BRADFORD

Police were called to a crash on Friday - and then had to seize the taxi which was called to pick up one of the crash victims.

Police were called out to an RTC in Bradford on Friday. While at the scene, a taxi was called to pick up one of the people involved.

But the taxi which turned up had been declared SORNED - which means that the vehicle had been declared as not in use on the roads and was not legal to be driven.

In an unbelievable slice of luck for the police - or an incredible moment of stupidity for the taxi driver - the police ran a quick check and found that the car was showing as SORN.

West Yorkshire Police said: "Taxi arrives to pick folk up following an RTC, unfortunately Taxi is showing as SORN. New booking required."

The incident prompted calls for more checks on taxis.

M. Azam‏ said: "They should be checked more because most of them are dodgy when they are flooded other cities and not working in their own patches they think they get away with out checks.

https://goo.gl/c6fhun 

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 NEWCASTLE (kidsgrove)

New taxi drivers face having to prove they can speak English in a council crackdown on cabbies' language skills.

Newcastle Borough Council wants applicants to provide an English language certificate to prove they can 'communicate with customers effectively'.

It is part of council plans to create an in-house 'knowledge' test to make sure drivers know the rules of the road, understand the law around disability and taxi legislation, and complete child-sex exploitation training every three years.

Existing rules require drivers to hold a Btec qualification, although this has no English language requirement. The new in-house test would also include a written English test.

Members of the authority's licensing and public protection committee this week backed the plan which will now be subject to a 12-week consultation.

The council report states: "The English speaking requirement is to ensure that drivers can communicate with customers effectively, pass the requisite qualifications and understand the training being provided to them.

Councillor Tony Kearon has supported the shake-up - but questioned whether it goes far enough.

He said: “In terms of the English speaking requirement it seems like we’re still dealing with a situation where drivers are appearing in front of the council committee with interpreters or saying they breached licensing because they don’t understand the requirements.

“Will there be the expectation for drivers who have English as a second language that they will have a face-to-face interview with council staff? Written evidence can come from anyone.”

The council will accept certificates from English as a Second Language (ESOL) or the Secure English Language Test (SELT).

Council officer Matthew Burton said: “If the applicant cannot converse to a satisfactory standard we will ask them to attend and pass an English course."

But cabbies are sceptical about the changes - and blame the council for de-regulating taxi licences.

Newcastle and Kidsgrove Taxi Drivers’ Association vice-chairman Bashir Choudahry said: “Five or six years ago there were only 50 taxi drivers in the area - and now there are 250 cars and no increased demand.

“The council did not listen to us and now there are so many taxi licences out there it is unbelievable.

“They should put a freeze on taxi licences and if a driver leaves the trade then don’t replace them.

“Drivers are struggling to get work and waiting two hours for a job that’s worth £2.50. There are also drivers ripping off customers and the council needs to sort it out.”

https://goo.gl/m6YM7C
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Taxi drivers in North Somerset will have to attend compulsory safeguarding training to help tackle child sexual exploitation.

North Somerset Council is expected to sign off on its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing policy for 2018-2023 at a meeting next week.

Under the new policy, mandatory safeguarding training will be introduced for all drivers.

This has been introduced in a number of other council’s across the country in a bid to address growing concerns over children and others vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking.

According to North Somerset , the training will not only apply to existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers but also to beginners going through the job application process.

The other main change to the policy will see vehicles more than eight-years-old only be issued with a six-month licence, all other vehicles will be subject to the usual annual licence review.

Also, previously, it has been a requirement that taxi vehicles need to be under eight years old at first license.

As part of the revision of the policy, the council has proposed that this age be reduced to five years.

Changes to the policy follow a public consultation held earlier this year.

A spokesman from North Somerset Council said: “Following a public consultation, the council has agreed that taxi drivers can continue to own vehicles that are eight-years-old, as per the previous policy, but they must renew their license every six months, instead of annually.

“This is to ensure vehicles are at a suitable standard to protect public safety.”

North Somerset full council is expected to meet on Tuesday (September 25) to officially approve the policy.

https://goo.gl/fQYsWj
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