NEWPORT SOUTH WALES
THE cashless taxi app Uber is set to launch in Newport tomorrow at 4pm, adding Newport to its UK city base.
While highly popular and easy to use, the system has caused controversy among taxi firms and drivers, who fear the digital fares will force them out of business.
Newport will become the second Welsh city after Cardiff to welcome Uber to its streets, adding to more than 20 cities across the UK where it is in operation.
“We’re really excited to be launching our second city in Wales this Friday,” said Fouzan Ali, the general manager for Uber in Wales.
“Already tens of thousands of people have used the Uber app in Cardiff and now we’re able to offer the same safe, convenient and affordable experience in Newport."
The app operates by allowing users to book a licensed private hire driver at the touch of a button through the smartphone app.
Passengers pay for their fare using the app, which takes the money from the rider’s registered bank card.
All drivers using the Uber app in the UK are licensed for private hire and Newport drivers will have a licence from Newport City Council.
This includes an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check – which is the same process black cab drivers, teachers and care workers go through.
“This launch also means that locally licensed private-hire drivers can now apply to use the Uber app and become their own boss - choosing when and where they want to work,” he added.
With the app, an example journey from Newport Station to the Royal Gwent Hospital would cost around £3.50.
Taxi drivers have raised their concerns over the app, with some fearing it will force them out of the market.
Previously, David Bryant from Newport’s Dragon Taxis said: “It’s the guys on the road, the taxi drivers, who are going to suffer. There’s no taxi firms making money at the moment.
“I’m nearly 59 years old and I’m having to work 10 hours a day because fares are so low.”
https://goo.gl/lAH0TM
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BOLTON
A MAN who reversed over a taxi driver with his own cab while drunk has been banned from driving for 18 months.
Anthony Nolan, of Stonedelph Close, Ainsworth, admitted getting into the driver’s seat of the Elton Bullitt taxi on October 25 last year and reversing over the driver, Abdul Chaudhary, who had got out of the vehicle because he was scared of Nolan’s dog.
Bolton Crown Court heard on Monday that the 45-year-old and a friend had taken the taxi to Back Bolton Road, where he got out of the car to collect the Staffordshire bull terrier from his ex-partner’s house.
The driver, who is allergic to dogs, jumped out of the car when Nolan brought the animal inside it.
Nolan then walked around to the driver’s side of the vehicle as the dog followed the driver, switched the engine on and reversed the car back slowly, hitting the driver, before fleeing the scene.
In statements submitted to the court, Mr Chaudhary described his injuries as “severe” and “life-threatening”, adding that his work had suffered since then because he is in a “constant state of fear.”
However, Rachel Cooper, prosecuting, said that he had lost consciousness as he fell to the ground and suffered a cut above his eye and abrasions to his knee.
Daniel Gaskell, defending, said that Nolan accepted the facts of the case, despite having no recollection of the night because of his drunken state, and expressed remorse for his actions.
https://goo.gl/G4O4aN
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LOS ANGELES
It's every taxi passenger's worst nightmare – climbing into a cab, only for the driver to fall asleep and lose control.
However, it became a reality for a number of Los Angeles residents, who found themselves the butt of a YouTuber's prank.
Self-described 'craziest and most creative Asian prankster alive' Josh Paler Lin, took to the wheel of a Tesla Model S to take fares around the Californian city – all the while dressed as an elderly man.
Falling asleep, watching porn and getting stuck between the rear seats are just a few of the pranks he pulled, while the terrified passengers sat in the rear seats, unaware that the car was in fact on autopilot mode, and driving itself.
Lin also tries out the model's insane mode, further scaring his fares.
He eventually reveals the ruse to the passengers, who respond with shock, and relief that they weren't in danger after all.
http://cars.aol.co.uk/2016/09/28/youtuber-pranks-taxi-passengers-in-a-tesla/?
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A Sheffield taxi firm has expanded again claiming another acquisition is to challenge the rise of Uber and to 'project jobs'.
Sheffield’s City Taxis is now the UK’s third largest independent operator after buying Chesterfield-based Club Taxis.
City, who merged with Sheffield’s Mercury Taxis just over a year ago, bought Ace Taxis, Barnsley’s second biggest firm in July, preserving all 55 drivers and call centre staff.
The Sheffield firm confirmed other acquisitions across Sheffield City Region 'were in the pipeline'
City’s managing director Arnie Singh said: "Consolidation is happening in our industry on a national scale right now- this is just the start in our local area as we introduce our efficiencies into other taxi firms. With technology making such mergers easier, we believe the industry will see many more over the next five years.
"Our directors are keen to expand across the city region, to protect and defend local jobs for local people against the resources of Google-backed US global brand, Uber."
“Our first Derbyshire acquisition is the well-regarded Club Taxis in Chesterfield, Derbyshire’s market leader and another long established family business with 170 cars and 19 call centre staff. Club operate to our own high service levels by embracing the latest technology in taxi dispatch and telephony services.
Club’s managing director Scott Ashmore welcomed the deal. He said: “We see this as a progressive move for Club.
"All local jobs will be preserved and customers will find the same friendly, knowledgeable drivers and contact number they are used to. Plus, customers in neighboring towns will receive an improved service. The company will adopt the City name and livery but prices will stay the same.”
City Taxis now has a turnover of £7.7 million and completes over 100,000 miles each week across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
https://goo.gl/6yGhLR
Friday, 30 September 2016
Thursday, 29 September 2016
CHESTER
A rapist who attacked a 'vulnerable' drunk student just eight minutes after she got into his taxi fled the country before he could be jailed.
Syrian-born Sultan Amari emailed Warrington Crown Court to say he wouldn't be returning to hear the verdict after disappearing part way through the trial.
Amari picked up the woman who was 'obviously' intoxicated in Chester city centre on July 11 this year.
He took her to a house he owned in Sealand Road, Chester that was unfurnished except for a mattress.
There, he raped her twice over a period of eight hours.
A jury of seven women and five men took just over six hours to find him guilty by majority of two counts of rape today.
But 46-year-old Amari, from Flint, fled to Turkey midway through giving his evidence.
The father-of-one, who was on bail, was due to continue being questioned by the prosecution on Monday.
He sent an early morning email to the court telling them he had no intention of returning.
https://goo.gl/iWboh7
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BELFAST
A dissident republican has received a nine-year sentence for carrying a sub-machine gun in a Belfast taxi.
Vincent Kelly, 31, formerly of Hawthorn Street in Belfast, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court.
The court heard that Kelly was stopped while travelling in a taxi towards the Falls Road in Belfast in November 2014.
The judge said it was fair to assume the "only purpose" of the weapon would have been to allow dissident republicans to target security forces.
The court heard that Kelly was found with a holdall that contained a reactivated sub-machine gun wrapped in a fleece, three rifle magazines inside a pillow case, and 30 rounds of ammunition inside a sock.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37496625
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NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
ONE of the city's biggest taxi firms has launched a new app – so customers can track the location of their cab.
Lucky Seven's new application also allows people to check the price of their fares during the journey – with the option to pay by cash or card – and leave feedback about the service.
The move comes just weeks after global taxi firm Uber started operating in North Staffordshire
https://goo.gl/FYcXuA
A rapist who attacked a 'vulnerable' drunk student just eight minutes after she got into his taxi fled the country before he could be jailed.
Syrian-born Sultan Amari emailed Warrington Crown Court to say he wouldn't be returning to hear the verdict after disappearing part way through the trial.
Amari picked up the woman who was 'obviously' intoxicated in Chester city centre on July 11 this year.
He took her to a house he owned in Sealand Road, Chester that was unfurnished except for a mattress.
There, he raped her twice over a period of eight hours.
A jury of seven women and five men took just over six hours to find him guilty by majority of two counts of rape today.
But 46-year-old Amari, from Flint, fled to Turkey midway through giving his evidence.
The father-of-one, who was on bail, was due to continue being questioned by the prosecution on Monday.
He sent an early morning email to the court telling them he had no intention of returning.
https://goo.gl/iWboh7
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BELFAST
A dissident republican has received a nine-year sentence for carrying a sub-machine gun in a Belfast taxi.
Vincent Kelly, 31, formerly of Hawthorn Street in Belfast, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court.
The court heard that Kelly was stopped while travelling in a taxi towards the Falls Road in Belfast in November 2014.
The judge said it was fair to assume the "only purpose" of the weapon would have been to allow dissident republicans to target security forces.
The court heard that Kelly was found with a holdall that contained a reactivated sub-machine gun wrapped in a fleece, three rifle magazines inside a pillow case, and 30 rounds of ammunition inside a sock.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37496625
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NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
ONE of the city's biggest taxi firms has launched a new app – so customers can track the location of their cab.
Lucky Seven's new application also allows people to check the price of their fares during the journey – with the option to pay by cash or card – and leave feedback about the service.
The move comes just weeks after global taxi firm Uber started operating in North Staffordshire
https://goo.gl/FYcXuA
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
BLACKBURN
A TAXI driver failed to stop after colliding with a young man walking home from the Beatherder Festival at Gisburn in July.
Blackburn magistrates heard Badar Munir’s passengers told him he had hit something and said he should stop. And they called police who stopped Munir before he got back to base.
Munir, 27, of Albert Street, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to failing to stop and failing to report an accident which resulted in injury to Stephen Dobson. He was ordered to do 50 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge. His licence was endorsed with eight penalty points.
Kerry Grieve, prosecuting, said at 2.40am Mr Dobson was walking home to Grindleton having left the festival. He was struck by a taxi and suffered a broken bone in his foot and bruising.
“The passengers told the driver he had hit something although they didn’t at that stage know what,” said Mrs Grieve.
“The taxi wing mirror and window were damaged by the collision.
Zia Yasin, defending, said at the time of the collision it was raining and pitch black and Mr Dobson was wearing dark clothing.
“My client didn’t see him,” said Mr Yasin. “He had only been driving for the taxi firm for two weeks and it was in a state of panic and shock that he didn’t stop.
“He was stopped by the police within 45 minutes of the incident.”
Mr Yasin said his client was not sure whether the conviction would result in him losing his taxi licence.
https://goo.gl/5ujCW3
A TAXI driver failed to stop after colliding with a young man walking home from the Beatherder Festival at Gisburn in July.
Blackburn magistrates heard Badar Munir’s passengers told him he had hit something and said he should stop. And they called police who stopped Munir before he got back to base.
Munir, 27, of Albert Street, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to failing to stop and failing to report an accident which resulted in injury to Stephen Dobson. He was ordered to do 50 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge. His licence was endorsed with eight penalty points.
Kerry Grieve, prosecuting, said at 2.40am Mr Dobson was walking home to Grindleton having left the festival. He was struck by a taxi and suffered a broken bone in his foot and bruising.
“The passengers told the driver he had hit something although they didn’t at that stage know what,” said Mrs Grieve.
“The taxi wing mirror and window were damaged by the collision.
Zia Yasin, defending, said at the time of the collision it was raining and pitch black and Mr Dobson was wearing dark clothing.
“My client didn’t see him,” said Mr Yasin. “He had only been driving for the taxi firm for two weeks and it was in a state of panic and shock that he didn’t stop.
“He was stopped by the police within 45 minutes of the incident.”
Mr Yasin said his client was not sure whether the conviction would result in him losing his taxi licence.
https://goo.gl/5ujCW3
MAIDSTONE
Police are hunting a taxi driver who reportedly groped a lone woman in his cab.
Officers have released an e-fit of the suspect following the alleged sexual assault.
The incident is reported to have happened after a woman got into a taxi in the Gabriel’s Hill area of Maidstone, following a night out.
The victim, aged in her 20s, had been with friends when they all got into the vehicle at around 2am.
After a drop off in the Rochester area, the woman was the last passenger in the vehicle.
It is alleged the driver pulled over and told the victim that unless she got into the front to talk, he wouldn’t move the vehicle. The man eventually started driving after the woman reluctantly agreed to move seats.
During the journey he was said to have then grabbed the victim’s hand and also stroked her leg.
The woman later fled the vehicle after requesting the driver stop at a bus stop in Star Hill, Rochester.
The incident is said to have happened in the early hours of Sunday, August 28, but details have only just been released.
Officers are continuing attempts to track down the vehicle, including looking at CCTV.
The man was described as being average height and of Middle Eastern appearance, with black hair and a black short beard. He was wearing a light-coloured jacket or shirt. The make of the vehicle is unclear but it was described as a burgundy colour.
Anyone with information is asked to call the west Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference YY/19153/16, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555111.
https://goo.gl/5Wcul4
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Appeal to trace taxi driver after man found with injuries in Redcar
Police are looking to trace a taxi driver after a 66-year-old man was found with injuries to his face at the junction of Normanby Road and Trunk Road on Friday (23rd Sept).
He was discovered at 6.10am on Friday 23rd September, and officers think he might have travelled towards the area by taxi.
The man who was injured continues to receive treatment at James Cook University Hospital.
It's not clear how he got his injuries.
A man and woman from the South Bank area have been arrested in connection with the incident.
A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and theft and a 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of theft.
Both have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2016-09-28/appeal-to-trace-taxi-driver-after-man-found-with-injuries-in-redcar/?
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DERBYSHIRE
Parents of children who attend John Port School in Etwall, have been given a letter of caution after a taxi driver stopped two of its pupils in the street. Derbyshire police have confirmed they are investigating an incident after reports that the driver pulled up next to the pupils and offered them a personal business card.
The letter from the school says: "We have recently had contact from the police to inform us that a taxi driver stopped and spoke to two John Port students whilst on their way to school, offering them a personal business card.
"With regard to this issue, we are working with the police to safeguard all of our students and, if your child experiences anything similar, please contact the school as soon as possible."
A spokesman for Derbyshire police said: "From what we have been told by the school, the incident has only happened once and officers are investigating."
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/john-port-school-issues-letter-of-warning-after-incident/story-29756097-detail/story.html?
Police are hunting a taxi driver who reportedly groped a lone woman in his cab.
Officers have released an e-fit of the suspect following the alleged sexual assault.
The incident is reported to have happened after a woman got into a taxi in the Gabriel’s Hill area of Maidstone, following a night out.
The victim, aged in her 20s, had been with friends when they all got into the vehicle at around 2am.
After a drop off in the Rochester area, the woman was the last passenger in the vehicle.
It is alleged the driver pulled over and told the victim that unless she got into the front to talk, he wouldn’t move the vehicle. The man eventually started driving after the woman reluctantly agreed to move seats.
During the journey he was said to have then grabbed the victim’s hand and also stroked her leg.
The woman later fled the vehicle after requesting the driver stop at a bus stop in Star Hill, Rochester.
The incident is said to have happened in the early hours of Sunday, August 28, but details have only just been released.
Officers are continuing attempts to track down the vehicle, including looking at CCTV.
The man was described as being average height and of Middle Eastern appearance, with black hair and a black short beard. He was wearing a light-coloured jacket or shirt. The make of the vehicle is unclear but it was described as a burgundy colour.
Anyone with information is asked to call the west Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference YY/19153/16, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555111.
https://goo.gl/5Wcul4
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Appeal to trace taxi driver after man found with injuries in Redcar
Police are looking to trace a taxi driver after a 66-year-old man was found with injuries to his face at the junction of Normanby Road and Trunk Road on Friday (23rd Sept).
He was discovered at 6.10am on Friday 23rd September, and officers think he might have travelled towards the area by taxi.
The man who was injured continues to receive treatment at James Cook University Hospital.
It's not clear how he got his injuries.
A man and woman from the South Bank area have been arrested in connection with the incident.
A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and theft and a 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of theft.
Both have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2016-09-28/appeal-to-trace-taxi-driver-after-man-found-with-injuries-in-redcar/?
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DERBYSHIRE
Parents of children who attend John Port School in Etwall, have been given a letter of caution after a taxi driver stopped two of its pupils in the street. Derbyshire police have confirmed they are investigating an incident after reports that the driver pulled up next to the pupils and offered them a personal business card.
The letter from the school says: "We have recently had contact from the police to inform us that a taxi driver stopped and spoke to two John Port students whilst on their way to school, offering them a personal business card.
"With regard to this issue, we are working with the police to safeguard all of our students and, if your child experiences anything similar, please contact the school as soon as possible."
A spokesman for Derbyshire police said: "From what we have been told by the school, the incident has only happened once and officers are investigating."
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/john-port-school-issues-letter-of-warning-after-incident/story-29756097-detail/story.html?
Monday, 26 September 2016
DUNDEE
A disabled boy who was left unattended on a bus at a depot for three hours is now being taken to nursery in a taxi.
Leeland Connor, who attends the Frances Wright Pre-School Centre in Dundee, is autistic, epileptic and suffers from severe developmental delay.
He was left on a council-chartered bus — having been picked up at 12.10pm.
The bus driver dropped off the other children at the nursery and then headed to a depot on Morgan Street.
Leeland sat alone for three hours at the depot.
He was not discovered until the bus returned to pick up the children from the nursery to transport them home at 3.30pm.
The three-year-old is now being taken to and from the nursery by taxi because his parents can’t bear to see him travel on the bus again.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Catherine Johnston said that her grandson Leeland is showing signs of stress following the incident.
She said: “The council has put on a taxi service for Leeland.
“He isn’t happy about it — he was screaming and crying when he had to go into it last Thursday.
“He realises that something happened to him but he can’t tell us.
“Leeland’s way of telling us is throwing a fit and crying.
“There was no way that he was going back on that bus.
“We feel like if this has happened once then it could happen again.
“We just can’t take the chance.”
A Dundee City Council spokesman said that a thorough investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.
A spokesman told the Tele: “Council officers have been in contact with the family.”
The bus company at the centre of the incident, Airport Travel Dundee Ltd, has also launched an investigation — pledging that “it will never happen again”.
Leeland’s family are currently considering taking legal action against the council as a result.
They are liaising with a solicitor with a view to possible court proceedings.
Catherine added: “We are going to do everything that we can because we need to make sure that no other child goes through what Leeland had to go through.”
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NORTH WALES
The jury in the trial of a North Wales taxi driver accused of raping a drunk female passenger has retired to consider its verdicts – despite him not attending court today (September 26).
Sultan Amari, 46, of Chester Road in Flint, denies two counts of raping the student at a house he owned on Sealand Road on July 11 last year.
On Friday, he told members of the jury at Warrington Crown Court that he ‘would not even consider touching somebody who was not responding’, and claimed that the complainant instigated sexual intercourse on the first occasion and that all sexual contact between them was consensual.
But Amari – who was living in Colwyn Close in Ellesmere Port at the time of the alleged attacks – was absent for proceedings today, and his trial continued without him.
Addressing the ‘elephant in the room’, Judge Tina Landale urged the seven women and five men on the jury not to guess why he was not present.
“All I can say to you is he is not here and we are going to continue with the trial,” she said.
Student claims Flint taxi driver raped her twice after night out
Amari’s alleged victim claims she cannot recall anything that happened in between leaving a bar in Chester and waking up naked and alone in an unfamiliar house, but later had a flashback that she was lying face-down on a mattress, unable to move her arms or open her eyes, with a man having intercourse with her.
Closing the prosecution’s case, barrister Simon Mills said the complainant’s ‘plainly strange’ behaviour in asking Amari to ‘take her anywhere in Cheshire’ and telling him that she would look after him seconds after getting into his cab ‘would put a taxi driver on notice that something is not right’.
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THE parent company of Coventry-based manufacturer, London Taxi Company, has become the latest firm to sponsor the UK’s attempt to break the world land speed record.
China-based Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH) will be the prime sponsor and Official Automotive Partner of the Bloodhound supersonic car after signing a new three-year agreement.
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A Metropolitan police officer from Croydon has been sacked for dodging a £24 taxi fare following a night out with colleagues.
Nicola Elston, 30, was ordered to pay £1,150 earlier this year at the end of a trial, after she made off without paying from a taxi in the borough.
Now she has been dismissed without notice from the Met after a misconduct hearing found her actions amounted to gross misconduct.
Elston, who served on the force for seven years and was most recently attached to Lambeth borough, was found guilty after a three-day trial at Southwark Crown Court in March, and ordered to pay a £150 fine and £1,000 in costs.
The court heard how Elston refused to pay the fare and fled after an argument with the driver in Croydon on July 27 last year. She was arrested later that night.
Sunday, 25 September 2016
DERBY.
Shocking statistics reveal almost half of the 2,800 private hire taxi drivers operating in Derby have not been cleared to work by Derby City Council.
Figures obtained from other authorities show more than 1,300 cabbies have gained licences elsewhere, meaning they have not passed Derby City Council's knowledge test. The council is powerless to check drivers or vehicles in the area if they have qualified with other authorities.
The Derby Telegraph revealed last week that 254 licensed drivers had travelled as far as Rossendale in Lancashire, which has no such test, to gain their qualification but further investigation showed this was just part of the problem.
Gedling Borough Council, in Nottinghamshire, showed a total of 765 drivers with a Derby home address had obtained licences from the authority.
About 1,500 private hire drivers in the city have taken and passed the Derby test.
Derby councillor Baggy Shanker, who responsible for taxi licensing in Derby, said this was "worrying". He said: "It gives us a lack of control to assess these guys who are licensed elsewhere. We can't, by law, stop and inspect them. We simply do not know who is getting a licence to work in Derby."
A loophole in the law allows drivers with a hackney carriage licence, who can pick up fares on the street, to operate to as private hire drivers anywhere in the country. Private hire drivers are only permitted to pick up passenger who have made a prior booking,
The Derby Telegraph asked a number of councils how many licences they had handed out since the start of 2013 to drivers from Derby.
Gedling said a total of 765 had been issued since 2013 - 154 were handed out in 2013, 323 in 2014, 171 in 2015 and 117 so far in 2016.
A Gedling council spokesman said: "In May 2014, the council introduced the knowledge test as part of the fit and proper test, with the aim of improving and driving up the standards of the drivers driving Gedling licensed vehicles. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests the introduction of the knowledge test may have reduced the number of hackney carriage licences issued to people outside the Nottingham area."
The spokesman said the Gedling knowledge quiz included 25 questions on directions and local landmarks, five on conditions of licences and legislation, five on mental arithmetic and five based on knowledge of the Highway Code. Applicants must answer 75% of the questions correctly to pass.
Erewash Borough Council revealed it had issued 299 licences to Derby drivers in that time – 68 of those in 2013, 72 in 2014, 86 in 2015 and 73 so far this year. A spokeswoman for the authority said: "Local knowledge was removed from the knowledge test in 2007/08 when it was considered an unnecessary requirement with the increased use of sat navs. However, with the increase in inquiries from persons living outside the borough and those having plans not to work in Erewash, the council reintroduced local knowledge and also disability and safeguarding elements to the existing knowledge test in June 2016."
Erewash said its knowledge test addressed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle laws, disability and safeguarding issues, area knowledge and the Highway Code.
East Staffordshire Borough Council said it currently had five people licensed with a Derby address and Derbyshire Dales District Council said it had four.
Mr Shanker said the law needed to be changed nationally to put a stop to the problem. He said: "If you are a Derby driver and a Derby resident then you should qualify in Derby. I think you should be licensed by the local authority in the area you are working in, it's as simple as that."
Mark Keenan, managing director of Derby-based taxi firm Western Cars, said the numbers were "remarkable". He said: "It makes me wonder why these drivers are going there, what have they got to hide? Is there something in their personal or driving records that would prevent them from passing in Derby or can they not pass the Derby test?"
Mr Keenan said his policy was to only hire drivers with Derby City Council badges.
https://goo.gl/RGW89r
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CARDIFF
Dozens of taxi licences have been issued by Cardiff council over the last few years to applicants who have criminal records.
A total of 90 applications containing a criminal conviction were approved by the authority’s public protection subcommittee between January 2012 and September of this year.
The data, released after a freedom of information request, revealed that in total just over 1,000 people applied for a hackney carriage or private hire licence in that period, with 176 of those listing convictions which were considered by the subcommittee.
It is not known what any of those convictions was for.
Councils have strict policies that govern whether a licence should be granted including DBS checks – formerly known as CRB checks.
Licences must also be renewed periodically.
A spokesman said the council's policy lists offences and stipulates guidelines on how long the applicant/licence holder should be free from conviction before an application would normally be considered.
He said: “Each application is determined on its own merits and consideration is also given to the seriousness of the offence, the sentence imposed, whether there is a pattern of offending and any other factors that may be relevant.”
The spokesman said: “Offences such as murder, manslaughter, culpable homicide while driving and terrorism offences would normally be refused regardless of the criteria above unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances.”
According to separate data, meanwhile, applications made to Cardiff council for a taxi driver’s licence between 2012 and 2015 included two with manslaughter convictions and 155 with assault or assault occasioning actual bodily harm convictions.
But, because these figures relate only to those who have applied for a licence, there is no suggestion these applicants were eventually granted one.
Since 2012, applications in Cardiff have also included 202 convictions of theft, 214 of driving with no insurance and 140 cases of driving while disqualified.
There were also three convictions for causing death by dangerous driving in the capital, with others for the same offence submitted to the authorities in Swansea and Flintshire.
One person who applied to be a Cardiff driver, and another in Swansea, also held rape convictions.
Three Rhondda Cynon Taff applications included arson convictions, while one wannabe Caerphilly taxi driver had a conviction for causing death by reckless driving. A Bridgend applicant had a kidnapping conviction.
Again, there is no evidence these drivers were given licences.
The figures were revealed following various freedom of information requests to councils around the UK submitted by the company Complete Background Screening.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/dozens-drivers-been-given-cardiff-11925624?
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MANCHESTER
A taxi driver refused to pick up a blind war veteran because he had a guide dog.
Cabbie Emmanuel Osayande has been ordered to pay £1,000 in fines and court charges after he was prosecuted by Manchester city council for breaching equality laws.
He also faces the possibility of losing his licence.
Father-of-five Neil Eastwood, who was left severely sight impaired after an accident in 2005, said he was left ‘annoyed, embarrassed and ashamed’.
Under the Equalities Act 2010, blind people cannot be refused access or service – or given substandard access or service – simply because they have a guide dog.
Council chiefs fear many cases go unreported and urged anyone in a similar situation to come forward so investigations can be launched and action taken through the courts.
Mr Eastwood, 56, from Wythenshawe, served in Northern Ireland with the 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, during the seventies.
He’s now an active member of the charity Blind Veterans UK and spoke out to raise awareness and urge other guide dog users to report any similar issues they suffer.
Osayande, 56, of Chatwell Close, Salford, had been sent to collect him from his son’s house in Wythenshawe in February and take him to a hotel in Altrincham.
Mr Eastwood, who relies on Lenny his golden labrador retriever, said: “I rang the office and told them that I had a guide dog and told them to make sure that the driver was aware.
“The company by mistake sent two taxis and they both came almost simultaneously. I approached the first one that I saw come in. He had his window down and shouted ’sorry, I am not taking you’. He said that he would not take my dog.
“I told him that he was a working guide dog but he said he did not care.”
Mr Eastwood quoted the law but Osayande, who holds a hackney carriage licence with Rossendale council but was working for a local private hire firm, refused to take them.
He reported the matter to the council after the second taxi took him back to his hotel.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/taxi-driver-fined-refusing-pick-11937114?
Comment...This would have been an easy case to defend...However, who would want to defend a Rossendale working Wythenshawe. ?
Shocking statistics reveal almost half of the 2,800 private hire taxi drivers operating in Derby have not been cleared to work by Derby City Council.
Figures obtained from other authorities show more than 1,300 cabbies have gained licences elsewhere, meaning they have not passed Derby City Council's knowledge test. The council is powerless to check drivers or vehicles in the area if they have qualified with other authorities.
The Derby Telegraph revealed last week that 254 licensed drivers had travelled as far as Rossendale in Lancashire, which has no such test, to gain their qualification but further investigation showed this was just part of the problem.
Gedling Borough Council, in Nottinghamshire, showed a total of 765 drivers with a Derby home address had obtained licences from the authority.
About 1,500 private hire drivers in the city have taken and passed the Derby test.
Derby councillor Baggy Shanker, who responsible for taxi licensing in Derby, said this was "worrying". He said: "It gives us a lack of control to assess these guys who are licensed elsewhere. We can't, by law, stop and inspect them. We simply do not know who is getting a licence to work in Derby."
A loophole in the law allows drivers with a hackney carriage licence, who can pick up fares on the street, to operate to as private hire drivers anywhere in the country. Private hire drivers are only permitted to pick up passenger who have made a prior booking,
The Derby Telegraph asked a number of councils how many licences they had handed out since the start of 2013 to drivers from Derby.
Gedling said a total of 765 had been issued since 2013 - 154 were handed out in 2013, 323 in 2014, 171 in 2015 and 117 so far in 2016.
A Gedling council spokesman said: "In May 2014, the council introduced the knowledge test as part of the fit and proper test, with the aim of improving and driving up the standards of the drivers driving Gedling licensed vehicles. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests the introduction of the knowledge test may have reduced the number of hackney carriage licences issued to people outside the Nottingham area."
The spokesman said the Gedling knowledge quiz included 25 questions on directions and local landmarks, five on conditions of licences and legislation, five on mental arithmetic and five based on knowledge of the Highway Code. Applicants must answer 75% of the questions correctly to pass.
Erewash Borough Council revealed it had issued 299 licences to Derby drivers in that time – 68 of those in 2013, 72 in 2014, 86 in 2015 and 73 so far this year. A spokeswoman for the authority said: "Local knowledge was removed from the knowledge test in 2007/08 when it was considered an unnecessary requirement with the increased use of sat navs. However, with the increase in inquiries from persons living outside the borough and those having plans not to work in Erewash, the council reintroduced local knowledge and also disability and safeguarding elements to the existing knowledge test in June 2016."
Erewash said its knowledge test addressed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle laws, disability and safeguarding issues, area knowledge and the Highway Code.
East Staffordshire Borough Council said it currently had five people licensed with a Derby address and Derbyshire Dales District Council said it had four.
Mr Shanker said the law needed to be changed nationally to put a stop to the problem. He said: "If you are a Derby driver and a Derby resident then you should qualify in Derby. I think you should be licensed by the local authority in the area you are working in, it's as simple as that."
Mark Keenan, managing director of Derby-based taxi firm Western Cars, said the numbers were "remarkable". He said: "It makes me wonder why these drivers are going there, what have they got to hide? Is there something in their personal or driving records that would prevent them from passing in Derby or can they not pass the Derby test?"
Mr Keenan said his policy was to only hire drivers with Derby City Council badges.
https://goo.gl/RGW89r
------------------------------------------------------------
CARDIFF
Dozens of taxi licences have been issued by Cardiff council over the last few years to applicants who have criminal records.
A total of 90 applications containing a criminal conviction were approved by the authority’s public protection subcommittee between January 2012 and September of this year.
The data, released after a freedom of information request, revealed that in total just over 1,000 people applied for a hackney carriage or private hire licence in that period, with 176 of those listing convictions which were considered by the subcommittee.
It is not known what any of those convictions was for.
Councils have strict policies that govern whether a licence should be granted including DBS checks – formerly known as CRB checks.
Licences must also be renewed periodically.
A spokesman said the council's policy lists offences and stipulates guidelines on how long the applicant/licence holder should be free from conviction before an application would normally be considered.
He said: “Each application is determined on its own merits and consideration is also given to the seriousness of the offence, the sentence imposed, whether there is a pattern of offending and any other factors that may be relevant.”
The spokesman said: “Offences such as murder, manslaughter, culpable homicide while driving and terrorism offences would normally be refused regardless of the criteria above unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances.”
According to separate data, meanwhile, applications made to Cardiff council for a taxi driver’s licence between 2012 and 2015 included two with manslaughter convictions and 155 with assault or assault occasioning actual bodily harm convictions.
But, because these figures relate only to those who have applied for a licence, there is no suggestion these applicants were eventually granted one.
Since 2012, applications in Cardiff have also included 202 convictions of theft, 214 of driving with no insurance and 140 cases of driving while disqualified.
There were also three convictions for causing death by dangerous driving in the capital, with others for the same offence submitted to the authorities in Swansea and Flintshire.
One person who applied to be a Cardiff driver, and another in Swansea, also held rape convictions.
Three Rhondda Cynon Taff applications included arson convictions, while one wannabe Caerphilly taxi driver had a conviction for causing death by reckless driving. A Bridgend applicant had a kidnapping conviction.
Again, there is no evidence these drivers were given licences.
The figures were revealed following various freedom of information requests to councils around the UK submitted by the company Complete Background Screening.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/dozens-drivers-been-given-cardiff-11925624?
---------------------------------------------------------
MANCHESTER
A taxi driver refused to pick up a blind war veteran because he had a guide dog.
Cabbie Emmanuel Osayande has been ordered to pay £1,000 in fines and court charges after he was prosecuted by Manchester city council for breaching equality laws.
He also faces the possibility of losing his licence.
Father-of-five Neil Eastwood, who was left severely sight impaired after an accident in 2005, said he was left ‘annoyed, embarrassed and ashamed’.
Under the Equalities Act 2010, blind people cannot be refused access or service – or given substandard access or service – simply because they have a guide dog.
Council chiefs fear many cases go unreported and urged anyone in a similar situation to come forward so investigations can be launched and action taken through the courts.
Mr Eastwood, 56, from Wythenshawe, served in Northern Ireland with the 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, during the seventies.
He’s now an active member of the charity Blind Veterans UK and spoke out to raise awareness and urge other guide dog users to report any similar issues they suffer.
Osayande, 56, of Chatwell Close, Salford, had been sent to collect him from his son’s house in Wythenshawe in February and take him to a hotel in Altrincham.
Mr Eastwood, who relies on Lenny his golden labrador retriever, said: “I rang the office and told them that I had a guide dog and told them to make sure that the driver was aware.
“The company by mistake sent two taxis and they both came almost simultaneously. I approached the first one that I saw come in. He had his window down and shouted ’sorry, I am not taking you’. He said that he would not take my dog.
“I told him that he was a working guide dog but he said he did not care.”
Mr Eastwood quoted the law but Osayande, who holds a hackney carriage licence with Rossendale council but was working for a local private hire firm, refused to take them.
He reported the matter to the council after the second taxi took him back to his hotel.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/taxi-driver-fined-refusing-pick-11937114?
Comment...This would have been an easy case to defend...However, who would want to defend a Rossendale working Wythenshawe. ?
Thursday, 22 September 2016
Ticket Cab offers new revenue stream to London’s black taxis
Industry-leading technology set to help boost cabbies’ income
London, August 2016: ECR Retail Systems, the London-based Mobile Point of Sale (MPoS) specialist, today announced the launch of TicketCab which is set to supply its mobile payment and ticketing solution exclusively to London’s black cab drivers.
The system, which has been approved by TfL, will see TicketCab provide cabbies free of charge with handheld payment terminals, equipped with card readers and integral printer.
TicketCab will enable drivers to offer tourists tickets for direct entry into attractions and venues around London. Commission from ticket sales will generate additional income to the driver. Payment is taken and tickets are printed directly from the handheld devices.
Data is transmitted directly from the devices to TicketCab head office, and drivers are able to monitor sales, fares, tips, and commission earned via the system. The devices also enable the driver to accept tips via card as the option is presented to the passenger as part of the transaction.
The system is in line with the upcoming TfL contactless mandate and is fully compliant with payment card industry regulations.
During the pilot stage of the project, TicketCab will deliver 100 lightweight ECR Go!2 terminals with plans to roll out an additional 300 in phase 2. TicketCab will only be made available to black cabs
TicketCab has been developed by ECR who currently supply the Big Bus Company with its payments solution selling tickets both on board and on street.
Simon Pont, CEO, ECR Retail Systems, said: “This is great opportunity for us to help London’s cab drivers to benefit from a whole new revenue stream. Whilst cabbies are known by tourists for their knowledge of London and its attractions, it has never before been so easy for them to add to the experience and offer the city’s visitors something extra. We believe that the possibility of buying a ticket in-cab, from the trusted source and saving valuable time avoiding queues will be of real benefit – both to driver and to London’s tourists.”
https://www.ecr.co.uk/2016/08/11/ticket-cab-offers-new-revenue-stream-to-londons-black-taxis/
Industry-leading technology set to help boost cabbies’ income
London, August 2016: ECR Retail Systems, the London-based Mobile Point of Sale (MPoS) specialist, today announced the launch of TicketCab which is set to supply its mobile payment and ticketing solution exclusively to London’s black cab drivers.
The system, which has been approved by TfL, will see TicketCab provide cabbies free of charge with handheld payment terminals, equipped with card readers and integral printer.
TicketCab will enable drivers to offer tourists tickets for direct entry into attractions and venues around London. Commission from ticket sales will generate additional income to the driver. Payment is taken and tickets are printed directly from the handheld devices.
Data is transmitted directly from the devices to TicketCab head office, and drivers are able to monitor sales, fares, tips, and commission earned via the system. The devices also enable the driver to accept tips via card as the option is presented to the passenger as part of the transaction.
The system is in line with the upcoming TfL contactless mandate and is fully compliant with payment card industry regulations.
During the pilot stage of the project, TicketCab will deliver 100 lightweight ECR Go!2 terminals with plans to roll out an additional 300 in phase 2. TicketCab will only be made available to black cabs
TicketCab has been developed by ECR who currently supply the Big Bus Company with its payments solution selling tickets both on board and on street.
Simon Pont, CEO, ECR Retail Systems, said: “This is great opportunity for us to help London’s cab drivers to benefit from a whole new revenue stream. Whilst cabbies are known by tourists for their knowledge of London and its attractions, it has never before been so easy for them to add to the experience and offer the city’s visitors something extra. We believe that the possibility of buying a ticket in-cab, from the trusted source and saving valuable time avoiding queues will be of real benefit – both to driver and to London’s tourists.”
https://www.ecr.co.uk/2016/08/11/ticket-cab-offers-new-revenue-stream-to-londons-black-taxis/
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
A Stockton cab firm has been hit with an indefinite ban after putting commercial gain over passenger safety.
Tracy Noddings, who trades as Noddies, also lost her licence to run public service vehicles following a public inquiry in Leeds last week.
The company had a contract with Stockton Council to transport children to and from three schools in the area.
North East Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney took action against Mrs Noddings and her operating licence after hearing that her vehicles were found with serious defects.
Government inspectors reported worn rear brake pads, an emergency exit that could not be opened from the outside and a missing passenger seatbelt cover exposing sharp edges that could have caused an injury.
She was also operating a third vehicle unlawfully, illegally using another firm’s licence disc. Her own licence only allowed her to operate a maximum of two vehicles.
Kevin Rooney said: “Mrs Noddings borrowed a licence disc from another operator to extend her business. As the holder of a restricted PSV licence for nine years, I have no doubt that Mrs Noddings knew this act was unlawful.
“Not only has Mrs Noddings enjoyed a commercial advantage, it is clear she has also put the safety of her passengers and other road users in jeopardy.”
In February, examiners from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) stopped a vehicle during a school check and the driver said he was working for Tracy Noddings.
The vehicle displayed a licence disc in the name of another driver who subsequently confirmed he was not operating the vehicle. The disc was therefore being used illegally by Tracy Noddings, said the Traffic Commissioner.
Tracy Noddings did not attend the public inquiry on September 14 .
But she had previously submitted evidence stating she was unaware she was committing any offences.
She largely blamed maintenance contractors for the maintenance failures.
The orders come into effect on October 14 and mean that she will not be able to carry passengers commercially.
A spokesman for Stockton Council said: “We have suspended the company with immediate effect and arranged alternative provision for the routes affected.”
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/indefinite-ban-taxi-firm-carried-11919668
------------------------------------------------------
More than 700 Sheffield taxi drivers have licences issued to them by councils hundreds of miles away sparking concerns over safety and welfare.
The can reveal 414 Sheffield drivers have licences issued to them by Rossendale Borough Council in Lancashire - nearly two hours drive away.
With a population of 69,400 in Rossendale they have licensed 2844 Vehicles,4422 Drivers!
Others have been issued by authorities as far away as London and Anglesey in Wales.
Sheffield operates stringent tests for drivers to obtain a private hire licence and it's feared those with criminal records or poor standards of English and general knowledge are operating in the city because of a loophole in the law.
Worried MPs, the council and taxi representatives today demanded a change in the law after it was revealed more than 700 drivers with city addresses have had licences issued by councils other than Sheffield.
Sheffield taxi driver Ibrar Hussain, a GMB union rep, said he was ‘shocked’ 53 drivers living in Sheffield have taxi licences issued to them by Transport for London and seven from the Isle of Anglesey in Wales – more than three hours drive away.
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/we-need-to-change-the-law-over-700-sheffield-taxi-drivers-licensed-by-councils-hundreds-of-miles-away-1-8140078?
-------------------------------------------------------
Comment;
Rossendale is 60 miles away from Sheffield, not hundreds of miles.
Whilst out-of Town vehicles are a massive problem, particularly for Public Protection, when you tell porkies, you loose the impact of your argument.
--------------------------------------------------------------
NOTTINGHAM
A taxi driver offering a woman money for oral sex is among 30 complaints to a police force since it started recording misogyny as a hate crime.
Nottinghamshire Police said there has been national and global interest since the policy was implemented on 4 April.
One man has been charged with misogyny hate crime so far following an alleged sexually motivated assault.
The force's chief constable, Sue Fish, expects the policy to be implemented nationally by other police forces.
"We've had a huge amount of interest from other parts of the country and I have to say globally, which took us a little by surprise," she said.
"Other places are talking about this and recognising misogyny as a really serious issue."
She said the policy had been misreported and misunderstood.
"It's not criminalising wolf-whistling," she said. "That's absolutely trivialising something that is really far more fundamental than that.
"This is about some gratuitous abuse, both physical and verbal, of women because they are women."
There have been 30 complaints to Nottinghamshire Police since the policy was implemented on 4 April.
The law has not changed, and perpetrators can only be charged with crimes if their offences were already against the law.
Anything which is not a criminal offence is recorded as a hate incident with a misogynistic hate crime qualifier.
Of the 30 complaints so far, 11 have been recorded as hate crimes and the other 19 have been recorded as hate incidents.
The crimes reported include:
Sexual assault on a female aged 13 years and over
Public fear, alarm or distress
Racially or religiously aggravated public fear, alarm or distress
Possession of 'other' weapons
Harassment
The woman who reported being offered money by a taxi driver in exchange for oral sex told police she was so scared she climbed out of the window of the locked vehicle.
Police are treating this as an assault, due to the fear of violence. Nobody has been arrested yet.
While misogynistic behaviour in itself may not be a criminal offence, reporting it means Nottinghamshire Police can investigate and establish whether a crime has taken place.
Even if a criminal offence has not taken place, police have been trained to offer support as they would to any victim of a hate crime.
Other steps can also be taken, such as speaking to the perpetrator about their behaviour, and civil remedies such as injunctions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-37431463
----------------------------------------------------------
A north Belfast taxi driver allegedly agreed to store £45,000 worth of cannabis resin in a bid to reduce his own drug debt, the High Court heard today.
Colin Pilson's lawyer described him as "a perfect patsy", desperate to pay off a £1,600 bill from an addiction to cocaine.
The father-of-two, from Forthriver Link in the city, is charged with possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply following the seizure made last week.
He was granted bail on condition that he reports to police daily.
Officers recovered nine kilos of cannabis during searches of a property linked to Pilson in the Glencairn area of Belfast on September 13.
He handed himself in at a PSNI station early the next morning after taking time to "get his nerve up", the court heard.
Prosecution counsel said Pilson told police he owed £1,500-£1,600 from his own cocaine addiction, paying it off by £100 a week.
The accused claimed a man he refused to name offered to cut the debt and repayments by around a half if he would store cannabis.
According to Pilson's account someone was to phone him and arrange to collect the packages from him.
"He said he had not been threatened to store the drugs, however he did feel he would come under pressure with regards his outstanding debt," the prosecutor added.
Defence barrister Richard McConkey argued that his client was not on the police radar.
"He's a perfect patsy for drug dealers; a debt accrued and someone completely desperate to get out of that debt who is the easiest person to store the drugs."
At one point Pilson, who appeared via prison video-link, broke down as it was revealed that his wife had tragically died when she was in her thirties.
Granting bail, Lord Justice Weatherup said Pilson would now be watched closely by police.
He ordered the accused to report to the PSNI daily and surrender his passport
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-taxi-driver-stored-45k-of-cannabis-resin-to-payoff-drug-debts-court-hears-35068088.html?
--------------------------------------------------------
TAXI fares are on the rise in Worcester after cabbies secured a deal on inflation-busting hikes.
Worcester City Council has voted to allow cabbies to increase the charges by "10p per mile" from January.
The decision, made by the city's licensing and environmental health committee, will see the 'flag down' fare rise 10p to £3.60, with the charges for "each subsequent mile" going up by 10p.
Although the percentage rise will vary, it means typical one-mile journeys will increase 2.4 per cent to £4.20 while two miles will cost £5.90, a 3.5 per cent rise.
It was voted through by councillors after they rejected a bid to put some journeys up by 20p per mile, saying it was too much.
Soiling charges for people who spoil the insides of cabs will surge by £25, costing culprits £75.
Councillor Richard Udall, speaking during the meeting, said: "I am relatively sympathetic to the drivers but my concern is for the consumer.
"They are finding life tough, they have faced 10 years of austerity which has ground them down, many people haven't had a pay rise since 2008.
"We've even had a period of negative inflation."
He cited concerns over people in his area struggling to get by, including one disabled woman in Dines Green who had to spend “£60 a week” getting to Worcestershire Royal Hospital three times a week for hospital treatment and another single mum who spent £50 because her child spent time in hospital and she had to visit five days in a row.
During the debate Councillor Lucy Hodgson said she had concerns over the driver's bid for 20p per mile hikes on some tariffs, telling fellow councillors she felt it went too far.
“As a resident and a councillor in a ward on the edge of the city I really do have concerns over the 20p charge – a lot of buses have gone but people still need to get into the city to work, to shop,” she said.
"It's a step too far, some people could become really isolated. I am really struggling with it.
"For some people a taxi is not a luxury, it's a necessity."
The drivers wanted to start the rises from December 1, but Councillor Knight called for a month's delay, which was accepted.
The committee then voted to block the 20p per mile hike and peg it to 10p.
During the debate Councillor Mike Johnson suggested the 10p per mile rise be limited to the "first three miles" of a journey, saying it would "penalise" people who need to travel longer distances.
But that bid was rejected, despite support from Councillor Knight, as the rest of the committee felt it was too complicated.
Rob Day, from Worcester Taxi Drivers Association, turned up to speak for the cabbies.
He said the last rise was two-and-a-half years ago and that fuel prices and insurance costs were harming the trade.
“We understand it’s never a good time to ask for an increase,” he said.
“But it has been two-and-a-half years since the last one.
"Most of the journeys that are outside Worcester are done by a fixed price anyway, the vast majority of customers will not be affected.”
In August the UK inflation rate was at just 0.6 per cent.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/14753983.Taxi_drivers_in_Worcester_secure_inflation_busting_fare_rise_deal/?
Tracy Noddings, who trades as Noddies, also lost her licence to run public service vehicles following a public inquiry in Leeds last week.
The company had a contract with Stockton Council to transport children to and from three schools in the area.
North East Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney took action against Mrs Noddings and her operating licence after hearing that her vehicles were found with serious defects.
Government inspectors reported worn rear brake pads, an emergency exit that could not be opened from the outside and a missing passenger seatbelt cover exposing sharp edges that could have caused an injury.
She was also operating a third vehicle unlawfully, illegally using another firm’s licence disc. Her own licence only allowed her to operate a maximum of two vehicles.
Kevin Rooney said: “Mrs Noddings borrowed a licence disc from another operator to extend her business. As the holder of a restricted PSV licence for nine years, I have no doubt that Mrs Noddings knew this act was unlawful.
“Not only has Mrs Noddings enjoyed a commercial advantage, it is clear she has also put the safety of her passengers and other road users in jeopardy.”
In February, examiners from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) stopped a vehicle during a school check and the driver said he was working for Tracy Noddings.
The vehicle displayed a licence disc in the name of another driver who subsequently confirmed he was not operating the vehicle. The disc was therefore being used illegally by Tracy Noddings, said the Traffic Commissioner.
Tracy Noddings did not attend the public inquiry on September 14 .
But she had previously submitted evidence stating she was unaware she was committing any offences.
She largely blamed maintenance contractors for the maintenance failures.
The orders come into effect on October 14 and mean that she will not be able to carry passengers commercially.
A spokesman for Stockton Council said: “We have suspended the company with immediate effect and arranged alternative provision for the routes affected.”
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/indefinite-ban-taxi-firm-carried-11919668
------------------------------------------------------
More than 700 Sheffield taxi drivers have licences issued to them by councils hundreds of miles away sparking concerns over safety and welfare.
The can reveal 414 Sheffield drivers have licences issued to them by Rossendale Borough Council in Lancashire - nearly two hours drive away.
With a population of 69,400 in Rossendale they have licensed 2844 Vehicles,4422 Drivers!
Others have been issued by authorities as far away as London and Anglesey in Wales.
Sheffield operates stringent tests for drivers to obtain a private hire licence and it's feared those with criminal records or poor standards of English and general knowledge are operating in the city because of a loophole in the law.
Worried MPs, the council and taxi representatives today demanded a change in the law after it was revealed more than 700 drivers with city addresses have had licences issued by councils other than Sheffield.
Sheffield taxi driver Ibrar Hussain, a GMB union rep, said he was ‘shocked’ 53 drivers living in Sheffield have taxi licences issued to them by Transport for London and seven from the Isle of Anglesey in Wales – more than three hours drive away.
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/we-need-to-change-the-law-over-700-sheffield-taxi-drivers-licensed-by-councils-hundreds-of-miles-away-1-8140078?
-------------------------------------------------------
Comment;
Rossendale is 60 miles away from Sheffield, not hundreds of miles.
Whilst out-of Town vehicles are a massive problem, particularly for Public Protection, when you tell porkies, you loose the impact of your argument.
--------------------------------------------------------------
NOTTINGHAM
A taxi driver offering a woman money for oral sex is among 30 complaints to a police force since it started recording misogyny as a hate crime.
Nottinghamshire Police said there has been national and global interest since the policy was implemented on 4 April.
One man has been charged with misogyny hate crime so far following an alleged sexually motivated assault.
The force's chief constable, Sue Fish, expects the policy to be implemented nationally by other police forces.
"We've had a huge amount of interest from other parts of the country and I have to say globally, which took us a little by surprise," she said.
"Other places are talking about this and recognising misogyny as a really serious issue."
She said the policy had been misreported and misunderstood.
"It's not criminalising wolf-whistling," she said. "That's absolutely trivialising something that is really far more fundamental than that.
"This is about some gratuitous abuse, both physical and verbal, of women because they are women."
There have been 30 complaints to Nottinghamshire Police since the policy was implemented on 4 April.
The law has not changed, and perpetrators can only be charged with crimes if their offences were already against the law.
Anything which is not a criminal offence is recorded as a hate incident with a misogynistic hate crime qualifier.
Of the 30 complaints so far, 11 have been recorded as hate crimes and the other 19 have been recorded as hate incidents.
The crimes reported include:
Sexual assault on a female aged 13 years and over
Public fear, alarm or distress
Racially or religiously aggravated public fear, alarm or distress
Possession of 'other' weapons
Harassment
The woman who reported being offered money by a taxi driver in exchange for oral sex told police she was so scared she climbed out of the window of the locked vehicle.
Police are treating this as an assault, due to the fear of violence. Nobody has been arrested yet.
While misogynistic behaviour in itself may not be a criminal offence, reporting it means Nottinghamshire Police can investigate and establish whether a crime has taken place.
Even if a criminal offence has not taken place, police have been trained to offer support as they would to any victim of a hate crime.
Other steps can also be taken, such as speaking to the perpetrator about their behaviour, and civil remedies such as injunctions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-37431463
----------------------------------------------------------
A north Belfast taxi driver allegedly agreed to store £45,000 worth of cannabis resin in a bid to reduce his own drug debt, the High Court heard today.
Colin Pilson's lawyer described him as "a perfect patsy", desperate to pay off a £1,600 bill from an addiction to cocaine.
The father-of-two, from Forthriver Link in the city, is charged with possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply following the seizure made last week.
He was granted bail on condition that he reports to police daily.
Officers recovered nine kilos of cannabis during searches of a property linked to Pilson in the Glencairn area of Belfast on September 13.
He handed himself in at a PSNI station early the next morning after taking time to "get his nerve up", the court heard.
Prosecution counsel said Pilson told police he owed £1,500-£1,600 from his own cocaine addiction, paying it off by £100 a week.
The accused claimed a man he refused to name offered to cut the debt and repayments by around a half if he would store cannabis.
According to Pilson's account someone was to phone him and arrange to collect the packages from him.
"He said he had not been threatened to store the drugs, however he did feel he would come under pressure with regards his outstanding debt," the prosecutor added.
Defence barrister Richard McConkey argued that his client was not on the police radar.
"He's a perfect patsy for drug dealers; a debt accrued and someone completely desperate to get out of that debt who is the easiest person to store the drugs."
At one point Pilson, who appeared via prison video-link, broke down as it was revealed that his wife had tragically died when she was in her thirties.
Granting bail, Lord Justice Weatherup said Pilson would now be watched closely by police.
He ordered the accused to report to the PSNI daily and surrender his passport
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-taxi-driver-stored-45k-of-cannabis-resin-to-payoff-drug-debts-court-hears-35068088.html?
--------------------------------------------------------
TAXI fares are on the rise in Worcester after cabbies secured a deal on inflation-busting hikes.
Worcester City Council has voted to allow cabbies to increase the charges by "10p per mile" from January.
The decision, made by the city's licensing and environmental health committee, will see the 'flag down' fare rise 10p to £3.60, with the charges for "each subsequent mile" going up by 10p.
Although the percentage rise will vary, it means typical one-mile journeys will increase 2.4 per cent to £4.20 while two miles will cost £5.90, a 3.5 per cent rise.
It was voted through by councillors after they rejected a bid to put some journeys up by 20p per mile, saying it was too much.
Soiling charges for people who spoil the insides of cabs will surge by £25, costing culprits £75.
Councillor Richard Udall, speaking during the meeting, said: "I am relatively sympathetic to the drivers but my concern is for the consumer.
"They are finding life tough, they have faced 10 years of austerity which has ground them down, many people haven't had a pay rise since 2008.
"We've even had a period of negative inflation."
He cited concerns over people in his area struggling to get by, including one disabled woman in Dines Green who had to spend “£60 a week” getting to Worcestershire Royal Hospital three times a week for hospital treatment and another single mum who spent £50 because her child spent time in hospital and she had to visit five days in a row.
During the debate Councillor Lucy Hodgson said she had concerns over the driver's bid for 20p per mile hikes on some tariffs, telling fellow councillors she felt it went too far.
“As a resident and a councillor in a ward on the edge of the city I really do have concerns over the 20p charge – a lot of buses have gone but people still need to get into the city to work, to shop,” she said.
"It's a step too far, some people could become really isolated. I am really struggling with it.
"For some people a taxi is not a luxury, it's a necessity."
The drivers wanted to start the rises from December 1, but Councillor Knight called for a month's delay, which was accepted.
The committee then voted to block the 20p per mile hike and peg it to 10p.
During the debate Councillor Mike Johnson suggested the 10p per mile rise be limited to the "first three miles" of a journey, saying it would "penalise" people who need to travel longer distances.
But that bid was rejected, despite support from Councillor Knight, as the rest of the committee felt it was too complicated.
Rob Day, from Worcester Taxi Drivers Association, turned up to speak for the cabbies.
He said the last rise was two-and-a-half years ago and that fuel prices and insurance costs were harming the trade.
“We understand it’s never a good time to ask for an increase,” he said.
“But it has been two-and-a-half years since the last one.
"Most of the journeys that are outside Worcester are done by a fixed price anyway, the vast majority of customers will not be affected.”
In August the UK inflation rate was at just 0.6 per cent.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/14753983.Taxi_drivers_in_Worcester_secure_inflation_busting_fare_rise_deal/?
Sunday, 18 September 2016
Friday, 16 September 2016
UBERK advance booking starts today at 16:00 hours.
Traditional taxi drivers around the country probably felt a chill go down their spines today as Uber has announced that it is rolling out another new feature to eight British cities: Scheduled rides.
Uber users in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow will now be able to pre-order an Uber for a set time, meaning that a car will glide up to your house just as you need to go out, without needing to press a single button. The company rolled out the feature in London last month, and it says that so far it has been used "tens of thousands of times".
To schedule a ride, you just need to hit the schedule button, which appears at the bottom of the map - above the toggles for the sort of Uber service that you're after.
Separately, the company has also announced today that its own mapping cars are hitting London's roads from today. Similar to the likes of Google StreetView, the company says the cars will be picking up images to improve their data - which could translate to things like better pick-up and drop-off suggestions for UberPOOL trips, and more accurate estimated time data.
Reading the runes on Uber's moves into having its own fleet of mapping cars, it is clearly another sign that the company is attempting to become less reliant on Google's services, despite Google being a fairly early investor in it. Recently in the States, Google launched its own ride sharing service too - so all of this points to Uber and Google potentially being the two big self-driving car titans in a battle that can surely only be a few years away.
https://goo.gl/FTn4yt
Traditional taxi drivers around the country probably felt a chill go down their spines today as Uber has announced that it is rolling out another new feature to eight British cities: Scheduled rides.
Uber users in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow will now be able to pre-order an Uber for a set time, meaning that a car will glide up to your house just as you need to go out, without needing to press a single button. The company rolled out the feature in London last month, and it says that so far it has been used "tens of thousands of times".
To schedule a ride, you just need to hit the schedule button, which appears at the bottom of the map - above the toggles for the sort of Uber service that you're after.
Separately, the company has also announced today that its own mapping cars are hitting London's roads from today. Similar to the likes of Google StreetView, the company says the cars will be picking up images to improve their data - which could translate to things like better pick-up and drop-off suggestions for UberPOOL trips, and more accurate estimated time data.
Reading the runes on Uber's moves into having its own fleet of mapping cars, it is clearly another sign that the company is attempting to become less reliant on Google's services, despite Google being a fairly early investor in it. Recently in the States, Google launched its own ride sharing service too - so all of this points to Uber and Google potentially being the two big self-driving car titans in a battle that can surely only be a few years away.
https://goo.gl/FTn4yt
GLASGOW
A TAXI driver accused of the attempted murder of a pedestrian by driving over them and a cabbie facing charges of raping a passenger after a fare dispute have been removed from the road.
The pair were amongst four in the taxi and private hire trade banned by the authorities within less than an hour after Police Scotland brought to light a string of serious criminal allegations.
Another driver was ordered in front of licensing officials after a police complaint that he has been charged with stalking, which includes allegation of rape.
The fourth driver had his licence removed on the back of accusations of driving over the legs of a passenger following a dispute.
The series of bans by licensing chiefs in Glasgow comes just days after a taxi driver operating in the city was jailed for attempting to coerce two females to urinate in the back of his cab.
Robert Smith, who had his licence removed over 12 months ago, was sentenced to more than a year at the city's Sheriff Court.
In the first case before the licensing committee on Thursday, Police Scotland informed the councillors on the panel that a 68-year-old driver had become embroiled in an argument with a pedestrian who walked in front of his vehicle in the city centre last month.
It was then alleged the driver deliberately accelerated, knocked the man to the ground and drove over his legs before he was stopped by members of the public.
He has been charged of assault causing severe injury and attempted murder. No trail date has been set.
https://goo.gl/3UvvHX
------------------------------------------------------
More than 250 Derby taxi drivers have registered in a town in Lancashire where they do not have to take a "knowledge" test.
A total of 254 people with Derby addresses are officially licensed in Rossendale, 103 miles away. There are 1,500 taxi drivers licensed with Derby City Council.
Rossendale Borough Council said it has handed out the licenses to people with Derby addresses since the start of 2013.
Derby City Council said it is powerless to stop drivers with licences handed out by other authorities from working in Derby because of a loophole in the law.
To obtain a Derby licence, drivers must first pass a knowledge test, which looks at their expertise in getting around the city, before they are awarded their badge. But some other councils do not require drivers to take the test.
Mark Keenan, managing director of Derby-based taxi firm Western Cars, believes this is the reason people are travelling further afield to gain their qualifications. He said: "Out-of-town councils should stop issuing licences for people who aren't going to work in the area, it needs looking at.
https://goo.gl/5ZxtFI
--------------------------------------------------------
A Milton Keynes taxi driver has been fined for charging a passenger nearly double the legal fare.
Nasir Iqbal of Leafield Rise, Two Ash Mile, appeared before city magistrates yesterday (Wednesday September 14) to admit failing to engage his taxi meter and charging more than the legal fare.
He was fined £50 for failing to engage his taxi meter and £50 for overcharging. He was also instructed to pay costs of £500 and a £20 victim surcharge.
The magistrates told Iqbal they were particularly disappointed, as he had lost the trust of his customers.
The court heard how on March 22, the complainant was at Central Milton Keynes railway station trying to get a taxi to take him home.
He approached a Hackney Carriage taxi outside the main station doors and asked the driver if he took card payments.
The driver then advised the complainant the fare would be a minimum of £10, which the passenger didn't question because he was tired and keen to get home, even though he had doubts over the price quoted.
However, he noticed that at no point during the journey was the taxi meter 'switched on'.
Once home the driver used a PayPal payment system on his mobile telephone to take a payment of £9.90.
The passenger later made a formal complaint to Milton Keynes Council that he was overcharged for the journey.
As a result of this, Taxi Enforcement officers tested the route taken by the driver in another Hackney Carriage vehicle and the fare shown on the taxi meter at the end of the journey was £5.80. The complainant was therefore overcharged £4.10.
https://goo.gl/tCTAcW
--------------------------------------------------------
TELFORD
A group of Go Carz drivers say they have reluctantly decided to strike after not being able to come to an agreement with management.
Up to 86 drivers took part in the action this morning while about 130 joined a second protest this afternoon.
The first group went on strike at 7.30am, driving around Telford Shopping Centre until 9.30am.
A statement released by the striking drivers said: "For a lot of drivers, working at GoCarz has become a nightmare. Paying a weekly rent in excess of £100, carrying out school contracts which pay less than the minimum wage, call centre staff booking jobs with incorrect prices/times/destinations, favoritism within the workforce and inequality.
"Meetings with management have not progressed the way we hoped they would and now all dialogue has come to a halt with the driver representatives not being given any kind of feedback. Managers/owners/directors do not seem to care when a threat of strike action was mentioned as they did not believe we would follow it through. We simply ask for better treatment of all drivers and show us a little respect.
"The introduction of a new system has led to up to 50 drivers leaving GoCarz to work for our main competitor, Diamond. Customers are suffering too with incorrect prices being quoted, late taxis and generally a poor service.
"In some cases drivers have worked for this firm for over a decade yet they are still not given their due respect.
"It's a shame that we have to take this measure to get our voices heard. We hope that management listen to our concerns and make changes which will be beneficial for both the drivers and customers. If there is not a sufficient amount of change soon, a lot of drivers will be leaving to join Diamond Taxis."
https://goo.gl/uLX49H
A TAXI driver accused of the attempted murder of a pedestrian by driving over them and a cabbie facing charges of raping a passenger after a fare dispute have been removed from the road.
The pair were amongst four in the taxi and private hire trade banned by the authorities within less than an hour after Police Scotland brought to light a string of serious criminal allegations.
Another driver was ordered in front of licensing officials after a police complaint that he has been charged with stalking, which includes allegation of rape.
The fourth driver had his licence removed on the back of accusations of driving over the legs of a passenger following a dispute.
The series of bans by licensing chiefs in Glasgow comes just days after a taxi driver operating in the city was jailed for attempting to coerce two females to urinate in the back of his cab.
Robert Smith, who had his licence removed over 12 months ago, was sentenced to more than a year at the city's Sheriff Court.
In the first case before the licensing committee on Thursday, Police Scotland informed the councillors on the panel that a 68-year-old driver had become embroiled in an argument with a pedestrian who walked in front of his vehicle in the city centre last month.
It was then alleged the driver deliberately accelerated, knocked the man to the ground and drove over his legs before he was stopped by members of the public.
He has been charged of assault causing severe injury and attempted murder. No trail date has been set.
https://goo.gl/3UvvHX
------------------------------------------------------
More than 250 Derby taxi drivers have registered in a town in Lancashire where they do not have to take a "knowledge" test.
A total of 254 people with Derby addresses are officially licensed in Rossendale, 103 miles away. There are 1,500 taxi drivers licensed with Derby City Council.
Rossendale Borough Council said it has handed out the licenses to people with Derby addresses since the start of 2013.
Derby City Council said it is powerless to stop drivers with licences handed out by other authorities from working in Derby because of a loophole in the law.
To obtain a Derby licence, drivers must first pass a knowledge test, which looks at their expertise in getting around the city, before they are awarded their badge. But some other councils do not require drivers to take the test.
Mark Keenan, managing director of Derby-based taxi firm Western Cars, believes this is the reason people are travelling further afield to gain their qualifications. He said: "Out-of-town councils should stop issuing licences for people who aren't going to work in the area, it needs looking at.
https://goo.gl/5ZxtFI
--------------------------------------------------------
A Milton Keynes taxi driver has been fined for charging a passenger nearly double the legal fare.
Nasir Iqbal of Leafield Rise, Two Ash Mile, appeared before city magistrates yesterday (Wednesday September 14) to admit failing to engage his taxi meter and charging more than the legal fare.
He was fined £50 for failing to engage his taxi meter and £50 for overcharging. He was also instructed to pay costs of £500 and a £20 victim surcharge.
The magistrates told Iqbal they were particularly disappointed, as he had lost the trust of his customers.
The court heard how on March 22, the complainant was at Central Milton Keynes railway station trying to get a taxi to take him home.
He approached a Hackney Carriage taxi outside the main station doors and asked the driver if he took card payments.
The driver then advised the complainant the fare would be a minimum of £10, which the passenger didn't question because he was tired and keen to get home, even though he had doubts over the price quoted.
However, he noticed that at no point during the journey was the taxi meter 'switched on'.
Once home the driver used a PayPal payment system on his mobile telephone to take a payment of £9.90.
The passenger later made a formal complaint to Milton Keynes Council that he was overcharged for the journey.
As a result of this, Taxi Enforcement officers tested the route taken by the driver in another Hackney Carriage vehicle and the fare shown on the taxi meter at the end of the journey was £5.80. The complainant was therefore overcharged £4.10.
https://goo.gl/tCTAcW
--------------------------------------------------------
TELFORD
A group of Go Carz drivers say they have reluctantly decided to strike after not being able to come to an agreement with management.
Up to 86 drivers took part in the action this morning while about 130 joined a second protest this afternoon.
The first group went on strike at 7.30am, driving around Telford Shopping Centre until 9.30am.
A statement released by the striking drivers said: "For a lot of drivers, working at GoCarz has become a nightmare. Paying a weekly rent in excess of £100, carrying out school contracts which pay less than the minimum wage, call centre staff booking jobs with incorrect prices/times/destinations, favoritism within the workforce and inequality.
"Meetings with management have not progressed the way we hoped they would and now all dialogue has come to a halt with the driver representatives not being given any kind of feedback. Managers/owners/directors do not seem to care when a threat of strike action was mentioned as they did not believe we would follow it through. We simply ask for better treatment of all drivers and show us a little respect.
"The introduction of a new system has led to up to 50 drivers leaving GoCarz to work for our main competitor, Diamond. Customers are suffering too with incorrect prices being quoted, late taxis and generally a poor service.
"In some cases drivers have worked for this firm for over a decade yet they are still not given their due respect.
"It's a shame that we have to take this measure to get our voices heard. We hope that management listen to our concerns and make changes which will be beneficial for both the drivers and customers. If there is not a sufficient amount of change soon, a lot of drivers will be leaving to join Diamond Taxis."
https://goo.gl/uLX49H
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Uber Lobby Smears Sadiq Khan
London’s new Mayor has announced measures to support the capital’s black cab trade, while taking steps to tackle air pollution: there will be more taxi ranks, more use of bus lanes, grants to help cabbies move towards zero emissions vehicles, and lots of charging points to help them charge up those electric taxis of the future. And there will be a requirement for private hire drivers to demonstrate competent use of English.
So far, so progressive, but for those who shill for driver and rider matching service Uber, this is nothing less than an affront to the purity of the free market dogma that they hold so dear. Never mind that black cab drivers are almost universally one-man and one-woman small businesses, and that Uber is an aggressive corporate driven by a war chest counted in billions of US Dollars, this has to be framed as unfair.
And so it has come to pass, as uber-creep Christian May, who has inexplicably been gifted the editor’s chair at freesheet City AM, has told “Khan bungs a massive subsidy to the black cabs and heaps new regulations on Uber and private hire. Disappointing”. The man who bridled at suggestions aired on BBC Newsnight he was taking bribes is now directly accusing the Mayor Of London of, er, giving out bribes.
May’s paper has wasted no time in backing behind Uber, as City AM Technology Editor Lynsey Barber has penned “Uber accuses Sadiq Khan of favouring London's black cabs”, adding “In an email sent to customers, Uber claims that thousands of minicab drivers could lose their livelihoods with a knock on effect on waiting times and availability of cars”. The whole text of the Uber email was appended to the article - in bold.
May’s one-time flatmate, odious flannelled fool Master Harry Cole (aged 17 3/4) has, by no coincidence at all, echoed the Uber line. “Ah. He ran his campaign out of a Transport union building now Khan caves into to union vested interests … Uber: ‘While black cabs will get £65m from the taxpayer, the Mayor is piling extra costs and red tape on to licensed private hire drivers’”. Extra costs like having to learn English. Yeah, right.
London’s Mayor, through Transport for London, has a responsibility for the black cab trade, which he is using to drive measures for improving the capital’s air quality. Electric buses presently being introduced on to Central London routes will also contribute. We know what the result of relying on the market to provide this benefit has been: no action at all
Those who use minicabs - including Uber - have registered concerns with the Mayor, such as the inability of some drivers to communicate in English. He is also addressing this problem. Instead of taking this on board, Uber’s useful idiots in the media are whining that it’s not fair, and that there should be less of those rotten regulations.
That would be the regulations that stop Uber from pleasing themselves. But it isn’t about them, it’s about the people who Sadiq Khan represents. He has a duty to them, and has discharged that duty as he has seen fit. That the response of the Uber useful idiots has been nothing more than smears tells you all you need to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cDRqllIGDE&feature=youtu.be
https://goo.gl/V4yTwe
-------------------------------------------------------
The City of Ottawa has responded to a massive $215-million lawsuit filed by the taxi industry over the new rules that will allow ride-hailing companies like Uber to operate legally at the end of this month.
In its statement of defence against the suit filed in August by Capital Taxi and Marc Andre Way, whose family owns the largest number of taxi plates in the city, the city says it has no responsibility to protect the taxi industry from any financial losses that might arise from the regulatory changes.
Because the city allows a limited number of taxis on the streets, new taxi plates are hardly ever issued. For decades, the only way to enter into the city's taxi business was to buy a plate from a current holder — a practice which the city has been aware of and has done nothing to stop in its 50 years of regulating the industry.
Now that unlimited cars-for-hire can enter the market, however, those taxi plates have lost their value. And the suit filed in August — the largest in the history of Ottawa — alleges that the city and the taxi industry were in a "relationship of proximity in which the City's failure to take reasonable care would foreseeably cause loss or harm to Class members."
But the city says it has no such responsibility to taxi plate owners.
Buying and selling those taxi plates "created a speculative and artificial secondary market for time-limited taxicab service licenses" that the city had nothing to do with other than register the plate transfer, according to its statement of defence.
https://goo.gl/ivP58R
--------------------------------------------------------
BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT
A 'system failure' caused delays to 18 of the airline's flights, with hundreds of passengers finding themselves waiting around at check-in desks and baggage carousels.
Flights to Lisbon, Larnaca and Nice were among those affected, as well as the inbound flight from Malaga.
Muhammad Nasim, from Tettenhall, was waiting to pick up passengers at the airport, and left his taxi in the short stay car park.
He parked up at 4.50pm, 40 minutes after his passengers' scheduled flight was due to arrive, but due to delays, he didn't get back to the vehicle with his customers until 5.50pm.
Short stay parking at the airport starts from £1 for ten minutes but rises to £7 for 20 minutes and an additional £5 for every five minutes thereafter.
His fare for the pick up was £40, so he ended up losing out on £13 plus petrol.
Mr Nasim said: "It's unacceptable, it just isn't good enough. I've been trying to get a refund but no-one will speak to me.
"The airport have told me to get in touch with NCP because apparently it isn't their problem. I've spoken to NCP who said they are going to get back to me, but not to expect any refund.
"I'm not the only person it happened to. I saw one old guy who was almost in tears. He had a bill for £80. People haven't got the money to just pay all that. There was probably people who were putting it on credit cards.
"I think it's very harsh in the circumstances to charge people that kind of money, it's not our fault.
"I think they should put a number out that people can call to claim their money back. It isn't right for them to keep that money."
Birmingham Airport confirmed there was a ground staff issue that caused the delay on the day and Monarch apologised to customers.
A Monarch spokesman said: “Monarch is extremely sorry for the delays to flights in and out of Birmingham Airport. These have been caused by a systems issue experienced by Monarch’s handling agent. This has now been resolved.”
“We would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience.”
https://goo.gl/sY5sEn
--------------------------------------------------------
Disabled people in Leeds are being treated like “second-class citizens” by taxi and private hire firms, a campaigner has claimed.
Nathan Popple, who has severe disabilities due to cerebral palsy, claims to have been quoted £108 for a one-way trip in a wheelchair accessible car for a 5.6 mile journey from his Adel home to Armley.
The 18-year-old is behind the Accessible Leeds website, which rates services in the city on how they cater for disabled people.
The quote came after his wheelchair accessible car became unusable after an accident.
He claims to have been rejected travel by private hire drivers in Leeds, while drivers of Hackney carriages, or black cabs, often fail to stop for him or refuse to help him in or out of their vehicles.
In a letter of complaint sent to operators, MPs and Leeds City Council leaders, he said major firms in the city “treat disabled people as second-class citizens”.
He continued: “Complaints about these companies need to be taken seriously and real action needs to be taken against them.
“At the minute Leeds feels like a no-go area for disabled people.”
Mr Popple said that despite many private hire firms advertising that their vehicles are wheelchair accessible, prices are “awful” for disabled people.
He claims other private hire firms offered the Adel to Armley return trip for £60 or £30 but offered either limited times or refused advanced bookings.
“There are endless stories of taxis not showing up, driving away or refusing to stop for disabled people, refusing to state a collection time or simply overcharging,” he said.
“Disabled people have a massive amount to give to our communities and to our city. I am not asking for special treatment, I am asking for fairness.”
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said: “We are always very concerned to hear about taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds who do not treat all passengers equally and will be investigating Mr Popple’s complaints.”
She explained that all new taxi or private hire licence applicants receive customer care training that emphasises fair treatment for all, although the council has no control over charges levied.
The council can revoke private hire licences if complaints are received and proven. Hackney carriage drivers must also abide by the Equality Act 2010 or face possible prosecution.
Neither the Leeds Private Hire Drivers Association nor Unite the Union’s Leeds Hackney carriage branch were available to comment when contacted by Yorkshire Post Newspapers.
https://goo.gl/vm4ZHo
London’s new Mayor has announced measures to support the capital’s black cab trade, while taking steps to tackle air pollution: there will be more taxi ranks, more use of bus lanes, grants to help cabbies move towards zero emissions vehicles, and lots of charging points to help them charge up those electric taxis of the future. And there will be a requirement for private hire drivers to demonstrate competent use of English.
So far, so progressive, but for those who shill for driver and rider matching service Uber, this is nothing less than an affront to the purity of the free market dogma that they hold so dear. Never mind that black cab drivers are almost universally one-man and one-woman small businesses, and that Uber is an aggressive corporate driven by a war chest counted in billions of US Dollars, this has to be framed as unfair.
And so it has come to pass, as uber-creep Christian May, who has inexplicably been gifted the editor’s chair at freesheet City AM, has told “Khan bungs a massive subsidy to the black cabs and heaps new regulations on Uber and private hire. Disappointing”. The man who bridled at suggestions aired on BBC Newsnight he was taking bribes is now directly accusing the Mayor Of London of, er, giving out bribes.
May’s paper has wasted no time in backing behind Uber, as City AM Technology Editor Lynsey Barber has penned “Uber accuses Sadiq Khan of favouring London's black cabs”, adding “In an email sent to customers, Uber claims that thousands of minicab drivers could lose their livelihoods with a knock on effect on waiting times and availability of cars”. The whole text of the Uber email was appended to the article - in bold.
May’s one-time flatmate, odious flannelled fool Master Harry Cole (aged 17 3/4) has, by no coincidence at all, echoed the Uber line. “Ah. He ran his campaign out of a Transport union building now Khan caves into to union vested interests … Uber: ‘While black cabs will get £65m from the taxpayer, the Mayor is piling extra costs and red tape on to licensed private hire drivers’”. Extra costs like having to learn English. Yeah, right.
London’s Mayor, through Transport for London, has a responsibility for the black cab trade, which he is using to drive measures for improving the capital’s air quality. Electric buses presently being introduced on to Central London routes will also contribute. We know what the result of relying on the market to provide this benefit has been: no action at all
Those who use minicabs - including Uber - have registered concerns with the Mayor, such as the inability of some drivers to communicate in English. He is also addressing this problem. Instead of taking this on board, Uber’s useful idiots in the media are whining that it’s not fair, and that there should be less of those rotten regulations.
That would be the regulations that stop Uber from pleasing themselves. But it isn’t about them, it’s about the people who Sadiq Khan represents. He has a duty to them, and has discharged that duty as he has seen fit. That the response of the Uber useful idiots has been nothing more than smears tells you all you need to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cDRqllIGDE&feature=youtu.be
https://goo.gl/V4yTwe
-------------------------------------------------------
The City of Ottawa has responded to a massive $215-million lawsuit filed by the taxi industry over the new rules that will allow ride-hailing companies like Uber to operate legally at the end of this month.
In its statement of defence against the suit filed in August by Capital Taxi and Marc Andre Way, whose family owns the largest number of taxi plates in the city, the city says it has no responsibility to protect the taxi industry from any financial losses that might arise from the regulatory changes.
Because the city allows a limited number of taxis on the streets, new taxi plates are hardly ever issued. For decades, the only way to enter into the city's taxi business was to buy a plate from a current holder — a practice which the city has been aware of and has done nothing to stop in its 50 years of regulating the industry.
Now that unlimited cars-for-hire can enter the market, however, those taxi plates have lost their value. And the suit filed in August — the largest in the history of Ottawa — alleges that the city and the taxi industry were in a "relationship of proximity in which the City's failure to take reasonable care would foreseeably cause loss or harm to Class members."
But the city says it has no such responsibility to taxi plate owners.
Buying and selling those taxi plates "created a speculative and artificial secondary market for time-limited taxicab service licenses" that the city had nothing to do with other than register the plate transfer, according to its statement of defence.
https://goo.gl/ivP58R
--------------------------------------------------------
BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT
A 'system failure' caused delays to 18 of the airline's flights, with hundreds of passengers finding themselves waiting around at check-in desks and baggage carousels.
Flights to Lisbon, Larnaca and Nice were among those affected, as well as the inbound flight from Malaga.
Muhammad Nasim, from Tettenhall, was waiting to pick up passengers at the airport, and left his taxi in the short stay car park.
He parked up at 4.50pm, 40 minutes after his passengers' scheduled flight was due to arrive, but due to delays, he didn't get back to the vehicle with his customers until 5.50pm.
Short stay parking at the airport starts from £1 for ten minutes but rises to £7 for 20 minutes and an additional £5 for every five minutes thereafter.
His fare for the pick up was £40, so he ended up losing out on £13 plus petrol.
Mr Nasim said: "It's unacceptable, it just isn't good enough. I've been trying to get a refund but no-one will speak to me.
"The airport have told me to get in touch with NCP because apparently it isn't their problem. I've spoken to NCP who said they are going to get back to me, but not to expect any refund.
"I'm not the only person it happened to. I saw one old guy who was almost in tears. He had a bill for £80. People haven't got the money to just pay all that. There was probably people who were putting it on credit cards.
"I think it's very harsh in the circumstances to charge people that kind of money, it's not our fault.
"I think they should put a number out that people can call to claim their money back. It isn't right for them to keep that money."
Birmingham Airport confirmed there was a ground staff issue that caused the delay on the day and Monarch apologised to customers.
A Monarch spokesman said: “Monarch is extremely sorry for the delays to flights in and out of Birmingham Airport. These have been caused by a systems issue experienced by Monarch’s handling agent. This has now been resolved.”
“We would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience.”
https://goo.gl/sY5sEn
--------------------------------------------------------
Disabled people in Leeds are being treated like “second-class citizens” by taxi and private hire firms, a campaigner has claimed.
Nathan Popple, who has severe disabilities due to cerebral palsy, claims to have been quoted £108 for a one-way trip in a wheelchair accessible car for a 5.6 mile journey from his Adel home to Armley.
The 18-year-old is behind the Accessible Leeds website, which rates services in the city on how they cater for disabled people.
The quote came after his wheelchair accessible car became unusable after an accident.
He claims to have been rejected travel by private hire drivers in Leeds, while drivers of Hackney carriages, or black cabs, often fail to stop for him or refuse to help him in or out of their vehicles.
In a letter of complaint sent to operators, MPs and Leeds City Council leaders, he said major firms in the city “treat disabled people as second-class citizens”.
He continued: “Complaints about these companies need to be taken seriously and real action needs to be taken against them.
“At the minute Leeds feels like a no-go area for disabled people.”
Mr Popple said that despite many private hire firms advertising that their vehicles are wheelchair accessible, prices are “awful” for disabled people.
He claims other private hire firms offered the Adel to Armley return trip for £60 or £30 but offered either limited times or refused advanced bookings.
“There are endless stories of taxis not showing up, driving away or refusing to stop for disabled people, refusing to state a collection time or simply overcharging,” he said.
“Disabled people have a massive amount to give to our communities and to our city. I am not asking for special treatment, I am asking for fairness.”
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said: “We are always very concerned to hear about taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds who do not treat all passengers equally and will be investigating Mr Popple’s complaints.”
She explained that all new taxi or private hire licence applicants receive customer care training that emphasises fair treatment for all, although the council has no control over charges levied.
The council can revoke private hire licences if complaints are received and proven. Hackney carriage drivers must also abide by the Equality Act 2010 or face possible prosecution.
Neither the Leeds Private Hire Drivers Association nor Unite the Union’s Leeds Hackney carriage branch were available to comment when contacted by Yorkshire Post Newspapers.
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