EAST STAFFORDSHIRE

PAEDOPHILES, burglars and a kidnapper were among those who applied to become taxi drivers across East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire.

Figures from the Disclosure and Barring Service show that between 2012 and 2015, 2,890 disclosure orders were applied for.

Anyone applying to become a licence holder of a private hire vehicle or a hackney carriage must have a check carried out by the DBS which they must present as part of their application.

From the applications made, more than 17 per cent were found to have a conviction; 514 applicants in total with 2,003 convictions, cautions or reprimands between them.

Offences include indecent assault on a female under the age of 14, sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 16 and kidnapping.

There was also a host of driving offences including not wearing a seatbelt and driving while disqualified.

Policies from East Staffordshire Borough Council and South Derbyshire District Council mirror one another with major offences such as sexual assault or violence leaving it 'unlikely' that a licence will be accepted.

A spokesman from South Derbyshire District Council said: "Our main priority is protecting the public and making South Derbyshire a safe place to be. A full DBS check is required for all new drivers applying to us for a licence and the law requires that this check must be renewed every three years. Drivers are required to notify us of any new convictions they may have.

"The council's policy is that when anyone with a previous criminal conviction applies for a private hire licence, the case is referred to the Licensing and Appeals Sub-Committee.

"Our private hire licensing policy, which can be viewed on our website, is then applied in each individual case to inform prior to any decision made."

The DBS is not able to state whether any of the individuals were employed as that decision is down to the local authority.

A spokesman from East Staffordshire Borough Council said: "Following the appropriate legislation the general licensing committee consider whether the applicant is a fit and proper person.

"Each case must be dealt with on its own merits. The committee follow Home Office guidance for particular offences and periods free from conviction will be taken into account.

"The principal objective for the licensing authority is the safety and protection of the public."

http://goo.gl/ZNpSXF
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 DERRY

 A taxi driver who was caught with over £3,000 worth of Cocaine in his car has received a suspended sentence.

Canice Joseph Cunningham, of Agahmore Park, Strathfoyle, pleaded guilty to possessing Cocaine with intent to supply and possessing Tramadol with intent to supply on December 19, 2014.

Derry Crown Court heard that Cunningham’s taxi was stopped at a picnic area on the Foreglen Road when it was searched by police.

Officers seized multiple bags containing a white powder. In total over 63 grams of Cocaine were seized, with a street value of £3,161.

Police also found a paper bag in the car containing 116 capsules of Tramadol.

Cunningham’s home address was also searched and police found £2,600 and 480 euro.

During police interview, the 42-year-old stated that he bought the Cocaine and bagged it to monitor how much he was taking.

He admitted that he would give some Cocaine to friends if they needed it.

http://goo.gl/M8o7K2
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 NEW DELHI, April 29 (Reuters) - A flurry of complaints from Uber drivers about an unusually high number of cancelled bookings was the spark that ignited a bitter legal fight with Ola, Uber's rival for dominance of India's $12 billion taxi market, according to court documents and a source with direct knowledge of Uber's case.

A seven-member internal team was set up to investigate the drivers' complaints in November, and its findings are the basis of a lawsuit filed by Uber accusing Ola of a campaign to disrupt its business and poach its drivers, said the source.
Ola, an Indian company backed by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp , denies any wrongdoing.
Uber is suing Ola for $7.5 million to compensate for lost revenue and goodwill, alleging the Indian market leader created about 94,000 fake user accounts with the ride-hailing service and used them to make more than 405,000 false bookings.
The broad outlines of the lawsuit were reported when it was filed last month, but a Reuters review of court filings and interviews with sources close to both sides have uncovered new details about how Uber says it was able to trace fake bookings and calls to Ola employees, and Ola's response to the allegations.

It paints a picture of a no-holds-barred corporate battle between the two start-ups in one of the world's fastest growing taxi markets, where both have been burning millions of dollars of investor money as they seek to undercut each other with cheaper fares.

A source close to Ola said the case against it had been fabricated in retaliation for a lawsuit it had filed earlier this year accusing Uber of flouting a court order to switch to clean-fuel cars in the Indian capital.

Uber said it could not comment on a matter that was still before the courts, and Reuters was unable to independently verify the allegations made by either side.
SoftBank, one of Ola's largest investors, declined to comment on the case.

http://goo.gl/DSioRQ
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 CORK

 GARDAÍ ARE APPEALING for information after a man in his 30s was struck and injured by a car as he got out of a taxi at Cork’s Kent Station.

It happened on the Lower Glanmire Road near the station at 2.05am this morning.

According to gardaí:

“A pedestrian, man in his 30s, received serious injuries when he was struck by a car that failed to remain at the scene.

“The victim was exiting a taxi just beyond Kent Train Station when he was struck.

“Witnesses describe the offending car as a grey Toyota, possibly a Starlet or a Corolla.

 It is possible the offending vehicle left in the direction of Grattan Hill.

The man was taken to Cork University Hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Witnesses to the incident are asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on 021 4558510.

http://www.thejournal.ie/cork-hit-and-run-2743267-Apr2016/