ROSSENDALE

Rapists and other convicted sex offenders have been given taxi licences by councils that failed to check their criminal records, it has been claimed.

Some local authorities have also taken hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees from applicants, knowing they did not have the cab ranks to accommodate them.

An investigation found serious failings at Rossendale, Lancashire, and a legal loophole allegedly exploited by Wolverhampton.

 Rapists and other convicted sex offenders have been given taxi licences by councils that failed to check their criminal records, it has been claimed 
Rossendale licenced over 3,700 tax drivers last year, despite having rank space for just 75 vehicles, while in Wolverhampton, dozens of minicab firms across Britain have been licensed as local operators, despite having no employees or vehicles in the city.

The vast majority of the drivers licensed by Rossendale did not live in the borough.

Many lived in northern England and the Midlands, but they applied to Rossendale for licences because the council was seen as a ‘soft touch’, it was claimed. Northern cities are understood to impose stricter tests and requirements for licences, with some charging higher fees, so drivers flocked to the small Lancashire town.

The investigation by The Times also found that councils issued thousands of licences to drivers, even when it was known some had convictions. More than 330 alleged sex assaults by minicab or taxi driver suspects were reported to police in 2016-17.

Councils are losing track of drivers’ criminal records or hiring drivers knowing of their criminal pasts, The Times reported

In the past decade, 131 drivers have been found guilty of sex offences against passengers. Among them were more than 40 men convicted of rape, including black cab rapist John Worboys. One council in Nottinghamshire issued hundreds of taxi licences to men outside its area, one of whom later carried out a sex attack on a passenger.
 
Some local authorities have also taken hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees from applicants, knowing they did not have the cab ranks to accommodate them. An investigation found serious failings at Rossendale, Lancashire, and a legal loophole allegedly exploited by Wolverhampton 

Drivers with Rossendale licences have been convicted of offences in York, Milton Keynes and Manchester, the paper said. After a whistleblower raised concerns, Rossendale’s licensing manager was suspended and left the authority, it was reported.

In a change of policy, staff were told no licences could be renewed unless the applicant presented a recent DBS (disclosure and barring service) certificate.

There were calls for an independent inquiry into the whistleblower’s allegations last night. But the council said they had been investigated and were unfounded.

It said it was confident that it had not issued any taxi licences ‘to anyone who should not have received one’.

Since 2016, Rossendale has introduced measures to cut the licences it issues. Wolverhampton council said it operated ‘robust and rigorous’ vetting and offered ‘the best taxi licensing system in the UK’.

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 The long running taxi dispute between Coventry and Wolverhampton has sparked back to life, after a drivers protest led to a war of words between the two councils.

Last week, a number of black cab drivers from Coventry protested outside Wolverhampton Civic Centre, claiming that licenses handed out by the Black Country council are damaging local trade.

And while council bosses at Wolverhampton have attempted to downplay the nature of the protest, a senior council figure at Coventry City Council has fired back.

What was the protest about?

Around 50 black cab drivers from Coventry travelled over to Wolverhampton last Wednesday, where they were joined by fellow drivers from across the Midlands.

The common issue that these drivers have surrounds the taxi licenses being handed out by City of Wolverhampton Council to drivers who are going on to operate out of neighbouring cities - such as Coventry.

Indeed, operating on Wolverhampton licenses is the loophole used by Uber drivers in Coventry - as the council here has not granted Uber a license to trade in Coventry.

And Coventry's black cab drivers believe that it is their wallets that are being hit by this, as Wolverhampton licensed drivers are taking fares in Coventry.

In October, CoventryLive revealed that City of Wolverhampton Council license 241 taxi drivers with Coventry addresses - and it was acknowledged that it is in this area that these drivers actually operate.

War of words

Following the protest, Cllr Alan Bolshaw, City of Wolverhampton Council Chair of Licensing said: “A small number of Hackney Carriage drivers from Coventry arrived in Wulfruna Street to protest about increased competition from the private hire trade.

"Coventry Hackney Carriage fares have recently been identified as the most expensive in the country. This small protest was about protectionism and self-interest, and passed off without incident.” 

 In response to this, Cllr Jayne Innes, Cabinet Member for City Services at Coventry City Council, has hit back, saying: "Private Hire Monthly's analysis shows Coventry Black Cabs are 84th in the country in terms of pricing - far from being the most expensive, we are roughly average for taxi fares.

"There are about 850 Black Cabs licensed to operate in Coventry. Just over 50 took part in the protest in Wolverhampton. This is clearly not a small number, and it is important to understand that those taking part in the protest chose to lose many working hours in order to do so.

"Cllr Bolshaw's allegation of 'protectionism' is both insulting and ludicrous. However I am pleased to confirm I, as Cabinet Member who oversees policy on taxis in Coventry, will continue to support Coventry's safe and professional Black Cab trade.

"Our Black Cabs are licensed to a far higher standard than cabs from Wolverhampton. In particular, we require our drivers to undergo Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness training, Disability Awareness training, and we check our Black Cabs every 6 months. I find it deeply worrying that Wolverhampton Council chooses to license taxi drivers on the basis of just one face-to-face meeting.

"I'm pleased to say that by protecting licensing standards here in Coventry, we in turn protect the safety of Black Cab customers.

"It is also important to note, that with the new Coventry-built LEVC electric cab , the Black Cab trade will also be helping improve air quality in the local area." 

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MERSEYSIDE

Police are hunting for a thug who carried out a gunpoint robbery of a taxi driver.

The driver was threatened in the incident, during which a shotgun is thought to have been brandished.

Detectives are now appealing for the help of the drivers of three cars near the scene of the robbery who could provide crucial evidence.

The robbery took place just after 9.50pm on Tuesday, May 15, on Merton Road in Bootle .
The taxi driver was approached by a man wielding what appeared to be a shotgun.

He threatened the driver and fled in the direction of Park Street after grabbing cash.

The driver was left shocked but unhurt by the ordeal.

Forensic and CCTV enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and to identify the man responsible.

Appealing for passing drivers to support the investigation, Detective Sergeant Gary Stratton said: “We want to speak to the occupants of a black cab and a silver-coloured vehicle that we know passed by the scene of the robbery immediately after the incident took place, as well as a small dark-coloured car that passed the scene as the robbery was happening. “I want to stress that those drivers are not believed to have been involved, but may have seen or recorded something which could prove to be significant.

“We would appeal to them and the drivers of any other cars in the area who may have dashcam footage shot in the surrounding area before, during or after the incident to contact police. Any information or footage which may seem innocuous could well prove vital to our enquiries.

Police hope the drivers of the cars pictured will come forward to help an investigation into the gunpoint robbery of a taxi driver on Merton Road, Bootle, just after 9.50pm on May 15. The drivers are not believed to have been involved and police hope they may have information to support the investigation. 

“I also want to reassure all residents that incidents like this are rare and we will do everything possible to identify the offender, and ensure the area is a safe place to live and work.”

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