The Local Government Association is today backing a Private Members Bill, led by Daniel Zeichner MP, to introduce a legal register that ensures local authorities are in the know about drivers seeking a licence in their areas despite previously been banned or refused a licence elsewhere.
Councils have led the way on this issue, developing a voluntary database of licence refusals and revocations, and are backing the bill’s call for this register to become mandatory.
The LGA has consistently called for a taxi licensing regime “fit for the 21st Century” and believes that this bill could be an essential first step towards updating Britain’s outdated and unfit-for-purpose licensing laws for taxis.
Some taxi laws date back to 1847 and the era of horse-drawn hackney carriages, and the current patchwork of outdated laws leaves councils with restricted powers to enforce taxi licensing requirements in their area.
In particular, if a driver has been banned or refused in a particular area, it is difficult for councils to be able to stop that person from gaining a licence somewhere else if the driver does not disclose their previous history. The LGA is hoping this new bill will make it easier for local authorities to share this information, building on the register that the LGA has already commissioned.
The Licensing of Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill 2017-19 is due for its second reading this Friday, 2nd February, and will extend safeguarding measures to taxi drivers. The Bill will require authorities to record all refusals and revocations on a national register, as well as requiring them to cross-reference new applications against the register, to stop rogue drivers securing licences elsewhere.
Alongside safeguarding worries, the LGA has concerns that a failure to update cab legislation:
Takes no account of the increase in app-based taxi services such as Hailo, Uber, and other companies, which has led to concern over how new models fit within the outdated framework and results in legal challenges which are costly and disruptive for councils, residents, and industry.
Has opened the floodgates for drivers operating across licensing authority borders, with councils unable to take enforcement action against taxi drivers licensed by other local authorities, even if they are operating in their areas.
Has undermined the level playing field between different parts of the cab industry and drivers licensed in different areas.
As a result, the LGA is throwing its support behind a bill to be debated this Friday which it says will help protect both passengers and reputable drivers.
This bill would be a positive first step towards the licensing regime for taxis that is desperately needed for the 21st Century.
Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
“We’ve seen numerous cases where drivers have abused the trust of their passengers, with even children becoming victims of sexual exploitation cases. In some cases, drivers banned in one area have simply gone to the other part of the country and got a licence under false pretences, without being honest about their history.
“Building on the work the LGA has started, this bill will make it a requirement for councils to record all refusals and revocations on a register, and cross-reference this for new applicants. We support this bill as an essential first step towards updating taxi licensing and improving safety.
“Although this bill will be a positive first step, we need to move towards taxi licensing that accounts for today’s challenges, not ones we faced decades ago, which is why we would urge the Government to go further than this bill, and deliver a licensing framework fit for the age in which we live.
“Councils have been making the case for our outdated patchwork of taxi laws to be updated with a taxi regime fit for the 21st Century, and it’s now time for government to deliver this.
“We have been pleased to be a part of the Government’s taxi and PHV working group, and urge the Government to build on the work of the group by introducing a reform Bill at the earliest opportunity.
“The current regime is not fit for purpose – some parts of the law pre-date the internal combustion engine, let alone apps and smartphones – and it’s long past time we had taxi licensing laws that reflect the everyday realities of this industry, and its vital role in our communities.”
CASE STUDIES
Councils do all they can to prosecute those who break the law, and several successful examples of councils doing so are below. However, the LGA is concerned that the lack of updated legislation means successful prosecutions are just the tip of an iceberg, and the below examples illustrate the seriousness of the need for more updated legislation.
Walsall Council had to take action against a man who impersonated his brother in order to obtain a taxi driver’s licence. Between 7 February and 16 March 2017, Moshin Zeb carried out over 500 pre-booked taxi journeys for profit, despite being uninsured and disqualified from driving. A member of the public tipped off the council and under questioning from local licensing officers discovered Zeb had been fraudulently using his brother’s identity. Zeb was charged, found guilty, and sentenced to 28 months for 5 counts of fraud. He was also disqualified from driving for 3 years and 6 months.
Wealden District Council brought action against a man who was operating an unlicensed taxi service that faced numerous complaints regarding a poor level of service, including many people left stranded and out of pocket from a failure to arrive to pre-booked appointments and airport runs. Despite having his taxi licence revoked and repeated council warnings, Ashley Hussey continued to drive his unlicensed taxi, and trade as “Village Cars”, with his vehicle logged in the vicinity of Gatwick Airport on more than 80 separate occasions. The Council were able to bring action against Mr Hussey, and he was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £4,700.
Liverpool City Council cracked down on more than 2,000 drivers from Liverpool and surrounding authorities. Almost three quarters of cases involved privately owned vehicles parking illegally in hackney taxi ranks, a huge concern for hackney cab drivers as it frustrates their business, with almost thirty drivers penalised for illegally plying for hire and associated insurance offences. Other offences included 125 vehicles with illegal tyres, and 79 cases where drivers failed to wear or display their badge. The council was able to step up its enforcement action over the past year, thanks to a partnership with police to tackle vehicles not complying with the law.
http://bit.ly/2FBFcIl
---------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 31 January 2018
A police operation in Liverpool’s so-called Red Light district has led to several arrests and a number of taxi drivers being taken off the road.
Specialist Matrix officers and traffic police carried out the operation on Friday night in Sheil Road in Kensington - the epicentre of Liverpool’s sex worker crisis .
The force has been targeting the area and particularly focusing on the actions of taxi drivers after an ECHO undercover sting highlighted how some cabbies are working with brothels to entice groups of men to go to Kensington and pay for sex as part of a seedy ‘package deal.’
Friday’s action saw police make three arrests and suspend the licenses of four taxi drivers.
Two vehicles were also seized and traffic officers handed out 22 taxi defect notices and 12 traffic tickets on the night.
A tweet from the police stated that the Sheil Road area “remains a priority” for the force.
This was the second major crackdown in the Sheil Road area in recent months, with a December operation following shortly after we published the results of our ‘Orange Light District’ investigation which highlighted the dodgy taxi-sex deals taking place.
On that occasion twelve taxi and private hire drivers were suspended from work after police said they responded to “issues relating to sex work in the Sheil Road and surrounding area” which included “reports of people using black cabs and private hire vehicles to be taken to the area to visit sex workers.”
In November last year, the ECHO published the results of our special Orange Light District investigation - which showed that some cab drivers are working with brothels to entice groups of men on nights out into travelling to areas to pay for sex.
Our sting involved reporters specifically being urged to travel by taxi to Kensington and pay large sums to cabbies up front as part of a “package deal.”
http://bit.ly/2BHaP0E
Specialist Matrix officers and traffic police carried out the operation on Friday night in Sheil Road in Kensington - the epicentre of Liverpool’s sex worker crisis .
The force has been targeting the area and particularly focusing on the actions of taxi drivers after an ECHO undercover sting highlighted how some cabbies are working with brothels to entice groups of men to go to Kensington and pay for sex as part of a seedy ‘package deal.’
Friday’s action saw police make three arrests and suspend the licenses of four taxi drivers.
Two vehicles were also seized and traffic officers handed out 22 taxi defect notices and 12 traffic tickets on the night.
A tweet from the police stated that the Sheil Road area “remains a priority” for the force.
This was the second major crackdown in the Sheil Road area in recent months, with a December operation following shortly after we published the results of our ‘Orange Light District’ investigation which highlighted the dodgy taxi-sex deals taking place.
On that occasion twelve taxi and private hire drivers were suspended from work after police said they responded to “issues relating to sex work in the Sheil Road and surrounding area” which included “reports of people using black cabs and private hire vehicles to be taken to the area to visit sex workers.”
In November last year, the ECHO published the results of our special Orange Light District investigation - which showed that some cab drivers are working with brothels to entice groups of men on nights out into travelling to areas to pay for sex.
Our sting involved reporters specifically being urged to travel by taxi to Kensington and pay large sums to cabbies up front as part of a “package deal.”
http://bit.ly/2BHaP0E
Tuesday, 30 January 2018
YESTERDAY IN PARLIAMENT
Gillian Keegan Conservative, Chichester
What steps the Government have taken to improve electric vehicle charge point infrastructure.
----------------------------------------
Richard Harrington Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
We have a range of grant schemes to support the installation of charging infrastructure—on-street, off-street and at workplaces. At the autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a £400 million joint public and private charging infrastructure investment fund.
----------------------------------------------------
Mark Pawsey Conservative, Rugby
My constituency is already home to the new electric London taxi, and we have recently heard the announcement of £80 million of investment in a new electric battery development facility in Coventry. Does the Minister agree that this presents opportunities for my constituency and the wider area to establish leadership in the electric vehicles sector?
----------------------------------------------------
Gillian Keegan Conservative, Chichester
Chichester District Council has invested in 20 new electric vehicle charging points in carparks throughout the district. However, a constituent recently told me that it took him six and a half hours to get from Chichester to Oxford in his electric car because there were insufficient charging points during the journey. What is the Minister doing to join up individual council initiatives to ensure that there is a comprehensive network of charging points nationwide?
-----------------------------------------------------
Richard Harrington Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
We are pressing hard on this. The Government are taking powers under the Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill to ensure that the infrastructure is rolled out. Government leadership, along with local authority engagement and a growing private sector, means that the UK now has more than 11,500 publicly accessible charge points.
The Government have committed £15 million to ensuring that there will be one every 20 miles on the strategic road network. That is coming, and it will be coming soon.
-------------------------------------------
Two private hire cab drivers from Milton Keynes have been convicted of blagging or picking up passengers illegally.
Abdirahman Ahmed Ibrahim of Boundary Crescent, Stony Stratford, appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in July 2017.
He was fined £120 for plying for hire and £120 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Ibrahim is licensed by Aylesbury Vale District Council and is operated by Speedline.
Shahul Abdul Razak of Dexter Avenue, Oldbrook, also attended court and pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in July 2017. He was fined £131 for plying for hire and £131 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Razak is licensed by South Northants Council and is operated by Speedline.
The case was brought following a joint enforcement operation carried out by Milton Keynes & South Northants Taxi Enforcement Teams and Thames Valley Police in June and July 2017. The court heard how officers, acting as members of the public, engaged the drivers on journeys which had not been pre-booked from one location to another in Milton Keynes. At the completion of these journeys taxi enforcement officers and police were waiting.
Investigations by council officers showed that the vehicles were not lawfully pre-booked for these journeys. The vehicles were licensed by South Northants and Aylesbury Vale Councils and were displaying door signs of Private Hire Operator Speedline.
Councillor Catriona Morris, chairman of the MK Regulatory Committee, said: “Milton Keynes Council takes passenger safety very seriously. The laws and licensing standards that we enforce are in place to ensure that passengers are safe. People should be aware that if they use private hire vehicles without booking in advance then the vehicle will not be insured if an accident occurs.
“Whilst it is unfortunate that the number of offenders is still too high I am pleased that our enforcement partners, Thames Valley Police & South Northants District Council, have supported us during this operation.
“I hope that this joined up approach and on-going prosecutions will eventually get the message through that if you come into Milton Keynes then you must abide by the rules or you will face the consequences.
“I’m very pleased to note that Aylesbury Vale District Council is about to introduce a detailed Knowledge Test for its drivers and has also provided MKC Officers with delegated powers to formally deal with their vehicles at the roadside.”
Two Luton drivers were also convicted after appearing at the same court hearing on Friday. They are: Faizan Ali of Townsley Close, Luton, pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in June 2017. He was fined £120 for plying for hire and £120 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Ali stated that he had not received any training on plying from hire from Speedline or Aylesbury Vale. Mr Ali is licensed by Aylesbury Vale District Council and is operated by Speedline.
Monzur Ahmed of Bosmore Road, Luton, pleaded guilty for plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in July 2017. He was fined £145 to plying for hire and £145 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Ahmed is licensed by South Northants District Council and is operated by Speedline.
http://bit.ly/2no4zqi
-----------------------------------------------
A blind champion skier today urged taxi app firms to enforce the law by telling drivers they must pick up visually impaired people and guide dogs.
John Dickinson-Lilley, who spends more than £600 a week commuting, said he had been repeatedly left at the kerbside when drivers refuse to take his animal. The charity Guide Dogs said complaints about the issue had doubled in three years from 66 to 146.
Mr Dickinson-Lilley, right, 39, of Forest Hill is head of external affairs at a construction firm and travels with black Labrador-Retriever cross Brett. He said drivers often claimed an allergy to animals.
A 2016 British champion and European Cup slalom winner, he is training for the 2022 Beijing Paralympics. He said that at work “I meet ministers and parliamentarians. I have to travel by taxi because we get battered on the Tube. But unfortunately private hire firms don’t help.
“It’s embarrassing and affects your credibility because you turn up late. Black cabs are the only ones I can guarantee will take us. You say to Uber or Addison Lee, ‘It’s critical the drivers know I’ve got a guide dog.’ But there’s times they turn up then drive away, or just don’t stop, which is illegal. It’s a humiliation. I get really angry.”
The Equality Act 2010 states taxis and private hire vehicles must carry the guide dog, allow it to stay with the owner and not charge extra. Lawbreakers face a £1,000 fine.
Uber said: “We remind drivers of this. Any found to have refused to take a service animal will permanently lose access to Uber and risks having their private hire licence taken away.”
Addison Lee did not comment.
Guide Dogs wants mandatory equality training for taxi and cab drivers.
http://bit.ly/2Gtrokp
------------------------------------------
Northampton's taxis will be required to scrap their diesels and upgrade to electric and hybrid in as little as seven years.
A borough council strategy to cut pollution in the town has picked out Northampton's 850 taxis and private hire cabs as a main contributor to emissions - but want them to be "part of the solution".
But Steve Ward, a drivers' representative for the Northampton Private Hire Association, says Hackney Carriage drivers and cabbies who have just invested in a car will be "kicked into the dirt" by the plans.
The borough council's new Northampton Low Emission Strategy (NLES) reads: "Taxis operate mainly in the urban area where air pollution is greatest and often leave their engines idling on taxi ranks.
"We will seek to reduce access to the most polluting commercial vehicles whilst [promoting] an uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles."
It comes after a 2017 study found one-in-20 deaths in Northampton are attributable to air pollutants, specifically a poisonous diesel engine byproduct called nitrogen dioxide (N0x). Studies show pollution hotspots in Northampton could produce twice the EU legal limit for N0x annually.
The Government is at risk of being sanctioned for its N0x emissions if it does not get hem under control, which would impact local authorities who have not done their part to reduce pollutants.
In line with a national air quality plan set out last year, the council plans to set emission standards for taxis, meaning diesel cars older than 2014 will not be given licenses from December 2025 onwards.
Eventually, petrol cars and hybrids will also be phased out until only electric taxis remain in 2030. Charging points will also be built into taxi ranks across the town.
Meanwhile, the Government has announced a plan to ban all new petrol and diesel cars by 2040.
But Steve Ward said: "We feel the Government has been pushing drivers to buy diesel for years. Now the cabbies have invested in them, the Government's changed its mind.
"Electric vehicles are not the beauties they seem. Government policy turn around in a few months on diesel, who's to say it won't turn around again here?
"A new Hackney Carriage Hybrid costs £55,000. Meanwhile, when the cabbies try to sell their 'unclean' vehicles there will be no market for them."
The Northampton Private Hire Association is asking the council to give cabbies a more lenient deadline to upgrade their old vehicles.
The council will also consider creating a clean air zone in the town that would fine high-emission vehicles.
The NLES is still awaiting final apprival.
-------------------------------------------
A South Yorkshire child sex abuse survivor has taken her campaign to get stricter checks on taxi drivers to the Houses of Parliament.
Sammy Woodhouse, who was groomed as a teenager by abuse gang ringleader Arshid Hussain, has called for every taxi in the country to be fitted with CCTV.
She travelled to London today with members of the Suzy Lampugh Trust who have published a report claiming that taxi drivers with multiple convictions were being granted licences in some parts of the country.
The group met MPs to talk through its findings following a Freedom Information (FOI) request for information to 316 local authorities across the UK. Sheffield City Council replied to the request but refused to respond "due to it not being possible to extract the data required in the time frame or financial constraints set for a FOI response".
The trust called for national minimum standards for taxi licensing - similar to those in place in Rotherham following the town's child sexual exploitation scandal - to be introduced nationwide.
A report by Professor Alexis Jay found at least 1,400 children were subjected to sexual abuse in the town between 1997 and 2013. The committee noted the concerns raised relate to a "very small minority" of drivers in Rotherham but they had undermined public confidence.
Sammy said: "By introducing national minimum standards for licensing we can improve safety checks on drivers making it a safer and better trade for all. For example, having CCTV and audio in all taxis will help to prevent crime against passengers and drivers, as well as providing evidence when a crime is committed.
http://bit.ly/2DPWViR
Gillian Keegan Conservative, Chichester
What steps the Government have taken to improve electric vehicle charge point infrastructure.
----------------------------------------
Richard Harrington Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
We have a range of grant schemes to support the installation of charging infrastructure—on-street, off-street and at workplaces. At the autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a £400 million joint public and private charging infrastructure investment fund.
----------------------------------------------------
Mark Pawsey Conservative, Rugby
My constituency is already home to the new electric London taxi, and we have recently heard the announcement of £80 million of investment in a new electric battery development facility in Coventry. Does the Minister agree that this presents opportunities for my constituency and the wider area to establish leadership in the electric vehicles sector?
----------------------------------------------------
Gillian Keegan Conservative, Chichester
Chichester District Council has invested in 20 new electric vehicle charging points in carparks throughout the district. However, a constituent recently told me that it took him six and a half hours to get from Chichester to Oxford in his electric car because there were insufficient charging points during the journey. What is the Minister doing to join up individual council initiatives to ensure that there is a comprehensive network of charging points nationwide?
-----------------------------------------------------
Richard Harrington Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
We are pressing hard on this. The Government are taking powers under the Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill to ensure that the infrastructure is rolled out. Government leadership, along with local authority engagement and a growing private sector, means that the UK now has more than 11,500 publicly accessible charge points.
The Government have committed £15 million to ensuring that there will be one every 20 miles on the strategic road network. That is coming, and it will be coming soon.
-------------------------------------------
Two private hire cab drivers from Milton Keynes have been convicted of blagging or picking up passengers illegally.
Abdirahman Ahmed Ibrahim of Boundary Crescent, Stony Stratford, appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in July 2017.
He was fined £120 for plying for hire and £120 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Ibrahim is licensed by Aylesbury Vale District Council and is operated by Speedline.
Shahul Abdul Razak of Dexter Avenue, Oldbrook, also attended court and pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in July 2017. He was fined £131 for plying for hire and £131 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Razak is licensed by South Northants Council and is operated by Speedline.
The case was brought following a joint enforcement operation carried out by Milton Keynes & South Northants Taxi Enforcement Teams and Thames Valley Police in June and July 2017. The court heard how officers, acting as members of the public, engaged the drivers on journeys which had not been pre-booked from one location to another in Milton Keynes. At the completion of these journeys taxi enforcement officers and police were waiting.
Investigations by council officers showed that the vehicles were not lawfully pre-booked for these journeys. The vehicles were licensed by South Northants and Aylesbury Vale Councils and were displaying door signs of Private Hire Operator Speedline.
Councillor Catriona Morris, chairman of the MK Regulatory Committee, said: “Milton Keynes Council takes passenger safety very seriously. The laws and licensing standards that we enforce are in place to ensure that passengers are safe. People should be aware that if they use private hire vehicles without booking in advance then the vehicle will not be insured if an accident occurs.
“Whilst it is unfortunate that the number of offenders is still too high I am pleased that our enforcement partners, Thames Valley Police & South Northants District Council, have supported us during this operation.
“I hope that this joined up approach and on-going prosecutions will eventually get the message through that if you come into Milton Keynes then you must abide by the rules or you will face the consequences.
“I’m very pleased to note that Aylesbury Vale District Council is about to introduce a detailed Knowledge Test for its drivers and has also provided MKC Officers with delegated powers to formally deal with their vehicles at the roadside.”
Two Luton drivers were also convicted after appearing at the same court hearing on Friday. They are: Faizan Ali of Townsley Close, Luton, pleaded guilty to plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in June 2017. He was fined £120 for plying for hire and £120 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Ali stated that he had not received any training on plying from hire from Speedline or Aylesbury Vale. Mr Ali is licensed by Aylesbury Vale District Council and is operated by Speedline.
Monzur Ahmed of Bosmore Road, Luton, pleaded guilty for plying for hire and driving without valid motor insurance in July 2017. He was fined £145 to plying for hire and £145 for invalid insurance. He was also given 6 DVLA penalty points and has to pay costs of £631, with a victim surcharge of £30. Mr Ahmed is licensed by South Northants District Council and is operated by Speedline.
http://bit.ly/2no4zqi
-----------------------------------------------
A blind champion skier today urged taxi app firms to enforce the law by telling drivers they must pick up visually impaired people and guide dogs.
John Dickinson-Lilley, who spends more than £600 a week commuting, said he had been repeatedly left at the kerbside when drivers refuse to take his animal. The charity Guide Dogs said complaints about the issue had doubled in three years from 66 to 146.
Mr Dickinson-Lilley, right, 39, of Forest Hill is head of external affairs at a construction firm and travels with black Labrador-Retriever cross Brett. He said drivers often claimed an allergy to animals.
A 2016 British champion and European Cup slalom winner, he is training for the 2022 Beijing Paralympics. He said that at work “I meet ministers and parliamentarians. I have to travel by taxi because we get battered on the Tube. But unfortunately private hire firms don’t help.
“It’s embarrassing and affects your credibility because you turn up late. Black cabs are the only ones I can guarantee will take us. You say to Uber or Addison Lee, ‘It’s critical the drivers know I’ve got a guide dog.’ But there’s times they turn up then drive away, or just don’t stop, which is illegal. It’s a humiliation. I get really angry.”
The Equality Act 2010 states taxis and private hire vehicles must carry the guide dog, allow it to stay with the owner and not charge extra. Lawbreakers face a £1,000 fine.
Uber said: “We remind drivers of this. Any found to have refused to take a service animal will permanently lose access to Uber and risks having their private hire licence taken away.”
Addison Lee did not comment.
Guide Dogs wants mandatory equality training for taxi and cab drivers.
http://bit.ly/2Gtrokp
------------------------------------------
Northampton's taxis will be required to scrap their diesels and upgrade to electric and hybrid in as little as seven years.
A borough council strategy to cut pollution in the town has picked out Northampton's 850 taxis and private hire cabs as a main contributor to emissions - but want them to be "part of the solution".
But Steve Ward, a drivers' representative for the Northampton Private Hire Association, says Hackney Carriage drivers and cabbies who have just invested in a car will be "kicked into the dirt" by the plans.
The borough council's new Northampton Low Emission Strategy (NLES) reads: "Taxis operate mainly in the urban area where air pollution is greatest and often leave their engines idling on taxi ranks.
"We will seek to reduce access to the most polluting commercial vehicles whilst [promoting] an uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles."
It comes after a 2017 study found one-in-20 deaths in Northampton are attributable to air pollutants, specifically a poisonous diesel engine byproduct called nitrogen dioxide (N0x). Studies show pollution hotspots in Northampton could produce twice the EU legal limit for N0x annually.
The Government is at risk of being sanctioned for its N0x emissions if it does not get hem under control, which would impact local authorities who have not done their part to reduce pollutants.
In line with a national air quality plan set out last year, the council plans to set emission standards for taxis, meaning diesel cars older than 2014 will not be given licenses from December 2025 onwards.
Eventually, petrol cars and hybrids will also be phased out until only electric taxis remain in 2030. Charging points will also be built into taxi ranks across the town.
Meanwhile, the Government has announced a plan to ban all new petrol and diesel cars by 2040.
But Steve Ward said: "We feel the Government has been pushing drivers to buy diesel for years. Now the cabbies have invested in them, the Government's changed its mind.
"Electric vehicles are not the beauties they seem. Government policy turn around in a few months on diesel, who's to say it won't turn around again here?
"A new Hackney Carriage Hybrid costs £55,000. Meanwhile, when the cabbies try to sell their 'unclean' vehicles there will be no market for them."
The Northampton Private Hire Association is asking the council to give cabbies a more lenient deadline to upgrade their old vehicles.
The council will also consider creating a clean air zone in the town that would fine high-emission vehicles.
The NLES is still awaiting final apprival.
-------------------------------------------
A South Yorkshire child sex abuse survivor has taken her campaign to get stricter checks on taxi drivers to the Houses of Parliament.
Sammy Woodhouse, who was groomed as a teenager by abuse gang ringleader Arshid Hussain, has called for every taxi in the country to be fitted with CCTV.
She travelled to London today with members of the Suzy Lampugh Trust who have published a report claiming that taxi drivers with multiple convictions were being granted licences in some parts of the country.
The group met MPs to talk through its findings following a Freedom Information (FOI) request for information to 316 local authorities across the UK. Sheffield City Council replied to the request but refused to respond "due to it not being possible to extract the data required in the time frame or financial constraints set for a FOI response".
The trust called for national minimum standards for taxi licensing - similar to those in place in Rotherham following the town's child sexual exploitation scandal - to be introduced nationwide.
A report by Professor Alexis Jay found at least 1,400 children were subjected to sexual abuse in the town between 1997 and 2013. The committee noted the concerns raised relate to a "very small minority" of drivers in Rotherham but they had undermined public confidence.
Sammy said: "By introducing national minimum standards for licensing we can improve safety checks on drivers making it a safer and better trade for all. For example, having CCTV and audio in all taxis will help to prevent crime against passengers and drivers, as well as providing evidence when a crime is committed.
http://bit.ly/2DPWViR
Monday, 29 January 2018
Friday 2 Feb see's the second reading of the Licensing of Taxis Safety Bill.
Here is the Bill as it stands at the Moment, it will naturally be amended at later stages.
http://bit.ly/2GtNgMp
---------------------------------------------
Thousands of taxi and private hire drivers with serious criminal convictions are carrying passengers around Britain, research suggests.
At least 865 drivers with convictions have successfully gained or renewed a licence since 2012, but the figure only covers 38 authorities that gave details to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
They were a fraction of the 316 councils that provide licences, with the vast majority claiming they were unable to provide details in response to a freedom of information request.
Among the crimes were actual bodily harm, common assault, speeding and drink driving, with one driver retaining a licence despite 36 separate convictions for offences including violence, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and threatening behaviour committed from 1973 to 2017.
Public safety campaigners are demanding minimum standards for licencing, arguing the current requirements are “not fit for purpose”.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust said that while the majority of drivers do not pose a risk to passengers, a “minority are slipping through the net”.
Chief executive Rachel Griffin said she feared the figure was the “just the tip of the iceberg”.
European Union categorises Uber as a taxi company forcing strict regulations
“It is deeply troubling that there are taxi and minicab drivers with serious criminal convictions operating across the country,” she added.
“The ambiguity currently surrounding what constitutes a ‘fit and proper’ person with regards to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is unacceptable.
“Inadequate regulations can, and in some cases have already, led to passengers being victimised by drivers with a known history of unsafe behaviour and even criminal convictions.
“Despite this, local authorities are continuing to take unnecessary risks when granting and renewing taxi and private hire vehicle licences.”
The trust said the law on criminal checks needed for taxi drivers must be strengthened because of their position transporting people who are often alone, in a locked vehicle, and may be vulnerable.
Current guidelines mean that the highest level of criminal checks is only recommended, rather than legally required, and are being applied inconsistently across the country.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust also raised concern over alleged failures by police forces to communicate with licencing authorities over offences and other concerning behaviour by drivers.
It is calling for a national database where information can be collated to ensure officials have details of past offences and know whether applicants have had licences refused by other authorities.
The charity, which was created in the name of a 25-year-old woman who disappeared in 1986, aims to improve public safety and reduce the risk of violence.
Its campaign comes amid efforts by victims of the “black cab rapist” John Worboys to prevent him being released from prison after serving just nine years of an indefinite sentence for rape and sexual assault.
ohn Worboys was found guilty in 2009 of attacking 12 women – but police say he could have attacked at least 100 (PA)
Worboys used his job to pick up targets in London and ply them with spiked champagne before attacking them.
Numerous taxi and minicab drivers – both licenced and unlicensed – have been convicted of sexually assaulting passengers in recent years, prompting repeated calls to improve safeguards.
Concerns over inadequate regulation have recently focused on booking apps like Uber, which has been banned in several cities.
A former taxi firm owner in Rotherham, Qurban Ali, was among the men convicted of grooming and sexually abusing girls in the town over a number of years.
The case sparked tightened restrictions causing around 40 drivers to lose their licences, but the licencing loophole let them continue working in other areas nearby outside of the council’s control.
Sammy Woodhouse, a survivor of the abuse in Rotherham, called on the CCTV and audio recording now required in the town’s taxis to be rolled out in other areas.
She said it would prevent crime against both passengers and drivers, as well as providing evidence to secure conviction if one is committed.
“By introducing national minimum standards for licensing we can improve safety checks on drivers making it a safer and better trade for all,” Ms Woodhouse added.
“Improvements to passenger safety can only be achieved by the government implementing national minimum standards in legislation for taxi and private hire licensing.”
James Button, president of the Institute of Licensing commented, gave the body’s support for the “vital” change, adding: “Without national minimum standards, any attempts by licensing authorities to improve standards and remove unacceptable people and sub-standard vehicles from the trade are easily undermined by simply obtaining licences elsewhere.
“The current system places passengers at risk and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
The Local Government Association (LGA) said it was creating a voluntary register of taxi drivers so councils can monitor those banned or refused licences in other regions.
The proposed Taxi Licensing Bill would make the register part of new laws if it receives Parliamentary support, a spokesperson said.
Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Councils have consistently called for our out-of-date patchwork of taxi laws, some of which date back to Victorian times, to be updated with a legal framework fit for the times in which we live.
“We agree that should include national minimum standards for drivers everywhere. Updating laws would also deal with developments such as app-based ordering, which is essential to how the modern marketplace operates.
“The Government needs to deliver serious reform in this area so councils are equipped with the tools they need to keep our residents safe.”
A Department of Transport (DfT) working group is currently looking at potential reforms to regulation, which currently allows drivers to leave licencing areas on pre-booked journeys.
Councils in England and Wales have a duty to ensure drivers are “fit and proper” to hold a licence but the term is not defined in law.
The Government says it is already leading work with businesses to reduce the risk of sexual exploitation linked to taxi and private hire firms.
“It is never acceptable for the public to be put at risk and all transport operators must provide a safe and quality service for their passengers,” a spokesperson for the DfT said.
“While the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles is a matter for local authorities, we have made it clear that we expect them to carry out criminal record checks for all drivers and check they have the licences they need to carry passengers."
https://ind.pn/2nrr1Ov
---------------------------------------------
LLANDUDNO
A chef raped a young woman who got into his car mistaking it for a taxi, a jury has been told.
Jie Xiang Guan, 39, admits sexually assaulting the teenager, who was returning from a Halloween party, but denies rape.
Prosecuting barrister Elen Owen said the woman, then aged 19, had been drinking in Llandudno on October 31, 2016, but became separated from her friends.
She got a taxi home during the early hours of November 1 but was ill during the journey and was thrown out in the Craigside area of Llandudno.
She then made the fateful mistake of getting into an eight-seater Hyundai car which pulled up next to her thinking it would take her safely home, Miss Owen said.
But it was not a taxi and it was alleged that Guan, of Heol Dirion, Colwyn Bay, drove her to the prom in Rhos on Sea, got into the back of the vehicle and pushed her to the floor.
The court heard Guan, who worked at Yeung Sing Restaurant in Penrhyn Bay, pinned the woman down and raped her, pulling so hard at her jeans that the button was ripped off and the zip was broken.
Miss Owen said that the woman was was crying and screaming: “He then put his hand over her mouth to stop her screams and punched her to the face.
“She tried kicking him and punching him back but stopped because every time she did this he would punch her harder.”
After raping her he opened the door and pushed her out of the car, it was alleged.
She fell onto the grass and rolled down an embankment and her bag was left in the vehicle, Miss Owen said.
The woman then ran to the nearest house which had a light on where her mother was contacted and the police alerted.
Miss Owen said that on November 4 last year, a police officer visited Guan on an unrelated matter and a sharp eyed officer noticed the description of Guan and the vehicle and became suspicious.
He reported it to detectives who were investigating the rape case.
Guan was arrested at work on November 8, and admitted being at the same nightclub as the same woman, noticing her there.
He later admitted helping her into the car but denied any other physical contact.
Forensic analyses showed that his DNA was on the woman and her clothing, the court heard.
In a second interview when the forensic evidence was put to him he made no comment.
But in his defence case statement, Guan, who follwed the proceedings with the aid of a Chinese interpreter, said he misjudged the situation and tried to kiss her.
He thought she might be willing to engage in sexual activity with him in the car and accepted sexually touching the woman and damaging her jeans - and while he denied rape, he had admitted a separate charge of sexual assault.
Miss Owen said that the woman’s bag was found under a seat in his vehicle.
The trial before Mr Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones continues.
http://bit.ly/2EnDJGo
----------------------------------
Here is the Bill as it stands at the Moment, it will naturally be amended at later stages.
http://bit.ly/2GtNgMp
---------------------------------------------
Thousands of taxi and private hire drivers with serious criminal convictions are carrying passengers around Britain, research suggests.
At least 865 drivers with convictions have successfully gained or renewed a licence since 2012, but the figure only covers 38 authorities that gave details to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
They were a fraction of the 316 councils that provide licences, with the vast majority claiming they were unable to provide details in response to a freedom of information request.
Among the crimes were actual bodily harm, common assault, speeding and drink driving, with one driver retaining a licence despite 36 separate convictions for offences including violence, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and threatening behaviour committed from 1973 to 2017.
Public safety campaigners are demanding minimum standards for licencing, arguing the current requirements are “not fit for purpose”.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust said that while the majority of drivers do not pose a risk to passengers, a “minority are slipping through the net”.
Chief executive Rachel Griffin said she feared the figure was the “just the tip of the iceberg”.
European Union categorises Uber as a taxi company forcing strict regulations
“It is deeply troubling that there are taxi and minicab drivers with serious criminal convictions operating across the country,” she added.
“The ambiguity currently surrounding what constitutes a ‘fit and proper’ person with regards to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is unacceptable.
“Inadequate regulations can, and in some cases have already, led to passengers being victimised by drivers with a known history of unsafe behaviour and even criminal convictions.
“Despite this, local authorities are continuing to take unnecessary risks when granting and renewing taxi and private hire vehicle licences.”
The trust said the law on criminal checks needed for taxi drivers must be strengthened because of their position transporting people who are often alone, in a locked vehicle, and may be vulnerable.
Current guidelines mean that the highest level of criminal checks is only recommended, rather than legally required, and are being applied inconsistently across the country.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust also raised concern over alleged failures by police forces to communicate with licencing authorities over offences and other concerning behaviour by drivers.
It is calling for a national database where information can be collated to ensure officials have details of past offences and know whether applicants have had licences refused by other authorities.
The charity, which was created in the name of a 25-year-old woman who disappeared in 1986, aims to improve public safety and reduce the risk of violence.
Its campaign comes amid efforts by victims of the “black cab rapist” John Worboys to prevent him being released from prison after serving just nine years of an indefinite sentence for rape and sexual assault.
ohn Worboys was found guilty in 2009 of attacking 12 women – but police say he could have attacked at least 100 (PA)
Worboys used his job to pick up targets in London and ply them with spiked champagne before attacking them.
Numerous taxi and minicab drivers – both licenced and unlicensed – have been convicted of sexually assaulting passengers in recent years, prompting repeated calls to improve safeguards.
Concerns over inadequate regulation have recently focused on booking apps like Uber, which has been banned in several cities.
A former taxi firm owner in Rotherham, Qurban Ali, was among the men convicted of grooming and sexually abusing girls in the town over a number of years.
The case sparked tightened restrictions causing around 40 drivers to lose their licences, but the licencing loophole let them continue working in other areas nearby outside of the council’s control.
Sammy Woodhouse, a survivor of the abuse in Rotherham, called on the CCTV and audio recording now required in the town’s taxis to be rolled out in other areas.
She said it would prevent crime against both passengers and drivers, as well as providing evidence to secure conviction if one is committed.
“By introducing national minimum standards for licensing we can improve safety checks on drivers making it a safer and better trade for all,” Ms Woodhouse added.
“Improvements to passenger safety can only be achieved by the government implementing national minimum standards in legislation for taxi and private hire licensing.”
James Button, president of the Institute of Licensing commented, gave the body’s support for the “vital” change, adding: “Without national minimum standards, any attempts by licensing authorities to improve standards and remove unacceptable people and sub-standard vehicles from the trade are easily undermined by simply obtaining licences elsewhere.
“The current system places passengers at risk and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
The Local Government Association (LGA) said it was creating a voluntary register of taxi drivers so councils can monitor those banned or refused licences in other regions.
The proposed Taxi Licensing Bill would make the register part of new laws if it receives Parliamentary support, a spokesperson said.
Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Councils have consistently called for our out-of-date patchwork of taxi laws, some of which date back to Victorian times, to be updated with a legal framework fit for the times in which we live.
“We agree that should include national minimum standards for drivers everywhere. Updating laws would also deal with developments such as app-based ordering, which is essential to how the modern marketplace operates.
“The Government needs to deliver serious reform in this area so councils are equipped with the tools they need to keep our residents safe.”
A Department of Transport (DfT) working group is currently looking at potential reforms to regulation, which currently allows drivers to leave licencing areas on pre-booked journeys.
Councils in England and Wales have a duty to ensure drivers are “fit and proper” to hold a licence but the term is not defined in law.
The Government says it is already leading work with businesses to reduce the risk of sexual exploitation linked to taxi and private hire firms.
“It is never acceptable for the public to be put at risk and all transport operators must provide a safe and quality service for their passengers,” a spokesperson for the DfT said.
“While the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles is a matter for local authorities, we have made it clear that we expect them to carry out criminal record checks for all drivers and check they have the licences they need to carry passengers."
https://ind.pn/2nrr1Ov
---------------------------------------------
LLANDUDNO
A chef raped a young woman who got into his car mistaking it for a taxi, a jury has been told.
Jie Xiang Guan, 39, admits sexually assaulting the teenager, who was returning from a Halloween party, but denies rape.
Prosecuting barrister Elen Owen said the woman, then aged 19, had been drinking in Llandudno on October 31, 2016, but became separated from her friends.
She got a taxi home during the early hours of November 1 but was ill during the journey and was thrown out in the Craigside area of Llandudno.
She then made the fateful mistake of getting into an eight-seater Hyundai car which pulled up next to her thinking it would take her safely home, Miss Owen said.
But it was not a taxi and it was alleged that Guan, of Heol Dirion, Colwyn Bay, drove her to the prom in Rhos on Sea, got into the back of the vehicle and pushed her to the floor.
The court heard Guan, who worked at Yeung Sing Restaurant in Penrhyn Bay, pinned the woman down and raped her, pulling so hard at her jeans that the button was ripped off and the zip was broken.
Miss Owen said that the woman was was crying and screaming: “He then put his hand over her mouth to stop her screams and punched her to the face.
“She tried kicking him and punching him back but stopped because every time she did this he would punch her harder.”
After raping her he opened the door and pushed her out of the car, it was alleged.
She fell onto the grass and rolled down an embankment and her bag was left in the vehicle, Miss Owen said.
The woman then ran to the nearest house which had a light on where her mother was contacted and the police alerted.
Miss Owen said that on November 4 last year, a police officer visited Guan on an unrelated matter and a sharp eyed officer noticed the description of Guan and the vehicle and became suspicious.
He reported it to detectives who were investigating the rape case.
Guan was arrested at work on November 8, and admitted being at the same nightclub as the same woman, noticing her there.
He later admitted helping her into the car but denied any other physical contact.
Forensic analyses showed that his DNA was on the woman and her clothing, the court heard.
In a second interview when the forensic evidence was put to him he made no comment.
But in his defence case statement, Guan, who follwed the proceedings with the aid of a Chinese interpreter, said he misjudged the situation and tried to kiss her.
He thought she might be willing to engage in sexual activity with him in the car and accepted sexually touching the woman and damaging her jeans - and while he denied rape, he had admitted a separate charge of sexual assault.
Miss Owen said that the woman’s bag was found under a seat in his vehicle.
The trial before Mr Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones continues.
http://bit.ly/2EnDJGo
----------------------------------
Saturday, 27 January 2018
Would You 'HEECH' a lift in LONDON ?
The French taxi startup Heetch has revealed it has raised $20m to bring its brand of social ride-sharing across Europe.
The startup launched in France back in 2013 as a peer-to-peer ride-sharing platform but was forced to change its business plans following an intervention by French regulators.
It relaunched in April 2017 as a taxi platform with professional drivers and is now the second-most downloaded taxi app in France, after Uber.
Teddy Pellerin, co-founder of Heetch, says the company wants to provide a more sociable experience of ride-sharing. He believes that it’s this aspect of the company that will help it succeed in new markets, like London.
Pellerin told Verdict:
We would love to come to London. Our service is more used by young people when they’re going out and we’re trying to make something more friendly, more about sharing and a bit different.
We want our passengers to feel as if they are sharing a moment in the ride, not just a professional driver that is driving you home or somewhere else. And we think that would work quite well in London because many people are going out.
London has become somewhat of a difficult marketplace for ride-sharing startups. Uber was banned from operating in London back in September last year and is currently appealing the decision.
As well, the Estonian-based startup Taxify ran into problems early on and was forced to suspend operations after three days.
Pellerin said Heetch has been preparing its operating licence application for Transport for London, the London transport regulator. He said Heetch plans to submit the application in the next few days.
He said:
As soon as we have the licence, we will start operating in London.
http://bit.ly/2FkMTTd
----------------------------------------------
BOLTON PH STRIKE FALLS APART
A TAXI company has revealed why its drivers will not be taking part in Monday's strike, stating that their demands should be met.
The drivers at PAL Cars in Bradshawgate will not be taking part in the 24-hour walkout, which was announced by the Private Hire Drivers' Association on Wednesday.
The decision was made after negotiations with the operators for an increase in fares broke down.
Azhar Mahmood, business development manager at PAL Cars, said: "I think we should be paying the drivers the extra money full stop.
"About 20p extra for the drivers is neither here nor there.
"We are trying to help the drivers and by helping out drivers, we help our customers."
Mr Mahmood recently wrote and published a book called the Pal Cars 500 Constitution Rules Book.
Its aim was to help drivers to provide the best customer service.
He said: "At the end of the day, we have got to be here for our customers. We do a lot of school runs, there will be people going to the doctors and we will be doing all of those on Monday. We are not going to be striking."
Bolton operators offered a 10 per cent rise in fares earlier this month, saying customers would not accept a larger increase.
But in a statement, a spokesman for the drivers said: ""On January 15, the operators called the BPHA to the meeting to inform us that they will not increase the fare to £2.80 but to £2.50. Not only that, they also informed us that they have decided to increase the rent on drivers by five per cent.
"They are using this opportunity to make even more money out of their drivers, which we think is quite shameful."
Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators’ Association, said: "We as operators have a duty to ensure we run a safe service for the public and we will run as normal.
"There will be a lot of drivers who will be working and some drivers will choose to stay off work and that is their decision."
http://bit.ly/2ni8W5m
----------------------------------------------
DURHAM/ BISHOP AUCKLAND
THE family of a father-of-three killed on New Year’s Eve say the taxi driver responsible should be imprisoned for longer after he was sentenced to six months behind bars.
Leslie Hebdon, 38, was struck by a Nissan Qashqai at 11.40pm on Front Street, in Tudhoe, Spennymoor, on New Year’s Eve in 2016 as he made his way home “in high spirits” on foot from his sister’s house.
Keith Young, 60, was today sentenced for causing death by careless driving at Durham Crown Court, which heard he was travelling about ten miles over the 30mph speed limit on impact – and had a previous conviction for speeding in a 30mph zone.
Mr Hebdon’s aunt Denise Murdoch said while the family were grateful to Judge Christopher Prince for passing a custodial sentence, they believed it should have been longer.
“At the moment we’re ecstatic because we thought he would get off because of the [defendant having] cancer but in reality he should have got longer,” she added. “Our Leslie is not coming back. He should have been celebrating his 40th birthday in March. I believe in a life for a life.
“He (Young) has a previous conviction for speeding and that’s what has angered us the most.”
The court previously heard on the night of the incident Young, of Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, had dropped a fare off in Durham and was travelling back to the taxi office in Bishop Auckland.
Prosecutor Paul Abrahams said footage from a dashcam fitted to the defendant’s vehicle allowed experts to determine Young’s speed immediately prior to impact as being between 36 and 40mph and between 39 and 43mph on approaching the scene – having already travelled for half a mile above the limit.
The court heard on the night of the incident it was dark, raining and as it was New Year’s Eve there would have been a reasonable expectation that pedestrians would be in the vicinity.
Mr Abrahams said an investigator found the main cause of Mr Hebdon’s death was “excess speed, lack of care by the defendant and an element of pedestrian error”.
According to further calculations by experts, the court heard had Young been driving ten miles per hour more slowly, Mr Hebdon would have had an additional eighth of a second to take evasive action.
Though a fraction of a second, Judge Prince told the court the short amount of time “would have been critical and in the event it proved fatal.”
A victim impact statement by Mr Hebdon’s sister Jane Sapsed, read by Mr Abrahams, said she held Young “wholly responsible” for the death of her brother.
“Since losing my brother Leslie Hebdon my life hasn’t been the same,” she added. “I have a continued feeling of hurt and loss every day knowing he’s never coming back.
“If he had been taken due to an illness we would have had an explanation.
http://bit.ly/2ngHplT
The French taxi startup Heetch has revealed it has raised $20m to bring its brand of social ride-sharing across Europe.
The startup launched in France back in 2013 as a peer-to-peer ride-sharing platform but was forced to change its business plans following an intervention by French regulators.
It relaunched in April 2017 as a taxi platform with professional drivers and is now the second-most downloaded taxi app in France, after Uber.
Teddy Pellerin, co-founder of Heetch, says the company wants to provide a more sociable experience of ride-sharing. He believes that it’s this aspect of the company that will help it succeed in new markets, like London.
Pellerin told Verdict:
We would love to come to London. Our service is more used by young people when they’re going out and we’re trying to make something more friendly, more about sharing and a bit different.
We want our passengers to feel as if they are sharing a moment in the ride, not just a professional driver that is driving you home or somewhere else. And we think that would work quite well in London because many people are going out.
London has become somewhat of a difficult marketplace for ride-sharing startups. Uber was banned from operating in London back in September last year and is currently appealing the decision.
As well, the Estonian-based startup Taxify ran into problems early on and was forced to suspend operations after three days.
Pellerin said Heetch has been preparing its operating licence application for Transport for London, the London transport regulator. He said Heetch plans to submit the application in the next few days.
He said:
As soon as we have the licence, we will start operating in London.
http://bit.ly/2FkMTTd
----------------------------------------------
BOLTON PH STRIKE FALLS APART
A TAXI company has revealed why its drivers will not be taking part in Monday's strike, stating that their demands should be met.
The drivers at PAL Cars in Bradshawgate will not be taking part in the 24-hour walkout, which was announced by the Private Hire Drivers' Association on Wednesday.
The decision was made after negotiations with the operators for an increase in fares broke down.
Azhar Mahmood, business development manager at PAL Cars, said: "I think we should be paying the drivers the extra money full stop.
"About 20p extra for the drivers is neither here nor there.
"We are trying to help the drivers and by helping out drivers, we help our customers."
Mr Mahmood recently wrote and published a book called the Pal Cars 500 Constitution Rules Book.
Its aim was to help drivers to provide the best customer service.
He said: "At the end of the day, we have got to be here for our customers. We do a lot of school runs, there will be people going to the doctors and we will be doing all of those on Monday. We are not going to be striking."
Bolton operators offered a 10 per cent rise in fares earlier this month, saying customers would not accept a larger increase.
But in a statement, a spokesman for the drivers said: ""On January 15, the operators called the BPHA to the meeting to inform us that they will not increase the fare to £2.80 but to £2.50. Not only that, they also informed us that they have decided to increase the rent on drivers by five per cent.
"They are using this opportunity to make even more money out of their drivers, which we think is quite shameful."
Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators’ Association, said: "We as operators have a duty to ensure we run a safe service for the public and we will run as normal.
"There will be a lot of drivers who will be working and some drivers will choose to stay off work and that is their decision."
http://bit.ly/2ni8W5m
----------------------------------------------
DURHAM/ BISHOP AUCKLAND
THE family of a father-of-three killed on New Year’s Eve say the taxi driver responsible should be imprisoned for longer after he was sentenced to six months behind bars.
Leslie Hebdon, 38, was struck by a Nissan Qashqai at 11.40pm on Front Street, in Tudhoe, Spennymoor, on New Year’s Eve in 2016 as he made his way home “in high spirits” on foot from his sister’s house.
Keith Young, 60, was today sentenced for causing death by careless driving at Durham Crown Court, which heard he was travelling about ten miles over the 30mph speed limit on impact – and had a previous conviction for speeding in a 30mph zone.
Mr Hebdon’s aunt Denise Murdoch said while the family were grateful to Judge Christopher Prince for passing a custodial sentence, they believed it should have been longer.
“At the moment we’re ecstatic because we thought he would get off because of the [defendant having] cancer but in reality he should have got longer,” she added. “Our Leslie is not coming back. He should have been celebrating his 40th birthday in March. I believe in a life for a life.
“He (Young) has a previous conviction for speeding and that’s what has angered us the most.”
The court previously heard on the night of the incident Young, of Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, had dropped a fare off in Durham and was travelling back to the taxi office in Bishop Auckland.
Prosecutor Paul Abrahams said footage from a dashcam fitted to the defendant’s vehicle allowed experts to determine Young’s speed immediately prior to impact as being between 36 and 40mph and between 39 and 43mph on approaching the scene – having already travelled for half a mile above the limit.
The court heard on the night of the incident it was dark, raining and as it was New Year’s Eve there would have been a reasonable expectation that pedestrians would be in the vicinity.
Mr Abrahams said an investigator found the main cause of Mr Hebdon’s death was “excess speed, lack of care by the defendant and an element of pedestrian error”.
According to further calculations by experts, the court heard had Young been driving ten miles per hour more slowly, Mr Hebdon would have had an additional eighth of a second to take evasive action.
Though a fraction of a second, Judge Prince told the court the short amount of time “would have been critical and in the event it proved fatal.”
A victim impact statement by Mr Hebdon’s sister Jane Sapsed, read by Mr Abrahams, said she held Young “wholly responsible” for the death of her brother.
“Since losing my brother Leslie Hebdon my life hasn’t been the same,” she added. “I have a continued feeling of hurt and loss every day knowing he’s never coming back.
“If he had been taken due to an illness we would have had an explanation.
http://bit.ly/2ngHplT
Friday, 26 January 2018
London minicab drivers are infuriating their counterparts and local taxi drivers in York for heading north to look for work.
It is also happening in many other towns and cities such as Brighton, Reading and Bristol.
Why?
There is meant to be something called a triple licensing lock where a job from a passenger can only be accepted if the vehicle, the driver and the booking are under the jurisdiction of the same licensing authority.
That means if I'm in Manchester and I want a minicab in London to pick me up, it is legitimate for a minicab company in London to send a London driver.
They aren't meant to send a minicab registered in Manchester.
But the reality is minicabs registered to Transport for London (TfL) are working and taking jobs in areas like Brighton and Reading.
We now have the ludicrous situation where we have officials in York who have no control at all over the minicabs that are working in their own city.
Surely that is not why the regulations were designed?
The new app technology is just making the regulations look antiquated and out of date.
I've been told TfL has previously sent officials to other cities to check on London minicabs.
London minicabs only come under London regulations (and vice versa).
Saf Din from the York Hackney Carriage Association told me cross border hiring "is having a massive impact".
"These drivers are coming into York and sleeping in lay-bys. They have no knowledge of the area and the whole situation is dangerous."
"We need cross border hiring stopped and for it to be properly regulated," he said.
There is concern about cross border hiring in Parliament. The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicle Task and Finish group has been gathering evidence aiming to present it to the government.
TfL said in a statement: "A national change is required to address issues of cross border hiring which will otherwise further contribute to enforcement, congestion, pollution and parking issues in London.
"We do not have powers to restrict this type of cross border operation and are currently raising our concerns with government to ensure we have appropriate controls."
In the Mayor Sadiq Khan's Taxi and Private Hire action plan it says : "It cannot be right that Parliament intended private hire licensees to license themselves with one authority with, for example, the sole intention of working 100% of the time in another authority.
"Introducing a requirement to ensure a journey either starts or ends in the area for which the driver and vehicle are licensed will still allow flexibility to undertake return journeys. A similar requirement exists in New York City."
Steve Garelick a regional organiser at the GMB who represent minicabs, believes "it makes a mockery of local licensing."
"Wholesale changes need to be made. It is a matter of public safety."
Commenting on cross border hiring, a spokesperson for Uber said: "While this is something which the law allows for we are listening to local councils and regulators on how best to support them on local licensing issues".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42835052
It is also happening in many other towns and cities such as Brighton, Reading and Bristol.
Why?
There is meant to be something called a triple licensing lock where a job from a passenger can only be accepted if the vehicle, the driver and the booking are under the jurisdiction of the same licensing authority.
That means if I'm in Manchester and I want a minicab in London to pick me up, it is legitimate for a minicab company in London to send a London driver.
They aren't meant to send a minicab registered in Manchester.
But the reality is minicabs registered to Transport for London (TfL) are working and taking jobs in areas like Brighton and Reading.
We now have the ludicrous situation where we have officials in York who have no control at all over the minicabs that are working in their own city.
Surely that is not why the regulations were designed?
The new app technology is just making the regulations look antiquated and out of date.
I've been told TfL has previously sent officials to other cities to check on London minicabs.
London minicabs only come under London regulations (and vice versa).
Saf Din from the York Hackney Carriage Association told me cross border hiring "is having a massive impact".
"These drivers are coming into York and sleeping in lay-bys. They have no knowledge of the area and the whole situation is dangerous."
"We need cross border hiring stopped and for it to be properly regulated," he said.
There is concern about cross border hiring in Parliament. The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicle Task and Finish group has been gathering evidence aiming to present it to the government.
TfL said in a statement: "A national change is required to address issues of cross border hiring which will otherwise further contribute to enforcement, congestion, pollution and parking issues in London.
"We do not have powers to restrict this type of cross border operation and are currently raising our concerns with government to ensure we have appropriate controls."
In the Mayor Sadiq Khan's Taxi and Private Hire action plan it says : "It cannot be right that Parliament intended private hire licensees to license themselves with one authority with, for example, the sole intention of working 100% of the time in another authority.
"Introducing a requirement to ensure a journey either starts or ends in the area for which the driver and vehicle are licensed will still allow flexibility to undertake return journeys. A similar requirement exists in New York City."
Steve Garelick a regional organiser at the GMB who represent minicabs, believes "it makes a mockery of local licensing."
"Wholesale changes need to be made. It is a matter of public safety."
Commenting on cross border hiring, a spokesperson for Uber said: "While this is something which the law allows for we are listening to local councils and regulators on how best to support them on local licensing issues".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42835052
Thursday, 25 January 2018
ADDISON LEE MAKE A MOVE ON MANCHESTER AIRPORT
Reuters anounced on Wednesday that PH Market leader Addison Lee was moving into 100 Cities to expand its global Business.
Reuters of course got it right, but only when Addison let them release the news.
http://reut.rs/2nelr1V
Addison Lee were ready to Launch long before they notified Reuters.
Yesterday 25-1-18 Addison Lee's Salford License became operational.
Further Investigation shows that 50 E Class Merc's are being tested at Salford's Weaste Vehicle testing facility.
Why Salford you ask. Well Manchester Licensing could not handle a request for 50 vehicles to be tested in the same year. They cannot go through one day without making a mistake at the Openshaw facility (which has decended into a farce).
More to the point Addison already has a Stockport Oerators License, why not based the exec fleet there ?
Investigations show that Salford's Exec Vehicle Policy does not require Plates to be fitted onto Exec vehicles, a roudel in front and back windows, similar to TfL licenses is all thats needed.
This quiet, quick Launch technique was last used in March 2016 when Addison made thier move to sieze control of Ground transpotation at Luton Airport.
http://bit.ly/2nen7bJ
Will Manchester now appear on this page shortly ?
I could not go without mentioning that Addison's move occured on the day Manchester's Airport Association elected a new Committee to tackle The M.IA. group's tough new stance on Taxi provision at THEIR Airport.
Reuters anounced on Wednesday that PH Market leader Addison Lee was moving into 100 Cities to expand its global Business.
Reuters of course got it right, but only when Addison let them release the news.
http://reut.rs/2nelr1V
Addison Lee were ready to Launch long before they notified Reuters.
Yesterday 25-1-18 Addison Lee's Salford License became operational.
Further Investigation shows that 50 E Class Merc's are being tested at Salford's Weaste Vehicle testing facility.
Why Salford you ask. Well Manchester Licensing could not handle a request for 50 vehicles to be tested in the same year. They cannot go through one day without making a mistake at the Openshaw facility (which has decended into a farce).
More to the point Addison already has a Stockport Oerators License, why not based the exec fleet there ?
Investigations show that Salford's Exec Vehicle Policy does not require Plates to be fitted onto Exec vehicles, a roudel in front and back windows, similar to TfL licenses is all thats needed.
This quiet, quick Launch technique was last used in March 2016 when Addison made thier move to sieze control of Ground transpotation at Luton Airport.
http://bit.ly/2nen7bJ
Will Manchester now appear on this page shortly ?
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
A London taxi driver has taken delivery of the first London EV Company (LEVC) electric TX taxi.
David Harris, from Chingford, has been a black cab driver for 21 years and was one of the first to put down a deposit for the new electric taxi when order books opened back in the summer of 2017.
The new LEVC TX is the world’s cleanest, most advanced taxi ever, offering zero emissions motoring thanks to eCity technology comprising of an advanced battery electric powertrain with a small back-up petrol generator that gives a total range of up to 400 miles including 80 miles pure electric driving.
Harris, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get the keys to my new TX electric taxi and there are two reasons I bought the cab. First, I can't wait to see the response from passengers, I know that they're going to love it. And second, I'm going to see some a significant savings on running the electric taxi. Even though I can't charge the vehicle at home, I should be able to charge the cab once a day at Heathrow. Combined with lower servicing and overall running costs, this means I should end up £500-£600 a month better off before I even go out to work."
He can’t charge his TX at home as he doesn’t have off-street parking but says he’ll incorporate a top-up charge into his daily visit to Heathrow, as the airport features a number of dedicated rapid chargers for electric taxis.
The new vehicle features a multi-filter system which works to remove gases and particles from the incoming air. In addition, an in-built air quality sensor also automatically closes the external air intake if it detects increased levels of pollution in the outside air – protecting passengers, and the driver, from the capital’s often poor-quality air.
Active and passive safety systems will help to protect both the vehicle and other road users too. These include forward collision warnings, autonomous emergency breaking and emergency brake assistance.
http://bit.ly/2n95xXl
-------------------------------------------------
LONDON PH TO PAY CONGESTION CHARGE ? ? ?
A proposal from Transport for London (TfL) to re-open a consultation regarding whether private hire vehicles should be required to pay the congestion charge was slammed by the GMB union.
The union has warned that if private hire companies will be required to pay the said charge, firms will be prompted to leave London. The plans of the TfL first came to light in October of 2017.
GMB has argued that the taxi services of London should be exempted since they are a form of public transport.
The GMB regional officer, Steve Garelick, stated: “Mayor Ken Livingstone brought in the exemption for private hire based on the widely-held view that this was a public transportation medium.
“A charge would primarily affect drivers who in effect would face a further tax on their incomes…This plan that is claimed to be another ‘consultation’ will cause more damage to traffic and emission levels. It will also force private hire companies out of London costing jobs.”
The general manager of road user charging at TfL, Paul Cowperthwaite, stated: “We are currently undertaking further analysis on the impact of removing the exemption from the congestion charge for private hire vehicles.
“Depending on the outcome of this work, a consultation could follow later this year.”
Ride-hailing company Uber has resulted in a massive drop in the use of night buses, with the use on some of its routes dropping by as much as 20 percent. The plans from TfL come as the future of Uber remains under threat in the capital, after its licence to operate was revoked.
https://news.finance.co.uk/tfls-plan-impose-congestion-charge-private-hire-taxis-slammed-gmb-union/
-------------------------------------------
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — An accessible taxi dispatch program is expanding citywide, giving those with disabilities greater access to wheelchair-accessible taxis.
As WCBS 880’s Marla Diamond reported, Jean Ryan said finding a wheelchair-accessible taxi in her Bay Ridge, Brooklyn neighborhood is like an Elvis sighting.
“You just could not get one,” she said. “I mean, who sees a yellow cab or an accessible green cab in the neighborhood that they know they could take at a certain time?”
Ryan calls the expansion of the accessible dispatch program a game changer. During the pilot phase of the program, Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi says wait times have gone down – even for the disabled – in remote areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
The challenge now is expanding the number of cabs that could accommodate a wheelchair.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/01/24/wheelchair-accessible-taxis/
---------------------------------------------------
DONINGTON PARK
An unlicensed taxi driver has been fined after he illegally tried to pick up council officers at the Download Festival last year.
Chinman Singh approached officers from North-West Leicestershire District Council outside the main entrance to the festival held at Donington Park on Sunday, June 11, last year.
Although Singh has worked as a taxi driver in Nottingham for more than 20 years, he is not licensed to work in North West Leicestershire, rendering his insurance void, a court heard.
The 39-year-old, of Gunnersbury Way, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to not being licensed in the district and plying for hire at Leicestershire Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, January 10.
In mitigation, Singh explained that he had been a taxi driver for more than 20 years and had demonstrated good behaviour throughout his time. He also stated that he had a job booked and presumed the officers were the people he was supposed to be picking up.
Councillor Alison Smith said: "Driving without having the correct licence, and therefore without insurance, is a serious offence when committed by any motorist. For a taxi driver it is even more unacceptable and puts the welfare of passengers and other drivers on the road at serious risk.
"Keeping the public safe is a priority for the district council and this case shows how seriously we take this."
Singh was given six penalty points on his driving licence, handed a £250 fine and was ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
https://www.burtonmail.co.uk/news/local-news/unlicensed-taxi-driver-fined-after-1068775
------------------------------------------------
David Harris, from Chingford, has been a black cab driver for 21 years and was one of the first to put down a deposit for the new electric taxi when order books opened back in the summer of 2017.
The new LEVC TX is the world’s cleanest, most advanced taxi ever, offering zero emissions motoring thanks to eCity technology comprising of an advanced battery electric powertrain with a small back-up petrol generator that gives a total range of up to 400 miles including 80 miles pure electric driving.
Harris, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get the keys to my new TX electric taxi and there are two reasons I bought the cab. First, I can't wait to see the response from passengers, I know that they're going to love it. And second, I'm going to see some a significant savings on running the electric taxi. Even though I can't charge the vehicle at home, I should be able to charge the cab once a day at Heathrow. Combined with lower servicing and overall running costs, this means I should end up £500-£600 a month better off before I even go out to work."
He can’t charge his TX at home as he doesn’t have off-street parking but says he’ll incorporate a top-up charge into his daily visit to Heathrow, as the airport features a number of dedicated rapid chargers for electric taxis.
The new vehicle features a multi-filter system which works to remove gases and particles from the incoming air. In addition, an in-built air quality sensor also automatically closes the external air intake if it detects increased levels of pollution in the outside air – protecting passengers, and the driver, from the capital’s often poor-quality air.
Active and passive safety systems will help to protect both the vehicle and other road users too. These include forward collision warnings, autonomous emergency breaking and emergency brake assistance.
http://bit.ly/2n95xXl
-------------------------------------------------
LONDON PH TO PAY CONGESTION CHARGE ? ? ?
A proposal from Transport for London (TfL) to re-open a consultation regarding whether private hire vehicles should be required to pay the congestion charge was slammed by the GMB union.
The union has warned that if private hire companies will be required to pay the said charge, firms will be prompted to leave London. The plans of the TfL first came to light in October of 2017.
GMB has argued that the taxi services of London should be exempted since they are a form of public transport.
The GMB regional officer, Steve Garelick, stated: “Mayor Ken Livingstone brought in the exemption for private hire based on the widely-held view that this was a public transportation medium.
“A charge would primarily affect drivers who in effect would face a further tax on their incomes…This plan that is claimed to be another ‘consultation’ will cause more damage to traffic and emission levels. It will also force private hire companies out of London costing jobs.”
The general manager of road user charging at TfL, Paul Cowperthwaite, stated: “We are currently undertaking further analysis on the impact of removing the exemption from the congestion charge for private hire vehicles.
“Depending on the outcome of this work, a consultation could follow later this year.”
Ride-hailing company Uber has resulted in a massive drop in the use of night buses, with the use on some of its routes dropping by as much as 20 percent. The plans from TfL come as the future of Uber remains under threat in the capital, after its licence to operate was revoked.
https://news.finance.co.uk/tfls-plan-impose-congestion-charge-private-hire-taxis-slammed-gmb-union/
-------------------------------------------
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — An accessible taxi dispatch program is expanding citywide, giving those with disabilities greater access to wheelchair-accessible taxis.
As WCBS 880’s Marla Diamond reported, Jean Ryan said finding a wheelchair-accessible taxi in her Bay Ridge, Brooklyn neighborhood is like an Elvis sighting.
“You just could not get one,” she said. “I mean, who sees a yellow cab or an accessible green cab in the neighborhood that they know they could take at a certain time?”
Ryan calls the expansion of the accessible dispatch program a game changer. During the pilot phase of the program, Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi says wait times have gone down – even for the disabled – in remote areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
The challenge now is expanding the number of cabs that could accommodate a wheelchair.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/01/24/wheelchair-accessible-taxis/
---------------------------------------------------
DONINGTON PARK
An unlicensed taxi driver has been fined after he illegally tried to pick up council officers at the Download Festival last year.
Chinman Singh approached officers from North-West Leicestershire District Council outside the main entrance to the festival held at Donington Park on Sunday, June 11, last year.
Although Singh has worked as a taxi driver in Nottingham for more than 20 years, he is not licensed to work in North West Leicestershire, rendering his insurance void, a court heard.
The 39-year-old, of Gunnersbury Way, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to not being licensed in the district and plying for hire at Leicestershire Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, January 10.
In mitigation, Singh explained that he had been a taxi driver for more than 20 years and had demonstrated good behaviour throughout his time. He also stated that he had a job booked and presumed the officers were the people he was supposed to be picking up.
Councillor Alison Smith said: "Driving without having the correct licence, and therefore without insurance, is a serious offence when committed by any motorist. For a taxi driver it is even more unacceptable and puts the welfare of passengers and other drivers on the road at serious risk.
"Keeping the public safe is a priority for the district council and this case shows how seriously we take this."
Singh was given six penalty points on his driving licence, handed a £250 fine and was ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
https://www.burtonmail.co.uk/news/local-news/unlicensed-taxi-driver-fined-after-1068775
------------------------------------------------
Monday, 22 January 2018
A Royal Dutch Shell owned start-up has denied that it will operate in direct competition with existing ride hailing apps, such as Uber.
FarePilot, a creation of Shell’s digital ventures arm, is a free data app that allows taxi drivers to find passenger hotspots.
The free app is also designed to alert drivers to areas where large numbers of drivers are congregating.
While some news sources have suggested that Shell subsidiary, FarePilot, is planning to unleash a new app which would operate in direct competition to Uber, both Shell and FarePilot deny the claims.
Suspicions were raised about the new app when it became known that FarePilot applied for a private hire licence with Transport for London.
The oil giant currently own 70% of FarePilot, with private shareholders making up the remaining percentage.
A FarePilot spokesperson said: “FarePilot is not a ride-hailing business, but does help any private hire and taxi driver in other ways. Our customer hotspot recommendations use a variety of data sources to predict customer demand in a city, helping drivers save time, petrol and earn more.
“Our algorithm also takes traffic and driver supply into account, guiding drivers away from areas of dense supply (lots of drivers) and heavy congestion. It was created to help private hire & taxi drivers make more money and spend less time on the road.
“We hope drivers will consider FarePilot as a daily co-pilot or travelling companion, something to improve their working life by giving them the right tools to do their job.”
http://bit.ly/2n1AVq0
FarePilot, a creation of Shell’s digital ventures arm, is a free data app that allows taxi drivers to find passenger hotspots.
The free app is also designed to alert drivers to areas where large numbers of drivers are congregating.
While some news sources have suggested that Shell subsidiary, FarePilot, is planning to unleash a new app which would operate in direct competition to Uber, both Shell and FarePilot deny the claims.
Suspicions were raised about the new app when it became known that FarePilot applied for a private hire licence with Transport for London.
The oil giant currently own 70% of FarePilot, with private shareholders making up the remaining percentage.
A FarePilot spokesperson said: “FarePilot is not a ride-hailing business, but does help any private hire and taxi driver in other ways. Our customer hotspot recommendations use a variety of data sources to predict customer demand in a city, helping drivers save time, petrol and earn more.
“Our algorithm also takes traffic and driver supply into account, guiding drivers away from areas of dense supply (lots of drivers) and heavy congestion. It was created to help private hire & taxi drivers make more money and spend less time on the road.
“We hope drivers will consider FarePilot as a daily co-pilot or travelling companion, something to improve their working life by giving them the right tools to do their job.”
http://bit.ly/2n1AVq0
Sunday, 21 January 2018
UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL
Whilst most of us sat by and watched the London Trade fight for our livlihoods last week, one Trafford PH driver went down and joined the Demo, he showed real support....err ..unless he went there because he knew UBERK would have been surge pricing whilst the demo was on.
Nobody would be that sly though, would they ?
Note ; the London trade are surprised that roof signs are allowed in Gtr Manchester.
Well actually they are illegal in Gtr MCR, and elsewhere in the UK where the LGMPA 1976 applies.
-----------------------------------------
ST HELENS Council is to call on government to implement stricter standards for taxi driver licences to protect public safety.
A motion put forward by Cllr Dave Banks at the town hall last Wednesday outlined how changes introduced by the Deregulation Act of 2015 and cross border working are "impacting significantly on the ability of licensing authorities to enforce their statutory functions appropriately".
It says there is no specific legislation to prescribe checks an authority must carry out when considering applications for a hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence, stating "this is left to the individual licensing authority to determine".
While pointing out St Helens has "stringent checks", the motion says the "nature of the checks carried out by other licensing authorities can vary across the country" leading to "concerns that there may be a risk that drivers and vehicles, that have been refused or revoked in St Helens, may still have access to work in the borough".
It adds as other authorities "may not have the same level of checks" there is concern this could "impact on public safety in St Helens".
The motion, seconded by Cllr Andy Bowden, says the council is to request a set of "robust common standards" that all licensing authorities must adhere to and regulations to prescribe "how the standards should be delivered to prevent ‘weaker’ standards being applied".
It will also seek for drivers to be licensed in the area they live and primarily work with a "minimum requirement" on number of jobs a driver must fulfil to retain a licence.
It adds "safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in licensed vehicles should be made a priority".
Cllr Bowden said: "In St Helens we set high standards and our licensed taxi drivers work hard to meet and maintain that standard.
"This is not always the case for drivers licensed outside our borough and the current legislation around licensing makes it impossible for the council to take action against them. This puts into question the safety of our public.
"Taxis can be transporting our most vulnerable residents about, from SEN children to young men and women at three and four in the morning who have enjoyed a good night around town, and because of this standards need to be high, drivers are in a position of responsibility, the safety of that passenger is in their hands.
"So we need to be confident about the drivers, their backgrounds and abilities."
He added: "There are good operators and drivers, no question about that, but we also know people are abusing the weakness in the legislation.
"Nationally the case of John Warboys and the Rotherham sex abuse scandal have highlighted the vulnerability of passengers and risk of child sexual exploitation.
Drivers themselves are at risk of exploitation. Licensed hundreds of miles from where they operate, put on expensive and dubious training courses provided by the operators and put in accommodation provided by the operators again at high cost.
"Modern day slavery takes many forms."
Cllr Bowden added: In Parliament there is a private members bill to be presented in February looking for improvements in the legislation.
"This motion therefore sets out what the government needs to do, robust standards across the board."
http://bit.ly/2BjVBOW
-----------------------------------------
Royal Dutch Shell has applied for a private hire licence in London in a bid to pilot its own Uber-style service.
The application was submitted to Transport for London in July for its FarePilot app, which tells drivers where there is high demand for taxis and gives them the option of accepting a fare.
Shell's application, if successful, will expand the app to include a full taxi booking service, marking the first attempt by an oil company to test the waters in the car booking market.
Read more: Shell tie-up with car giants takes electric vehicle charging across Europe
However, City A.M. understands Shell is not intending to directly compete with Uber.
“Drivers often ask us if we could further help them by giving them optional supplementary driving jobs and this is something that we are investigating, but no decisions have been taken to go live with such a product,” a FarePilot spokesperson said.
http://bit.ly/2DpwsnS
Whilst most of us sat by and watched the London Trade fight for our livlihoods last week, one Trafford PH driver went down and joined the Demo, he showed real support....err ..unless he went there because he knew UBERK would have been surge pricing whilst the demo was on.
Nobody would be that sly though, would they ?
Well actually they are illegal in Gtr MCR, and elsewhere in the UK where the LGMPA 1976 applies.
-----------------------------------------
ST HELENS Council is to call on government to implement stricter standards for taxi driver licences to protect public safety.
A motion put forward by Cllr Dave Banks at the town hall last Wednesday outlined how changes introduced by the Deregulation Act of 2015 and cross border working are "impacting significantly on the ability of licensing authorities to enforce their statutory functions appropriately".
It says there is no specific legislation to prescribe checks an authority must carry out when considering applications for a hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence, stating "this is left to the individual licensing authority to determine".
While pointing out St Helens has "stringent checks", the motion says the "nature of the checks carried out by other licensing authorities can vary across the country" leading to "concerns that there may be a risk that drivers and vehicles, that have been refused or revoked in St Helens, may still have access to work in the borough".
It adds as other authorities "may not have the same level of checks" there is concern this could "impact on public safety in St Helens".
The motion, seconded by Cllr Andy Bowden, says the council is to request a set of "robust common standards" that all licensing authorities must adhere to and regulations to prescribe "how the standards should be delivered to prevent ‘weaker’ standards being applied".
It will also seek for drivers to be licensed in the area they live and primarily work with a "minimum requirement" on number of jobs a driver must fulfil to retain a licence.
It adds "safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in licensed vehicles should be made a priority".
Cllr Bowden said: "In St Helens we set high standards and our licensed taxi drivers work hard to meet and maintain that standard.
"This is not always the case for drivers licensed outside our borough and the current legislation around licensing makes it impossible for the council to take action against them. This puts into question the safety of our public.
"Taxis can be transporting our most vulnerable residents about, from SEN children to young men and women at three and four in the morning who have enjoyed a good night around town, and because of this standards need to be high, drivers are in a position of responsibility, the safety of that passenger is in their hands.
"So we need to be confident about the drivers, their backgrounds and abilities."
He added: "There are good operators and drivers, no question about that, but we also know people are abusing the weakness in the legislation.
"Nationally the case of John Warboys and the Rotherham sex abuse scandal have highlighted the vulnerability of passengers and risk of child sexual exploitation.
Drivers themselves are at risk of exploitation. Licensed hundreds of miles from where they operate, put on expensive and dubious training courses provided by the operators and put in accommodation provided by the operators again at high cost.
"Modern day slavery takes many forms."
Cllr Bowden added: In Parliament there is a private members bill to be presented in February looking for improvements in the legislation.
"This motion therefore sets out what the government needs to do, robust standards across the board."
http://bit.ly/2BjVBOW
-----------------------------------------
Royal Dutch Shell has applied for a private hire licence in London in a bid to pilot its own Uber-style service.
The application was submitted to Transport for London in July for its FarePilot app, which tells drivers where there is high demand for taxis and gives them the option of accepting a fare.
Shell's application, if successful, will expand the app to include a full taxi booking service, marking the first attempt by an oil company to test the waters in the car booking market.
Read more: Shell tie-up with car giants takes electric vehicle charging across Europe
However, City A.M. understands Shell is not intending to directly compete with Uber.
“Drivers often ask us if we could further help them by giving them optional supplementary driving jobs and this is something that we are investigating, but no decisions have been taken to go live with such a product,” a FarePilot spokesperson said.
http://bit.ly/2DpwsnS
Friday, 19 January 2018
YORK UBERK
Newly released figures show that more than 80 per cent of the complaints against Uber in York came from the taxi trade in the city.
But drivers say there are very valid reasons why that is the case.
Members of the gambling, licensing & regulatory committee of City of York Council heard there had been 155 complaints against Uber in York at the meeting when they voted not to renew the company a licence.
A Freedom of Information request by John Lucker found that more than 83% of these complaints were “made by those employed by York taxi businesses”.
The number of complaints against Uber in York was one of the two reasons councillors gave for refusing a new licence.
The other was a massive data breach which affected 2.7 million UK users of its app.
Mr Lucker says that there were “just 26 complaints from the ‘public’ in the year against Uber”.
“Having watched the meeting, I don’t think councillors were correctly informed,” he writes.
“When those who stand to benefit from the refusal of Uber’s licence are the ones who ‘created’ the grounds for refusal, surely that negates the evidence?”
But secretary of York Private Hire Association Mike Palmer said there were two valid reasons why most complainst came from the trade.
Firstly, unlike the general public, the drivers are experts in the rules governing the taxi trade.
When an Uber driver is flagged down by a member of the public and paid in cash, taxi drivers are aware they are flouting the rules when others aren’t.
And second, taxi drivers are out on the roads day in, day out, and see more breaches of the rules. They also often have dashcam footage as evidence validating their complaint.
“Most people don’t understand the rules that cab drivers have to follow,” he said.
“We do. We see these offences being committed by multiple out of town Uber drivers, and report them to the licensing authorities.”
Mike added: “It’s an outrage there’s so many crimes being committed. But it is up to us to report them because the council and the police can’t do it because they don’t have the resources.”
Saf Din, chairman of the York Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association, said: “Complaint after complaint has been proved to be justified.
“The council has looked into it and found there was sufficient evidence to uphold it.”
He also said the data breach was critical when it came to City of York Council’s decision to refuse Uber a new licence.
The fact that the app company concealed a hack that affected 57 million customers and drivers was more than enough reason for York to kick it out.
“We still hope every single UK authority will follow York’s lead and revoke Uber’s licence after this massive data breach,” he said.
Uber has said it intends to appeal against York’s decision.
There should be an update on the appeals process later this month.
YorkMix website comments:
Robert Alexander
January 19, 2018 at 7.34 pm
This article says it all. Uber is good for the people of York. Taxi provision in the city is terrible. There aren’t enough taxis and those available are expensive, dirty and uncomfortable. You can’t even pay for a rank Taxi with a credit card – in 2018!
York Taxi drivers need to stand aside – the future is coming and they need to either adapt or die.
http://bit.ly/2DQWLV6
-----------------------------------------------
FIFE
A taxi driver, on a school contract with a pupil in his car, lost control of his vehicle as he looked at his satellite navigation device and smashed into a set of traffic lights demolishing them.
Jon Aitken, distracted by his sat-nav, was seen swerving about the road for some time before the collision.
Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured but the damage to the traffic lights cost £10,000 to repair.
The incident led to Aitken, 23, of Cadzow Place, Glenrothes, appearing in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
He admitted that on 15 th May in Main Street, Lumphinnans, he drove a taxi without due care and attention, failed to keep control of the vehicle, repeatedly veered towards the centre line of the carriageway, collided with a set of traffic lights causing them to collapse, causing damaged to the taxi and the lights.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said the incident occurred at around 7.40am when Aitken was driving a 13-year-old boy to school.
He went on, “A Fife Council employee driving behind his taxi saw it veering towards the centre line of the road. This happened on several occasions before the steering was corrected each time.
“This witness shouted to his passengers three times that the taxi was going to crash before it did collide with the traffic lights which toppled over.”
Defence solicitor Edward Cadden said the accident was caused by a “lack of concentration”.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said, “This was a lapse of concentration that went on for some time causing alarm to another driver.”
He fined Aitken £380 and endorsed his licence with six penalty points.
http://bit.ly/2DsJYv6
Newly released figures show that more than 80 per cent of the complaints against Uber in York came from the taxi trade in the city.
But drivers say there are very valid reasons why that is the case.
Members of the gambling, licensing & regulatory committee of City of York Council heard there had been 155 complaints against Uber in York at the meeting when they voted not to renew the company a licence.
A Freedom of Information request by John Lucker found that more than 83% of these complaints were “made by those employed by York taxi businesses”.
The number of complaints against Uber in York was one of the two reasons councillors gave for refusing a new licence.
The other was a massive data breach which affected 2.7 million UK users of its app.
Mr Lucker says that there were “just 26 complaints from the ‘public’ in the year against Uber”.
“Having watched the meeting, I don’t think councillors were correctly informed,” he writes.
“When those who stand to benefit from the refusal of Uber’s licence are the ones who ‘created’ the grounds for refusal, surely that negates the evidence?”
But secretary of York Private Hire Association Mike Palmer said there were two valid reasons why most complainst came from the trade.
Firstly, unlike the general public, the drivers are experts in the rules governing the taxi trade.
When an Uber driver is flagged down by a member of the public and paid in cash, taxi drivers are aware they are flouting the rules when others aren’t.
And second, taxi drivers are out on the roads day in, day out, and see more breaches of the rules. They also often have dashcam footage as evidence validating their complaint.
“Most people don’t understand the rules that cab drivers have to follow,” he said.
“We do. We see these offences being committed by multiple out of town Uber drivers, and report them to the licensing authorities.”
Mike added: “It’s an outrage there’s so many crimes being committed. But it is up to us to report them because the council and the police can’t do it because they don’t have the resources.”
Saf Din, chairman of the York Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association, said: “Complaint after complaint has been proved to be justified.
“The council has looked into it and found there was sufficient evidence to uphold it.”
He also said the data breach was critical when it came to City of York Council’s decision to refuse Uber a new licence.
The fact that the app company concealed a hack that affected 57 million customers and drivers was more than enough reason for York to kick it out.
“We still hope every single UK authority will follow York’s lead and revoke Uber’s licence after this massive data breach,” he said.
Uber has said it intends to appeal against York’s decision.
There should be an update on the appeals process later this month.
YorkMix website comments:
Robert Alexander
January 19, 2018 at 7.34 pm
This article says it all. Uber is good for the people of York. Taxi provision in the city is terrible. There aren’t enough taxis and those available are expensive, dirty and uncomfortable. You can’t even pay for a rank Taxi with a credit card – in 2018!
York Taxi drivers need to stand aside – the future is coming and they need to either adapt or die.
http://bit.ly/2DQWLV6
-----------------------------------------------
FIFE
A taxi driver, on a school contract with a pupil in his car, lost control of his vehicle as he looked at his satellite navigation device and smashed into a set of traffic lights demolishing them.
Jon Aitken, distracted by his sat-nav, was seen swerving about the road for some time before the collision.
Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured but the damage to the traffic lights cost £10,000 to repair.
The incident led to Aitken, 23, of Cadzow Place, Glenrothes, appearing in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
He admitted that on 15 th May in Main Street, Lumphinnans, he drove a taxi without due care and attention, failed to keep control of the vehicle, repeatedly veered towards the centre line of the carriageway, collided with a set of traffic lights causing them to collapse, causing damaged to the taxi and the lights.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said the incident occurred at around 7.40am when Aitken was driving a 13-year-old boy to school.
He went on, “A Fife Council employee driving behind his taxi saw it veering towards the centre line of the road. This happened on several occasions before the steering was corrected each time.
“This witness shouted to his passengers three times that the taxi was going to crash before it did collide with the traffic lights which toppled over.”
Defence solicitor Edward Cadden said the accident was caused by a “lack of concentration”.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said, “This was a lapse of concentration that went on for some time causing alarm to another driver.”
He fined Aitken £380 and endorsed his licence with six penalty points.
http://bit.ly/2DsJYv6
BOLTON
Private hire operators in Bolton had a meeting this week following a walkout by drivers just days before Christmas demanding more money — claiming in some cases they were earning less than the minimum wage.
The association represents 18 out of the 25 private hire companies in Bolton.
Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators’ Association, said: “We told drivers that we would hold a meeting on January 15 after the walkout just before Christmas. We had already agreed to look at an increase at our quarterly meeting in October and had planned to hold a meeting in January.
“Operators have agreed to increase fares by at least 10 per cent. All our members charge different fares and this is a minimum percentage increase on that.
“Drivers were asking for a rise of more than 50 per cent, but customers would not accept that.
“The increase in fares will go to the drivers and is above the rate of inflation.”
An hour-long walkout took place in December, as a number of drivers staged a peaceful protest in a bid to force an increase in fares. Drivers were calling for a 50p extra for every mile of a journey.
A Christmas strike was averted as operators agreed to consider the pay demands.
An increase of 50p per mile would have meant a five-mile taxi ride would increase in cost from £7.50 to £10, if a private hire company charged £2.30 for the first mile and £1.30 for every mile thereafter.
Under the new pricing structure the journey would cost £8.50.
Mr Vali said a 10 per cent price rise would give drivers a substantial pay increase.
A spokesman for the drivers said members are pushing for an extra 10p on the mile on top of the 10 per cent rise — and they were unhappy that the radio rental charge was also going up by five per cent.
Mr Vali said: “Potentially drivers could earn more than £5,000 as an example, depending on the hours they work.”
He added: “Customers will see fares go up and taxi operators have a public duty. Customers would not have accepted the initial increase being demanded, business would be affected. A customer who uses a taxi to and from work could find themselves paying an extra £10 a week. We think 10 per cent increase is fair, but we will keep a dialogue going with the drivers, who we know are not happy. We have met with the drivers and listened to them and given them increase which is more than many other workers are getting.”
http://bit.ly/2DwPuMJ
------------------------------------------
CANADA UBERK
A judge has given Ottawa taxi plate owners the go-ahead to proceed with a lawsuit claiming the city's decision to allow Uber and similar companies to operate legally is discriminatory.
Justice Robert Smith's decision, handed down Tuesday, acknowledges taxi drivers share the same concerns over the city's new rules. The ruling will allow members of the taxi industry to go ahead with a class action instead of pursuing the matter in court individually.
Uber began operating in Ottawa in 2014. In September 2016, the city amended its taxi bylaw by creating a new category of licence that legalized Uber's business model.
Around this same time the taxi industry filed an uncertified class action against the City of Ottawa claiming $215 million in damages.
Claims of discrimination
The suit was filed by the parent company of Capital Taxi and Marc Andre Way, whose family is the single-largest owner of taxi plates in the city. It was the largest lawsuit ever filed against the city.
Taxi drivers claim the city is responsible for losses they suffered after Uber was legalized in Ottawa, according to an overview of the case.
The plaintiffs allege that by welcoming Uber the city has discriminated against taxi drivers, many of whom are "members of minority groups." The plaintiffs also claim fees charged to them under the amended bylaw amount to illegal taxes.
The city disagrees with the taxi industry's claims, but agreed with the court that a class action is the best way to proceed.
In its response to the lawsuit in 2016, the city said it has no obligation to protect the taxi industry from financial losses, and argued the claim of $215 million in damages is grossly exaggerated.
http://bit.ly/2rg6guz
Private hire operators in Bolton had a meeting this week following a walkout by drivers just days before Christmas demanding more money — claiming in some cases they were earning less than the minimum wage.
The association represents 18 out of the 25 private hire companies in Bolton.
Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators’ Association, said: “We told drivers that we would hold a meeting on January 15 after the walkout just before Christmas. We had already agreed to look at an increase at our quarterly meeting in October and had planned to hold a meeting in January.
“Operators have agreed to increase fares by at least 10 per cent. All our members charge different fares and this is a minimum percentage increase on that.
“Drivers were asking for a rise of more than 50 per cent, but customers would not accept that.
“The increase in fares will go to the drivers and is above the rate of inflation.”
An hour-long walkout took place in December, as a number of drivers staged a peaceful protest in a bid to force an increase in fares. Drivers were calling for a 50p extra for every mile of a journey.
A Christmas strike was averted as operators agreed to consider the pay demands.
An increase of 50p per mile would have meant a five-mile taxi ride would increase in cost from £7.50 to £10, if a private hire company charged £2.30 for the first mile and £1.30 for every mile thereafter.
Under the new pricing structure the journey would cost £8.50.
Mr Vali said a 10 per cent price rise would give drivers a substantial pay increase.
A spokesman for the drivers said members are pushing for an extra 10p on the mile on top of the 10 per cent rise — and they were unhappy that the radio rental charge was also going up by five per cent.
Mr Vali said: “Potentially drivers could earn more than £5,000 as an example, depending on the hours they work.”
He added: “Customers will see fares go up and taxi operators have a public duty. Customers would not have accepted the initial increase being demanded, business would be affected. A customer who uses a taxi to and from work could find themselves paying an extra £10 a week. We think 10 per cent increase is fair, but we will keep a dialogue going with the drivers, who we know are not happy. We have met with the drivers and listened to them and given them increase which is more than many other workers are getting.”
http://bit.ly/2DwPuMJ
------------------------------------------
CANADA UBERK
A judge has given Ottawa taxi plate owners the go-ahead to proceed with a lawsuit claiming the city's decision to allow Uber and similar companies to operate legally is discriminatory.
Justice Robert Smith's decision, handed down Tuesday, acknowledges taxi drivers share the same concerns over the city's new rules. The ruling will allow members of the taxi industry to go ahead with a class action instead of pursuing the matter in court individually.
Uber began operating in Ottawa in 2014. In September 2016, the city amended its taxi bylaw by creating a new category of licence that legalized Uber's business model.
Around this same time the taxi industry filed an uncertified class action against the City of Ottawa claiming $215 million in damages.
Claims of discrimination
The suit was filed by the parent company of Capital Taxi and Marc Andre Way, whose family is the single-largest owner of taxi plates in the city. It was the largest lawsuit ever filed against the city.
Taxi drivers claim the city is responsible for losses they suffered after Uber was legalized in Ottawa, according to an overview of the case.
The plaintiffs allege that by welcoming Uber the city has discriminated against taxi drivers, many of whom are "members of minority groups." The plaintiffs also claim fees charged to them under the amended bylaw amount to illegal taxes.
The city disagrees with the taxi industry's claims, but agreed with the court that a class action is the best way to proceed.
In its response to the lawsuit in 2016, the city said it has no obligation to protect the taxi industry from financial losses, and argued the claim of $215 million in damages is grossly exaggerated.
http://bit.ly/2rg6guz
Wednesday, 17 January 2018
TAXI drivers in York say they are losing 80 per cent of their custom after being relocated to a temporary rank.
Alterations currently being carried out to Stonebow House mean City of York Council has had to close St Saviourgate rank.
Drivers have been relocated to a nearby spot in Garden Place.
The changes started at the beginning of last week, and are due to last until the middle of February, but drivers say the relocation is hitting them hard.
Saf Din, chairman of the York Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association, said he and other drivers had lost 80 per cent of their business in the days since the move, due largely to inappropriate signage.
Although there are two large, yellow signs nearby – at the top of Fossgate and Garden Place – he said drivers felt not enough had been done to alert the public to the St Saviourgate rank move.
He said: “Normally, I’ll do £20 per hour in St Saviourgate, and I’ve done about £5 per hour here.
“No-one knows we’re here, we’re unhappy about the signs and we think the council could do more to make people aware of it. They need to engage in more proactive consultation in the future rather than tell us at the last minute.”
Mr Din said while there would ordinarily be 50 to 60 drivers using the St Saviourgate rank on an ordinary day, only 10 to 12 were using the temporary rank.
He said this was also due to restrictions on vehicles turning into the street, with drivers forced to pick up fares then perform a turn in the road before exiting into Stonebow.
A City of York Council spokeswoman said the change was necessary as the St Saviourgate rank could not be used while Stonebow House was being developed.
She said: “Although it isn’t a statutory requirement to create a temporary rank when one is closed, we agreed to set one up and had two meetings with taxi organisations to discuss the requirements of and to support their drivers and customers.
“The location of the temporary rank is clearly signed from the site of the permanent rank on St Saviourgate, with supporting signage to assist customers along the stretch of road between the two ranks. However, the signs have been moved on a number of occasions by an unknown person or persons.”
http://bit.ly/2DtkZXE
----------------------------------------------
CHELTENHAM
Private hire driver Keith Lewis has lost his licence after he accrued 12 penalty points for driving at excess speed on four separate occasions.
He was prevented from doing his job a year ago because of the matter but it has only just been revealed by Cheltenham Borough Council.
It did so when announcing that it had been awarded £838 in costs following the last-minute withdrawal of an appeal against its licensing committee’s decision.
In January 2017 the committee revoked Mr Lewis’ private hire driver’s licence after he accrued the penalty points for speeding. He did not declare any of the penalty points to the council as required under the terms of his licence and the committee felt that the facts showed he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are both licensed in Cheltenham by the borough council
His licence was revoked with immediate effect in the interests of public safety.
Mr Lewis subsequently lodged an appeal with Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court which the council contested, but he withdrew it on the morning of the hearing. The council pursued costs to cover its expenses in contesting the appeal. On Monday, the court decided that Mr Lewis should pay to the council the full costs of the appeal, amounting to £838.
http://bit.ly/2BdZ4ik
-------------------------------------------------
CORNWALL
A Bulgarian taxi driver who loved living in the UK so much he became a British citizen was found dead after receiving letters from Cornwall Council warning him that his license was under threat.
The body of Yordan Borisov, 42, from Sennen, was found at the bottom of cliffs at Land’s End on September 23.
Yordan was described by people as a hard worker, a man “who never asked for anything” and was life and soul of the party.
An inquest held in Truro to determine the reasons behind his death heard from Detective Constable John Dash, from Penzance Police Station, who said Yordan came to the UK more than 10 years ago and worked as a taxi driver for about six years, building his business from scratch.
DC Dash said police were contacted at 10.27am on September 23 and attended the car park at the Land’s End Hotel where they found his car with a door open and music still playing.
Police joined the search along with the RNLI and the coastguard before the RNLI found his body in the water.
A cause of death was given as a blunt force trauma consistent with a fall from a height.
A statement from Yordan’s brother Boris Borisov was read to the inquest and gave details of a conversation between the pair shortly before his death.
Boris said he and his brother spoke every day and that he knew Yordan had had problems with Cornwall Council which contacted him about complaints it had received, saying he may lose his licence.
http://bit.ly/2ERvDVh
Tuesday, 16 January 2018
LEIGH
A man who claimed to be helping a teenager by driving her home in the early hours is behind bars after raping her.
Andrew Green, 44, of Howe Bridge Close, Howe Bridge, has been jailed for six years and nine months after pleading guilty to rape at Bolton Crown Court.
The 18-year-old woman had been at a nightclub in Leigh with friends before going to another friend's house in Atherton at around 4.30am on Sunday, July 16. She left her friend's house looking to get a taxi home and was waiting at a bus stop on Tyldesley Road when Green pulled up in in his white Audi and told her to get in. Thinking it was the taxi she had ordered, the woman got in the car.
But soon after setting off, she realised it was not a taxi. The doors had been locked and she was not able to get out of the car. The woman challenged Green and he claimed that he wanted to give her a lift home, as he had a daughter of the same age and hoped that if she was waiting alone for a lift, then somebody would pick her up.
As Green drove towards Astley, the woman offered him £10 for giving her the lift, but Green's attitude changed and he became extremely aggressive towards her. He then raped her. Green is now behind bars and will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.
Det Con Claire Hughes, from Leigh CID, said: “Green spotted his victim and pursued her, knowing she had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. “It’s absolutely sickening that he tried to portray himself as a Good Samaritan when his only intentions were rape. “Thanks to the brave woman raising the alarm so quickly, we were able to move fast and find Green to help bring him into the justice system and see him jailed today.”
http://bit.ly/2mHOiMI
-------------------------------------------
LONDON
Traffic at the Elephant & Castle was brought to a near standstill on Monday afternoon when taxi drivers converged on the junction to launch a week-long series of protests against Transport for London's handling of Uber's private hire licence.
The protest was organised by the Independent Taxi Alliance which describes itself as a "proactive umbrella group formed to highlight corruption through legitimate protest".
The black cab campaigners complain that Uber is able to continue to operate in London whilst the company appeals against TfL's decision not to renew its licence.
Bus services were curtailed or diverted away from the Elephant, leaving dozens of pupils from Notre Dame RC Girls' School wondering how they were going to get home.
Further protests are planned every afternoon this week, including a demo at London Bridge on Thursday.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/9500
---------------------------------------------
LEICESTER
An unlicensed taxi driver was caught after offering a ride to a group council enforcement officers.
Chiman Singh drove up to the group of North West Leicestershire District Council staff outside the Download festival in June last year to ask if they needed a taxi.
They discovered Singh had no licence to operate a taxi in the county.
The group got Singh to pull over and explained to him that he was not able to operate in the district as he was licenced by Nottingham City Council, a spokesperson for the district council said in a statement.
Singh's use of his taxi without a valid licence also meant that his insurance was void if he did carry passengers in Leicestershire.
He was prosecuted and, at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 10, pleaded guilty to plying for hire while unlicenced in the district at Donington Park on Sunday, June 11.
Singh (39), of Gunnersbury Way, Nottingham, was given six penalty points on his driving licence, handed a £250 fine and ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Councillor Alison Smith MBE, deputy leader of North West Leicestershire District Council and portfolio holder for community services on the council’s cabinet, said: “Driving without having the correct licence, and therefore without insurance, is a serious offence when committed by any motorist.
“For a taxi driver it is even more unacceptable and puts the welfare of passengers and other drivers on the road at serious risk.
“Keeping the public safe is a priority for the district council and this case shows how seriously we take this.”
In mitigation, Singh told the court that he had been a taxi driver for more than 20 years and had demonstrated good behaviour throughout this time.
He also stated that he had a job booked and presumed the officers to be that job. He said he did have a taxi licence from Nottingham City Council to operate there.
http://bit.ly/2DDb8My
A man who claimed to be helping a teenager by driving her home in the early hours is behind bars after raping her.
Andrew Green, 44, of Howe Bridge Close, Howe Bridge, has been jailed for six years and nine months after pleading guilty to rape at Bolton Crown Court.
The 18-year-old woman had been at a nightclub in Leigh with friends before going to another friend's house in Atherton at around 4.30am on Sunday, July 16. She left her friend's house looking to get a taxi home and was waiting at a bus stop on Tyldesley Road when Green pulled up in in his white Audi and told her to get in. Thinking it was the taxi she had ordered, the woman got in the car.
But soon after setting off, she realised it was not a taxi. The doors had been locked and she was not able to get out of the car. The woman challenged Green and he claimed that he wanted to give her a lift home, as he had a daughter of the same age and hoped that if she was waiting alone for a lift, then somebody would pick her up.
As Green drove towards Astley, the woman offered him £10 for giving her the lift, but Green's attitude changed and he became extremely aggressive towards her. He then raped her. Green is now behind bars and will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.
Det Con Claire Hughes, from Leigh CID, said: “Green spotted his victim and pursued her, knowing she had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. “It’s absolutely sickening that he tried to portray himself as a Good Samaritan when his only intentions were rape. “Thanks to the brave woman raising the alarm so quickly, we were able to move fast and find Green to help bring him into the justice system and see him jailed today.”
http://bit.ly/2mHOiMI
-------------------------------------------
LONDON
Traffic at the Elephant & Castle was brought to a near standstill on Monday afternoon when taxi drivers converged on the junction to launch a week-long series of protests against Transport for London's handling of Uber's private hire licence.
The protest was organised by the Independent Taxi Alliance which describes itself as a "proactive umbrella group formed to highlight corruption through legitimate protest".
The black cab campaigners complain that Uber is able to continue to operate in London whilst the company appeals against TfL's decision not to renew its licence.
Bus services were curtailed or diverted away from the Elephant, leaving dozens of pupils from Notre Dame RC Girls' School wondering how they were going to get home.
Further protests are planned every afternoon this week, including a demo at London Bridge on Thursday.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/9500
---------------------------------------------
LEICESTER
An unlicensed taxi driver was caught after offering a ride to a group council enforcement officers.
Chiman Singh drove up to the group of North West Leicestershire District Council staff outside the Download festival in June last year to ask if they needed a taxi.
They discovered Singh had no licence to operate a taxi in the county.
The group got Singh to pull over and explained to him that he was not able to operate in the district as he was licenced by Nottingham City Council, a spokesperson for the district council said in a statement.
Singh's use of his taxi without a valid licence also meant that his insurance was void if he did carry passengers in Leicestershire.
He was prosecuted and, at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 10, pleaded guilty to plying for hire while unlicenced in the district at Donington Park on Sunday, June 11.
Singh (39), of Gunnersbury Way, Nottingham, was given six penalty points on his driving licence, handed a £250 fine and ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Councillor Alison Smith MBE, deputy leader of North West Leicestershire District Council and portfolio holder for community services on the council’s cabinet, said: “Driving without having the correct licence, and therefore without insurance, is a serious offence when committed by any motorist.
“For a taxi driver it is even more unacceptable and puts the welfare of passengers and other drivers on the road at serious risk.
“Keeping the public safe is a priority for the district council and this case shows how seriously we take this.”
In mitigation, Singh told the court that he had been a taxi driver for more than 20 years and had demonstrated good behaviour throughout this time.
He also stated that he had a job booked and presumed the officers to be that job. He said he did have a taxi licence from Nottingham City Council to operate there.
http://bit.ly/2DDb8My
Saturday, 13 January 2018
LIVERPOOL
Council prosecutes 53 taxi and private hire drivers - these were their offences
The city council is clamping down on those not adhering to licensing laws
Liverpool City Council has prosecuted more than 50 taxi and private hire drivers.
The council is behind a major move to drive-up the standards of the trade in the city and has stepped up its enforcement operation against drivers who don't comply with the law.
Those targeted had committed a wide range of offences, ranging from illegally plying for hire to driving without insurance.
The majority of drivers prosecuted hailed from Liverpool - but there was also one punishment handed out to someone in the city from as far away as Blackburn.
http://bit.ly/2D0dzb9
--------------------------------------------------------------
Further news from Liverpool this week, A leading Garage in that City, was to be appointed the Agent for the new LEVC TX5.
It was a requirement of this agent to install £80 grands worth of equipment to enable them to fulfil this deal.
After feedback from the trade, they have, quite
reasonably in my opinion, decided to cancel that arrangement.
If , and I say if, anybody were to purchase an LEVC in Liverpool, they may have to nip over to Manchester to have it maintained. They should get here without having to stop on the way to recharge the vehicle, but they will need to charge it to get home.
In addition to this, sources say that the Chinese owners of LEVC have requested that the UK government raise the electric vehicle grant from £45000 per unit too £16k per unit. Otherwise they insist they will have to lay off workers at the factory.
This whole project is doomed, it was as soon as the Chinese were allowed to bankrupt the original LTI business and then buy it back for peanuts.
Council prosecutes 53 taxi and private hire drivers - these were their offences
The city council is clamping down on those not adhering to licensing laws
Liverpool City Council has prosecuted more than 50 taxi and private hire drivers.
The council is behind a major move to drive-up the standards of the trade in the city and has stepped up its enforcement operation against drivers who don't comply with the law.
Those targeted had committed a wide range of offences, ranging from illegally plying for hire to driving without insurance.
The majority of drivers prosecuted hailed from Liverpool - but there was also one punishment handed out to someone in the city from as far away as Blackburn.
http://bit.ly/2D0dzb9
--------------------------------------------------------------
Further news from Liverpool this week, A leading Garage in that City, was to be appointed the Agent for the new LEVC TX5.
It was a requirement of this agent to install £80 grands worth of equipment to enable them to fulfil this deal.
After feedback from the trade, they have, quite
reasonably in my opinion, decided to cancel that arrangement.
If , and I say if, anybody were to purchase an LEVC in Liverpool, they may have to nip over to Manchester to have it maintained. They should get here without having to stop on the way to recharge the vehicle, but they will need to charge it to get home.
In addition to this, sources say that the Chinese owners of LEVC have requested that the UK government raise the electric vehicle grant from £45000 per unit too £16k per unit. Otherwise they insist they will have to lay off workers at the factory.
This whole project is doomed, it was as soon as the Chinese were allowed to bankrupt the original LTI business and then buy it back for peanuts.
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