: “Enough is enough, it feels like they are changing the rules — we don’t mind them putting up the fees a bit, but 178 per cent is ridiculous.”
Yasif Khan, secretary of the Private Hire Association, added: “Our licence fee was £41 and will go to £114 — that is a 178 per cent rise, inflation is only three per cent at the moment.
“If they did this to the council tax there would be an uproar everywhere, they have to talk to us and come to their senses, we are not going to pay it.”
The major protest caused problems for thousands of commuters attempting to get into and around the borough and there was anger directed towards the striking drivers.
Ashley Unsworth was attempting to make her way into Bolton for work. She said: “This is really stupid and I don’t agree with it at all. It is stopping normal people from being able to come to work — I was really delayed by it.”
Bolton College student Francis Greenall, aged 27, was delayed by more than an hour on his bus route from Bury to Bolton.
He said: "It wasn’t great — my journey took 90 minutes, when it should only be 30 minutes.
“I am going to be late for my lectures now and will have to catch up on work.”
A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “We are disappointed by the strike as we have met regularly with the drivers’ associations and kept them informed about the changes.
Share article
“The new charges ensure we comply with statutory regulations and all money gathered through licence fees is invested directly back into the service. We are happy to meet the drivers’ representatives again to discuss their concerns.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13804732.UPDATE__Taxi_protest_brings_Bolton_to_a_standstill/?ref=rss
TFL V UBER. Judge reserves Judgement.
Uber warns the plans will spell the end to the company its users 'know and love today'
The system used in London by app-based taxi service Uber has been called into question in the High Court.
Transport for London (TfL) and Uber are seeking guidance on whether the company's smartphones are considered meters, which are outlawed for private hire vehicles.
The phones use GPS and external servers to calculate the cost of a journey.
A ruling is to be delivered later, but Uber said the outcome would not affect its ability to operate in London.
Originally scheduled to last two days, the case finished early, on Monday, with a judgement reserved until a later date.
The app-based company allows users to order cars via their smartphones, which often arrive within minutes and can cost a fraction of the price of a black cab.
It operates in Birmingham, Manchester, Merseyside, Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol and Sheffield in the UK, and in 60 countries across the world.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said it would be "nuts" to ban the technology behind the app and called for black cabs and private hire companies to work together and "find a balance" for the benefit of the capital.
TfL's barrister Martin Chamberlain said the point of law Mr Justice Ouseley at the High Court must decide was "narrow but difficult".
He said the organisation had not considered the smartphone app unlawful from the outset, but that TfL needed clarification from the court as the point was "arguable".
Mr Chamberlain added: "TfL has formed a view. If the court takes a different view TfL intends to ensure the law as declared by this court is properly enforced."
A spokesman for Uber said: "We are looking forward to getting binding clarity on this issue in the High Court."
Uber London Ltd, the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) and Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) will give their responses in the hearing.
The LTDA is asking the judge to rule that using a smartphone is unlawful as it said along with apps they operate as taximeters and it is not necessary for them to be "physically" attached to a vehicle to break the law.
LPHCA supports the LTDA's position, saying the app "is an attempt to circumvent the statutory prohibition on the use of a taximeter".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34445398
Uber warns the plans will spell the end to the company its users 'know and love today'
The system used in London by app-based taxi service Uber has been called into question in the High Court.
Transport for London (TfL) and Uber are seeking guidance on whether the company's smartphones are considered meters, which are outlawed for private hire vehicles.
The phones use GPS and external servers to calculate the cost of a journey.
A ruling is to be delivered later, but Uber said the outcome would not affect its ability to operate in London.
Originally scheduled to last two days, the case finished early, on Monday, with a judgement reserved until a later date.
The app-based company allows users to order cars via their smartphones, which often arrive within minutes and can cost a fraction of the price of a black cab.
It operates in Birmingham, Manchester, Merseyside, Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol and Sheffield in the UK, and in 60 countries across the world.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said it would be "nuts" to ban the technology behind the app and called for black cabs and private hire companies to work together and "find a balance" for the benefit of the capital.
TfL's barrister Martin Chamberlain said the point of law Mr Justice Ouseley at the High Court must decide was "narrow but difficult".
He said the organisation had not considered the smartphone app unlawful from the outset, but that TfL needed clarification from the court as the point was "arguable".
Mr Chamberlain added: "TfL has formed a view. If the court takes a different view TfL intends to ensure the law as declared by this court is properly enforced."
A spokesman for Uber said: "We are looking forward to getting binding clarity on this issue in the High Court."
Uber London Ltd, the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) and Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) will give their responses in the hearing.
The LTDA is asking the judge to rule that using a smartphone is unlawful as it said along with apps they operate as taximeters and it is not necessary for them to be "physically" attached to a vehicle to break the law.
LPHCA supports the LTDA's position, saying the app "is an attempt to circumvent the statutory prohibition on the use of a taximeter".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34445398
A protest by black cab drivers has again caused gridlock in London as cabbies take to the streets in their long-running battle with Transport for London over the way private hire vehicles, including Uber, are regulated.
The United Cabbies Group (UCG) has been holding weekly protests that have so far caused traffic chaos at Bank junction and Fleet Street, but today’s action is focussed on TfL’s headquarters at Windsor House on Victoria Street.
It comes as the High Court considers whether or not the Uber app functions as a Taximeter and breaks TfL regulations that say only licensed taxis can use them. Uber cars are licensed as Private Hire Vehicles (PHV), also known as minicabs.
Today Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who clashed with cabbies at Mayor’s Question Time, said in his Telegraph column: “At present that law is being systematically broken – or at least circumvented – by the use of the Uber app.” The Metropolitan Police have closed roads and imposed conditions on the protest, with Commander BJ Harrington, Gold for the policing of the event said, “When an organiser of an event comes to us, we need to balance their rights with the impact their event will have on the local community. “Victoria Street and the surrounding area is a busy traffic route and we believe if the proposed procession went ahead without conditions it would result in serious disruption.”
http://www.london24.com/news/transport/taxi_protest_causes_gridlock_in_westminster_1_4259516
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14 out of 24 taxis stopped in Huddersfield on Friday night had defects
Five were taken off the road immediately and a further nine were given suspension notices with brakes and tyres a big problem
A spot check by Kirklees Council officers saw five out of 24 licensed taxis hauled off the road after dangerous defects were found.
Licensing officer Andrew Prescott said a further nine drivers were handed suspension notices giving them a brief time in which to remedy significant defects.
The other 10 vehicles were given the all clear.
Mr Prescott said: “Well over 50 per cent of the vehicles we examined needed to have some kind of work carried out.
“It was routine maintenance on brakes and tyres. I think that is a disappointing figure. It’s a worry that so many did not pass the test.”
There are around 2,000 licensed vehicles in Kirklees.
The spot checks were carried out on Friday on the ring road close to the multi-storey car park at Queensgate between 6pm and 10pm.
A further four motorists were told they could not drive their vehicles including one man who only had a provisional licence.
Another eight vehicles were given rectification sheets requiring their owners to carry out remedial work. Three more were dealt with by way of traffic offence reports.
One of those called in for a check was Ben Phillips, 21, who runs Banney Royd Gardening Services with his brother Marc Shaw. Their vehicle was given the all clear.
Mr Phillips said: “I think these spot checks are a good thing. I have only been driving a couple of weeks and we need our vehicle for our work so it’s important to keep it well-maintained.”
Amjad Naddem, 44, a self-employed taxi driver who has been working for nearly 12 years, said: “I think it’s a good thing. If vehicles are not roadworthy then they should not be on the road. The public need to have confidence in our vehicles.”
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/14-out-24-taxis-stopped-10197017
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LEEDS
An investigation has been launched after taxi customer Suzanne Giblett claimed she was assaulted by her driver in a row over money.
Amber Cars has confirmed it has suspended a driver and alerted Leeds City Council’s licensing department while it investigates the 27-year-old’s claims, which have so far been shared 9,000 times in a post on Facebook.
Suzanne said that, after using Amber’s phone app to pay through her card for a journey from Burley to Leeds city centre on Friday night, she got out of the car and walked off before being “grabbed” by the taxi driver who said the payment had not gone through.
She told the YEP: “He grabbed my bag and tried to drag me down the stairs and said ‘You’re not going anywhere’. I was panicking and crying. Three people stopped to help. He was just shouting in my face and pointing at me.”
She said she’s since had an email receipt but is double-checking whether the money went though, but added: “That’s not the way to deal with it.”
Amber Cars said an investigation is ongoing into the incident. A statement on the company’s Facebook site added: “Customer and public safety is paramount to Amber Cars, hence the introduction of text back, ringback and the vehicle registration number being sent. You can also track your vehicle when booked via the app. This means the customer always knows whose car they are getting in, and that they don’t have to wait outside alone until they know the car is there. We transport over 200,000 passengers every week safely.”
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of this particular complaint, and are currently undertaking an investigation to assess if any action needs to be undertaken.”
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/investigation-launched-into-leeds-taxi-row-1-7497532
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LANCASTER
An 18-year-old woman suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a taxi in Lancaster on Saturday night, October 3.
Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident which they say occured in Parliament Street at around 11.30pm.
But witnesses, and a witness incident appeal poster, flag up the location as Cable Street, between Sainsburys and The Bobbin pub.
The woman was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital where she remains in a serious condition.
The road was closed for two and a half hours to facilitate an investigation.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log 1826 of October 3.
http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/woman-hit-by-taxi-in-lancaster-in-serious-condition-1-7497192
The United Cabbies Group (UCG) has been holding weekly protests that have so far caused traffic chaos at Bank junction and Fleet Street, but today’s action is focussed on TfL’s headquarters at Windsor House on Victoria Street.
It comes as the High Court considers whether or not the Uber app functions as a Taximeter and breaks TfL regulations that say only licensed taxis can use them. Uber cars are licensed as Private Hire Vehicles (PHV), also known as minicabs.
Today Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who clashed with cabbies at Mayor’s Question Time, said in his Telegraph column: “At present that law is being systematically broken – or at least circumvented – by the use of the Uber app.” The Metropolitan Police have closed roads and imposed conditions on the protest, with Commander BJ Harrington, Gold for the policing of the event said, “When an organiser of an event comes to us, we need to balance their rights with the impact their event will have on the local community. “Victoria Street and the surrounding area is a busy traffic route and we believe if the proposed procession went ahead without conditions it would result in serious disruption.”
http://www.london24.com/news/transport/taxi_protest_causes_gridlock_in_westminster_1_4259516
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14 out of 24 taxis stopped in Huddersfield on Friday night had defects
Five were taken off the road immediately and a further nine were given suspension notices with brakes and tyres a big problem
A spot check by Kirklees Council officers saw five out of 24 licensed taxis hauled off the road after dangerous defects were found.
Licensing officer Andrew Prescott said a further nine drivers were handed suspension notices giving them a brief time in which to remedy significant defects.
The other 10 vehicles were given the all clear.
Mr Prescott said: “Well over 50 per cent of the vehicles we examined needed to have some kind of work carried out.
“It was routine maintenance on brakes and tyres. I think that is a disappointing figure. It’s a worry that so many did not pass the test.”
There are around 2,000 licensed vehicles in Kirklees.
The spot checks were carried out on Friday on the ring road close to the multi-storey car park at Queensgate between 6pm and 10pm.
A further four motorists were told they could not drive their vehicles including one man who only had a provisional licence.
Another eight vehicles were given rectification sheets requiring their owners to carry out remedial work. Three more were dealt with by way of traffic offence reports.
One of those called in for a check was Ben Phillips, 21, who runs Banney Royd Gardening Services with his brother Marc Shaw. Their vehicle was given the all clear.
Mr Phillips said: “I think these spot checks are a good thing. I have only been driving a couple of weeks and we need our vehicle for our work so it’s important to keep it well-maintained.”
Amjad Naddem, 44, a self-employed taxi driver who has been working for nearly 12 years, said: “I think it’s a good thing. If vehicles are not roadworthy then they should not be on the road. The public need to have confidence in our vehicles.”
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/14-out-24-taxis-stopped-10197017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEEDS
An investigation has been launched after taxi customer Suzanne Giblett claimed she was assaulted by her driver in a row over money.
Amber Cars has confirmed it has suspended a driver and alerted Leeds City Council’s licensing department while it investigates the 27-year-old’s claims, which have so far been shared 9,000 times in a post on Facebook.
Suzanne said that, after using Amber’s phone app to pay through her card for a journey from Burley to Leeds city centre on Friday night, she got out of the car and walked off before being “grabbed” by the taxi driver who said the payment had not gone through.
She told the YEP: “He grabbed my bag and tried to drag me down the stairs and said ‘You’re not going anywhere’. I was panicking and crying. Three people stopped to help. He was just shouting in my face and pointing at me.”
She said she’s since had an email receipt but is double-checking whether the money went though, but added: “That’s not the way to deal with it.”
Amber Cars said an investigation is ongoing into the incident. A statement on the company’s Facebook site added: “Customer and public safety is paramount to Amber Cars, hence the introduction of text back, ringback and the vehicle registration number being sent. You can also track your vehicle when booked via the app. This means the customer always knows whose car they are getting in, and that they don’t have to wait outside alone until they know the car is there. We transport over 200,000 passengers every week safely.”
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of this particular complaint, and are currently undertaking an investigation to assess if any action needs to be undertaken.”
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/investigation-launched-into-leeds-taxi-row-1-7497532
----------------------------------------
LANCASTER
An 18-year-old woman suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a taxi in Lancaster on Saturday night, October 3.
Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident which they say occured in Parliament Street at around 11.30pm.
But witnesses, and a witness incident appeal poster, flag up the location as Cable Street, between Sainsburys and The Bobbin pub.
The woman was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital where she remains in a serious condition.
The road was closed for two and a half hours to facilitate an investigation.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log 1826 of October 3.
http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/woman-hit-by-taxi-in-lancaster-in-serious-condition-1-7497192
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