Emirates launches on-demand taxi app
New ground transportation app called Emirates Skywards Cabforce in partnership with CarTrawler
Dubai: Emirates Skywards has launched an on-demand ground transportation booking app called Emirates Skywards Cabforce in partnership with CarTrawler — the first of its kind in the world, according to a press release on Tuesday.
“The app is a mobile travel companion that will offer its loyalty members an affordable and efficient transportation service in 27 countries and 117 cities across the world with more countries in the pipeline,” said parent company Emirates.
Members can earn Skywards Miles on every ride booked through the Emirates Skywards Cabforce app and allows members to book safe and reliable private taxis, executive cars and minibuses at their convenience.
The app offers fixed price quotes, secure online credit card payment and electronic receipts for every journey. The Emirates Skywards Cabforce app is free to download on iOS or Android devices.
Members of the loyalty programme can use the Emirates Skywards Cabforce app by linking their Emirates Skywards membership account to their Cabforce profile. They will be able to book rides selecting their preferred supplier, check the estimated arrival time of their ride, and view the estimated fare and Skywards Miles they will earn at the end of their trip. The app also enables users to share their live location with friends and family during their ride.
Members will earn 1 Skywards Mile for every $2 (Dh7.35) or equivalent spent on each journey. Skywards Miles will be credited within 48 hours of completing their journey.
The Emirates Skywards Cabforce app complements the Emirates app where members can check their Skywards Miles balance, tier status and other member offers in the revamped Emirates Skywards section.
https://bit.ly/2SuIl49
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An Australian taxi startup has launched a new feature which allows passengers to set their taxi fee.
Oiii Taxi, a passenger application that was launched by Net-Cabs earlier this year, announced the new feature on Wednesday.
Named OiiiBid, the first-of-its-kind feature aims to put passengers in control of their rideshare and taxi services as well as increase jobs for Oiii taxi drivers.
Passengers are able to set their pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as deciding how much they are willing to pay.
Nearby drivers can accept the price offer or send a counter-offer.
The price is locked in when both parties agree on an offer.
CEO of Oiii/Net-Cabs Roland Grelewicz said OiiBid was about creating a thriving environment that’s great for drivers and operators.
'Long gone are the days when fare prices were predicted by traffic, tolls, peek times and surcharges,' he said.
'OiiiBid puts the control back in the passenger's hands and allows them to set their own ride fare.'
Mr Grelewicz said OiiiBid was the beginning of exciting ideas in the coming months.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6336221/The-new-taxi-app-allows-decide-fare-trip.html
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New Redcar taxi firm 'desperate' for drivers after losing 649 fares a night
Adam Graham, owner of new Redcar firm AMG Taxis, says the demand is there - but he needs more drivers to come on board
The owner of a new taxi firm for Redcar says he's "desperate" for more drivers after having to turn away thousands of pounds in fares in the first week.
AMG Taxis owner Adam Graham, 22, is taking on the big firms and says the demand is there - but he needs more cars to come on board.
He posted a picture of his phone display showing 649 missed fares in one night and 'strongly apologised' to disappointed customers, assuring them he's 'working hard to sort the issue out'.
The 22-year-old, from Redcar spotted a 'gap in the market' for a taxi firm to cover Redcar, Marske, Saltburn, Guisbrough and East Cleveland.
But days after opening he made a plea for drivers on social media, posting: "Needing owner drivers ASAP turning away £1,000s worth of work at the moment, especially night drivers needed!!!!"
Adam said: "We are having to turn away work just because we haven't got enough cars.
"People don't like taking risks sometimes.
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/new-redcar-taxi-firm-desperate-15347113
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LEEDS
Proposals to give taxi drivers grants of up to £3,000 each will be discussed at a Leeds City Council meeting next week.
“Transition grants” would be available to assist taxi drivers in buying cleaner vehicles, to conform with clean air regulations set to come into effect in 2020.
Under the proposals, taxi and private hire drivers would be able to apply for a grant of up to £1,500 to go towards buying a hybrid (electric and petrol) car and up to £3,000 to purchase a full electric
The proposed clean air charging zone (CAZ) in and around Leeds city centre would charge high polluting taxis and private hire vehicles up to £12.50 a day, while non-eco-friendly HGVs and buses would pay £50 a week for coming into the zone.
Private hire and taxi industry chiefs had complained that most drivers owned their own cars, so would not be able to afford to buy expensive new vehicles, and warned many drivers would simply pay the fees, and have to charge passengers more.
Leeds’s clean air charging zone is part of a £40m raft of work to improve the city’s air quality, following a ruling from the European Union.
The report, which is set to go before the council’s licensing committee on November 5, said: “The grant is based on estimated driver costs such as; driver licensing fees, including DVLA and DBS checks, vehicle licensing costs and other cost such as stickers, meter checks and fitting and service/insurance costs. This grant is designed to lower the effect of these costs and to support the move from older, higher emission vehicle ownership to licensing of ultra-low emission vehicles.”
The council would also offer interest-free loans of up to £10,000 to drivers wishing to replace their cars. This would be repayable over 4 years and can work alongside the transition grants.
The report concluded: “The proposed clean air charging zone achieves compliance in the shortest possible time whilst complying with its legal and statutory obligations and in accordance with public law principles. It has also sought to mitigate the economic impact on the city.
“The support packages described in this paper will assist drivers in making the required transition to meet the requirements of the forthcoming CAZ.”
Other plans for the clean air charging zone include a network of cameras to detect the number plates entering the charging zone. A number plate would be checked against a database, and could result in the vehicle’s owner being billed for driving in the zone if it does not match the clean air regulations.
However, private vehicles would be exempt from the charges.
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/3-000-grants-for-leeds-taxi-drivers-1-9420036
Wednesday 31 October 2018
Monday 29 October 2018
Senior Liberal Democrat politicians have demanded an urgent meeting with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Environment Secretary Michael Gove, over concerns the government is not doing enough to encourage taxi drivers to switch to cleaner cars.
Former party leader Tim Farron and Transport spokesperson Baroness Randerson wrote to Gove and Grayling late last week requesting an "urgent meeting" to discuss why the latest private hire vehicle (PHV) statistics fail to include any data on how many ultra-low and zero emission vehicles are licensed in England and Wales.
The release from DfT on Thursday indicates the number of licensed PHVs in England and Wales is at its highest since comparable records began in 2005, with more than 285,000 taxis on the road.
Private car ownership among young people is declining in the UK, with many preferring to avoid the cost and responsibility of running a car and instead relying on taxi apps such Uber to get around.
Yet there is no nationwide information on the environmental impact of taxis or how fast the national taxi fleet is switching to green technologies, the Lib Dems argue, despite the government's own target of ensuring almost every car and van on UK roads is zero emission by 2050.
"Your government has made cleaning up our air an important priority by publishing papers like the DfT's 'Road to Zero' and DEFRA's 'Clean Air Strategy'," Farron and Randerson wrote. "It is therefore disappointing to see statistics published regarding taxis and private hire vehicles that do not include numbers on how many ultra-low emission or zero-emission cars have been licensed in England and Wales. If the government is serious about encouraging more low-emission vehicles on the road surely it needs to know how many are already there?"
Many towns and cities across England and Wales are already demanding taxis entering urban areas meet strict emissions standards. At the beginning of the year Transport for London mandated that all newly licensed taxis must be 'zero-emissions capable', while Oxford has promised to phase out all polluting vehicles - including taxis - from its city centre from 2020.
Anticipating tougher regulation, Uber last week unveiled plans to charge an extra 15p per mile for journeys in London to help fund the switch to electric cars.
But the Liberal Democrats argue accelerating this process should start with effective data collection, and warned recent moves to cut EV grants and concerns over the sluggish rollout of new charging infrastructure will put people, including taxi drivers, off choosing an electric vehicle.
DfT was considering a response at the time of going to press.
The government has made a number of moves to speed the roll out of greener taxis in recent months. Earlier this year the Treasury consulted on plans to make zero-emission capable taxis exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), while last year DfT launched £50m of grant funding for taxi drivers, offering £7,500 off the price of a new electric taxi.
https://goo.gl/DXSPSZ
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COURT OF APPEAL TODAY
Uber drivers are estimated to be more than £18,000 out of pocket because the ride hailing company refuses to recognise a two-year-old ruling entitling them to holiday pay, a minimum wage and rest breaks.
The law firm Leigh Day – acting for the GMB union, which brought the action against the tech giant – calculates that its 40,000 drivers are all owed almost £11,000 in wages and more than £8,000 in holiday pay. But Uber is continuing to appeal the ruling, made two years ago at the central London employment tribunal.
“These figures lay bare the human cost of Uber continuing to refuse to accept the ruling,” said GMB legal director Sue Harris. “While the company is wasting money losing appeal after appeal, drivers are up to £18,000 out of pocket. That’s thousands of drivers struggling to pay their rent, or feed their families. It’s time Uber admits defeat and pays up. The company needs to stop wasting money dragging its lost cause through the courts. Instead, Uber should do the decent thing and give drivers the rights to which those courts have said they are legally entitled.”
However, a spokeswoman for Uber said “almost all” taxi and private hire drivers had “been self-employed for decades”, long before Uber existed. She quoted an Oxford University study based on a poll commissioned by Uber, which found that its drivers make more than the London Living Wage. She added: “If drivers were classed as workers, they would inevitably lose some of the freedom and flexibility that come with being their own boss.”
Since the ruling, Uber says it has given drivers more control over how they use its app, plus sickness, maternity and paternity protection.
“We think the Employment Appeal Tribunal fundamentally misunderstood how we operate,” the spokeswoman said. “For example, they relied on the assertion that drivers are required to take 80% of trips sent to them when logged into the app, which has never been the case here.”
In its recent accounts, Uber London acknowledges that the self-employed status of its drivers is disputed. It says: “The Uber Group [is exposed] to numerous legal and regulatory risks, including the application, interpretation and enforcement of existing regulations … as well as risks related to … the company’s classification of drivers as independent contractors.”
https://goo.gl/cKHLhf
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Uber and Lyft are behind a sharp rise in US traffic deaths
The rise of ride-sharing services has increased traffic deaths by 2% to 3% in the US since 2011, equivalent to as many as 1,100 mortalities a year, according to a new study from the University of Chicago and Rice University.
How it was calculated: Researchers took statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and compared them with the dates Uber or Lyft launched in a specific city. Then they checked accident rates in those cities relative to vehicle miles traveled. That rate shot up in San Francisco after Uber launched in 2010, a phenomenon that was replicated in other cities.
Deadheading: The increase in congestion is partly because drivers spend 40% to 60% of their time searching for passengers, a practice known as “deadheading.” On average, drivers in New York City traveled 2.8 miles between fares.
Before ride-sharing: Traffic deaths fell to their lowest number just before Uber launched in San Francisco. In 2010 there were 32,885 fatal car accidents nationwide, the lowest number since 1949. This decline halted and then reversed after the introduction of ride-sharing in US cities. However, it “may be too soon to tell whether the effect we document is a short-term adjustment or a longer-term pattern,” the researchers said.
Piling up problems: The study adds to a growing body of research on ride-sharing companies. Recent studies have found they increase congestion and cut the use of public transport. Cities are starting to respond to harms, perceived or otherwise. New York’s city council introduced a cap on ride-sharing in August, for example.
https://goo.gl/qJgPFz
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NEW YORK (AP) - New York City is waiving nearly $20 million in fees owed by taxi cab owners in an effort to ease their financial burden after a string of driver suicides.
Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi tells Monday's New York Post that it's prudent to pause collection of the fees "at a time when every penny counts" for taxi owners.
Seven drivers have died by suicide in the city this year.
Advocates say the death points to continuing hardships faced by drivers since the advent of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft.
Before the reprieve, owners of the city's 13,500 cabs had been on the hook this week for $2,200 in biennial fees, inspection charges and a $10 medallion renewal.
A city councilman is looking to find ways to help drivers and owners out of debt.
https://goo.gl/wAfPW6
---------------------------------
Volkswagen and Mobileye, the computer vision firm owned by Intel, announced Monday a plan to launch a commercial self-driving ride-hailing service in Israel in 2019. It’s an aggressive move by the German automaker that could propel it to the front of the pack of companies working to commercialize autonomous driving, along with Alphabet’s Waymo and GM’s Cruise.
As part of the deal, Volkswagen will supply a fleet of electric cars, Mobileye will handle the self-driving technology, and Champion Motors, Israel’s second largest car importer and distributor, will run fleet management operations. The vehicles will be fitted with Mobileye’s AV kit, “a turn-key, driverless solution comprised of hardware, driving policy, safety software and map data,” the companies said. And the project will start in early 2019 with a few dozen vehicles and scale to “hundreds of self-driving electric cars” by 2022.
“This is not a pilot project,” an Intel spokesperson said in an email. “The joint venture is the first of its kind targeting Level 4/5 commercial MaaS.”
For the uninitiated, MaaS stands for “Mobility as a Service,” the catch-all phrase used to describe the shift away from personally owned vehicles and toward a tech-enabled transportation utopia. And Level 4 / 5 describes the top two levels of vehicle automation as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers: Level 4 is no human driver within certain parameters; and Level 5 is no human driver without restrictions. (To be sure, many experts predict that Level 5 automation will be impossible to achieve.)
Other details, such as in which city the new service will first launch, weren’t immediately available. But the Israeli government is supposedly on board, ready to supply regulatory and infrastructural support as needed, the companies say.
To be sure, Volkswagen is not a member of the super group comprised of BMW, Intel, Mobileye, and Fiat Chrysler that is working on the development of semi-autonomous and fully autonomous technologies for production vehicles. The companies are already testing AVs on public roads, and have said they want to develop “scalable architecture” that can be adopted by other automakers and designers to plug into vehicles of different brands.
“The VW and BMW relationships are different,” the Intel spokesperson said. “In the case of New Mobility in Israel with VW, we are forming a joint venture AND providing a turn-key AV Kit that will be retrofitted into existing VW cars. In the case of BMW we are working with company to design an [autonomous driving] solutions that will be customized for future Level 4-Level 5] BMW AVs.”
That collaboration, though, is nonexclusive, freeing up each company to pursue its own projects — one which clearly is this Israeli ride-hailing venture with Volkswagen.
https://goo.gl/cPNxiz
Thursday 25 October 2018
Today in Parliament
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GALASHIELS
Council chiefs have come in for further criticism for granting taxi licences to applicants with criminal convictions and for insisting on doing so in secret.
As reported previously, burglars, arsonists, thieves and drink-drivers have all been given taxi and private-hire licences by the council in meetings held behind closed doors that the press and public are barred from attending.
Nearly half of all licences handed out in 2017 were given to cabbies with criminal records, with domestic abuse, drink-driving, wilful fireraising and speeding offences listed as prior convictions on their application forms.
One licence holder has even been convicted of indecent exposure twice, and another has a criminal record for carrying a pistol in public.
At a full meeting of Scottish Borders Council today, October 25, Galashiels councillor Harry Scott asked council chiefs how and why 155 licences have been granted to people with previous convictions.
Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, told him: “When an applicant has prior convictions, has criminal prosecutions pending or the police object to the granting or renewal of a licence, then the application is referred to the civic government licensing committee to determine.
“It will then be for the committee to decide, based on all information available, whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.
“Police officers will also be present and address the committee.
“The applicant will also be invited to speak to the committee and be subject to questioning.
“If the committee considers the applicant to be a danger to the public, or for any other reason decides that the applicant is not a fit and proper person, then the application will be refused.”
Following on from his first question, Mr Scott asked Mr Edgar: “How many holders of taxi and private hire licences have been convicted of criminal offences whilst employed as such during the past five years and what were the nature of those offences?”
Mr Edgar revealed that over the past five years, 20 taxi or private licence holders have been convicted of criminal offences while employed as drivers in the Borders.
Those convictions were made up of seven road traffic offences, four domestic breaches of the peace, three other breaches of the peace and one conviction apiece for threatening or abusive behaviour, assault, carrying an offensive weapon, theft, drink-driving and social security fraud.
---------------------------------
A Mansfield taxi driver has lost his appeal against having his licence revoked after he drove off leaving two female passengers in a vulnerable situation following a dispute over a fare.
Mr Lal Miah, 48, of Mansfield Road, Clipstone, had his licence revoked on May 15, 2018 by Mansfield District Council after the council deemed he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
Following complaints from members of the public, a council investigation had found Mr Miah had not behaved in a civil and orderly manner, failed to take precautions to ensure the safety of the passenger getting out of his vehicle, refused to give his name on request, failed to clearly display his driver’s badge and refused to produce his badge on request. Further, despite being asked by the passengers, the driver had also refused to use his meter.
Mr Miah’s appeal was heard at the Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Friday October 19.
After hearing witness evidence and considering CCTV footage of the incident, the court agreed with the council that Mr Miah’s driving manoeuvre was dangerous and as a licensing authority, the council was not wrong to revoke his licence.
Mr Miah was ordered to pay £1,000 towards the council’s legal costs incurred in defending this appeal.
Jacqueline Collins, Mansfield District Council’s Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer, said: “We were always confident in our original decision and are pleased that the magistrates’ court was in agreement.
“Mansfield District Council will always seek to take action against any taxi drivers who do not adhere to the high standards required by legislation and policy. We would encourage anyone who has any concerns about a taxi or a driver to report them to the driver’s licensing authority, and if necessary, to the police.
“I would like to thank the members of the public who reported their original concerns and who gave evidence in court. Without their assistance, the safety of members of the public could have been at risk.”
Mansfield District Council’s Licensing team is keen to hear about any incidents involving MDC licensed vehicles, particularly any incidents where MDC licensed drivers are refusing to use their meters. Please contact them on 01623 463181.
https://goo.gl/zz1dHo
GALASHIELS
Council chiefs have come in for further criticism for granting taxi licences to applicants with criminal convictions and for insisting on doing so in secret.
As reported previously, burglars, arsonists, thieves and drink-drivers have all been given taxi and private-hire licences by the council in meetings held behind closed doors that the press and public are barred from attending.
Nearly half of all licences handed out in 2017 were given to cabbies with criminal records, with domestic abuse, drink-driving, wilful fireraising and speeding offences listed as prior convictions on their application forms.
One licence holder has even been convicted of indecent exposure twice, and another has a criminal record for carrying a pistol in public.
At a full meeting of Scottish Borders Council today, October 25, Galashiels councillor Harry Scott asked council chiefs how and why 155 licences have been granted to people with previous convictions.
Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, told him: “When an applicant has prior convictions, has criminal prosecutions pending or the police object to the granting or renewal of a licence, then the application is referred to the civic government licensing committee to determine.
“It will then be for the committee to decide, based on all information available, whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.
“Police officers will also be present and address the committee.
“The applicant will also be invited to speak to the committee and be subject to questioning.
“If the committee considers the applicant to be a danger to the public, or for any other reason decides that the applicant is not a fit and proper person, then the application will be refused.”
Following on from his first question, Mr Scott asked Mr Edgar: “How many holders of taxi and private hire licences have been convicted of criminal offences whilst employed as such during the past five years and what were the nature of those offences?”
Mr Edgar revealed that over the past five years, 20 taxi or private licence holders have been convicted of criminal offences while employed as drivers in the Borders.
Those convictions were made up of seven road traffic offences, four domestic breaches of the peace, three other breaches of the peace and one conviction apiece for threatening or abusive behaviour, assault, carrying an offensive weapon, theft, drink-driving and social security fraud.
---------------------------------
A Mansfield taxi driver has lost his appeal against having his licence revoked after he drove off leaving two female passengers in a vulnerable situation following a dispute over a fare.
Mr Lal Miah, 48, of Mansfield Road, Clipstone, had his licence revoked on May 15, 2018 by Mansfield District Council after the council deemed he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
Following complaints from members of the public, a council investigation had found Mr Miah had not behaved in a civil and orderly manner, failed to take precautions to ensure the safety of the passenger getting out of his vehicle, refused to give his name on request, failed to clearly display his driver’s badge and refused to produce his badge on request. Further, despite being asked by the passengers, the driver had also refused to use his meter.
Mr Miah’s appeal was heard at the Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Friday October 19.
After hearing witness evidence and considering CCTV footage of the incident, the court agreed with the council that Mr Miah’s driving manoeuvre was dangerous and as a licensing authority, the council was not wrong to revoke his licence.
Mr Miah was ordered to pay £1,000 towards the council’s legal costs incurred in defending this appeal.
Jacqueline Collins, Mansfield District Council’s Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer, said: “We were always confident in our original decision and are pleased that the magistrates’ court was in agreement.
“Mansfield District Council will always seek to take action against any taxi drivers who do not adhere to the high standards required by legislation and policy. We would encourage anyone who has any concerns about a taxi or a driver to report them to the driver’s licensing authority, and if necessary, to the police.
“I would like to thank the members of the public who reported their original concerns and who gave evidence in court. Without their assistance, the safety of members of the public could have been at risk.”
Mansfield District Council’s Licensing team is keen to hear about any incidents involving MDC licensed vehicles, particularly any incidents where MDC licensed drivers are refusing to use their meters. Please contact them on 01623 463181.
https://goo.gl/zz1dHo
Wednesday 24 October 2018
BRACKNELL
UBER is taking work away from taxi drivers in Bracknell, councillors heard at a meeting last week.
One councillor described the issue as “torturous” for the taxi drivers after learning that Uber drivers are free to pick up people in the area.
Haseeb Hanif, a representative of private hire company Taylor Hanson, told the council’s licensing and safety committee: “Uber is really taking away private hire work from us. Work from London has decreased over the last five years.
“I just want to know if anything can be done to protect us.
“It is really having an affect on our work and if it increases it will no longer be sustainable for us to be private hire drivers.”
Councillors decided to send a letter to Bracknell MP Phillip Lee and Windsor MP Adam Afriyie, Transport for London, the relevant minister of state, and the Local Government Association asking them to look into how Uber can be restricted in Bracknell.
Licensing officer Charlie Fletcher told the committee that Wokingham was experiencing a similar problem with Uber and Chairman Nick Allen said he would be speaking with Wokingham Borough Council about the issue in November.
Councillor Allen also told the committee’s members that Uber drivers can live and operate in Bracknell but don’t need to be licensed by the council, as long as they are licensed by Transport for London.
Preet Gill, the MP for Edgbaston, wrote to the relevant Secretary of State about a similar problem and Cllr Malcolm Tullett asked what would be achieved by writing to more members of parliament.
Charlie Fletcher replied: “It is an awareness raising issue and the more it is raised the more likely it is to be in their agendas.”
Councillor Ian Leake gave his thoughts on the issue too, saying: “I’m getting the impression this issue is as torturous as planning.
“I do think in general terms the situation is unsatisfactory. I think it should get to the MPs and I think they should be persuaded to raise the matter in parliament and raise it higher.”
Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard added: “This is very important as it does have an impact on the livelihood of people here.”
The issue was brought to the committee after more than 100 private hire drivers signed a petition demanding the council take action against Uber.
However, because many Uber drivers are licensed by Transport for London, the council is limited in what it can do in order to restrict the motorists.
According to the letter sent to the council in June, Bracknell drivers are forced to shell out a minimum of £519 every year to run a taxi in the borough.
The petition, signed by 108 drivers, read: “The number of Uber drivers plying for trade in Bracknell has risen over the months.
“We pay a lot for our badges whereas Uber doesn’t pay a penny to Bracknell Council.
“This has had an effect on our earnings – we the licensed drivers find this unfair and undermining.
Later in the meeting the council approved changes to its hackney carriage licensing policy, deciding to introduce new regulations taxi drivers must cooperate with.
The changes included giving officers greater power to force private hire vehicles to undergo garage inspections after an accident, allowing replacement vehicles to be licensed for three months rather than two months, and rules to promote better disability awareness for both drivers and operators.
https://goo.gl/o7hQqP
-----------------------------------
READING
An appeal from a Reading cab driver who lost his licence after a sexual assault complaint been thrown out by a judge.
Abid Hussain, 32, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, had his taxi licence taken away by Reading Borough Council's Licensing Applications sub-committee in March this year after a complaint.
The committee heard how Mr Hussain picked up a female student outside Q Club in Friar Street in November 2017.
He took her to Cemetery Junction in Reading, Berkshire, where he helped her from the cab.
He then allegedly tried to kiss her and sexually assaulted her.
The woman complained to Thames Valley Police and the council, but the police did not pursue a prosecution.
However, the council revoked his taxi licence after hearing the evidence at the meeting in March.
Mr Hussain's appeal against the decision was held at Reading Magistrates' Court on Friday, October 5.
A district judge dismissed the appeal and stated the council's decision was correct.
After the hearing, Councillor Tony Page, the council's lead member for transport, said: “People taking a black cab have a right to feel confident that they will be transported safely and without incident.
“This is a shocking case which belies the professional behaviour of a vast majority of Reading’s Hackney carriage drivers.
“This case acts as an example of the good work our licensing officers do to ensure the town’s licensed taxis meet the high standards expected by the council and the Reading public.”
https://goo.gl/vjBCr6
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LIVERPOOL
An elderly couple were left with serious injuries after being knocked down in a Tesco car park.
Emergency services were called to Park Road in Toxteth at around 5.10pm to reports of a collision between a car and two pedestrians.
Witnesses said that three ambulances arrived at the scene with a number of police cars also attending.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said that an elderly man and woman were injured in the incident that involved a silver Ford Mondeo private hire car.
The force said: "Emergency services were called shortly after 5pm to reports that an elderly couple had been hit by a car.
"A woman is believed to have suffered a broken hip and the man has sustained a suspected broken leg.
https://goo.gl/2pHK4y
--------------------------------------
https://goo.gl/3g2D7M
UBER is taking work away from taxi drivers in Bracknell, councillors heard at a meeting last week.
One councillor described the issue as “torturous” for the taxi drivers after learning that Uber drivers are free to pick up people in the area.
Haseeb Hanif, a representative of private hire company Taylor Hanson, told the council’s licensing and safety committee: “Uber is really taking away private hire work from us. Work from London has decreased over the last five years.
“I just want to know if anything can be done to protect us.
“It is really having an affect on our work and if it increases it will no longer be sustainable for us to be private hire drivers.”
Councillors decided to send a letter to Bracknell MP Phillip Lee and Windsor MP Adam Afriyie, Transport for London, the relevant minister of state, and the Local Government Association asking them to look into how Uber can be restricted in Bracknell.
Licensing officer Charlie Fletcher told the committee that Wokingham was experiencing a similar problem with Uber and Chairman Nick Allen said he would be speaking with Wokingham Borough Council about the issue in November.
Councillor Allen also told the committee’s members that Uber drivers can live and operate in Bracknell but don’t need to be licensed by the council, as long as they are licensed by Transport for London.
Preet Gill, the MP for Edgbaston, wrote to the relevant Secretary of State about a similar problem and Cllr Malcolm Tullett asked what would be achieved by writing to more members of parliament.
Charlie Fletcher replied: “It is an awareness raising issue and the more it is raised the more likely it is to be in their agendas.”
Councillor Ian Leake gave his thoughts on the issue too, saying: “I’m getting the impression this issue is as torturous as planning.
“I do think in general terms the situation is unsatisfactory. I think it should get to the MPs and I think they should be persuaded to raise the matter in parliament and raise it higher.”
Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard added: “This is very important as it does have an impact on the livelihood of people here.”
The issue was brought to the committee after more than 100 private hire drivers signed a petition demanding the council take action against Uber.
However, because many Uber drivers are licensed by Transport for London, the council is limited in what it can do in order to restrict the motorists.
According to the letter sent to the council in June, Bracknell drivers are forced to shell out a minimum of £519 every year to run a taxi in the borough.
The petition, signed by 108 drivers, read: “The number of Uber drivers plying for trade in Bracknell has risen over the months.
“We pay a lot for our badges whereas Uber doesn’t pay a penny to Bracknell Council.
“This has had an effect on our earnings – we the licensed drivers find this unfair and undermining.
Later in the meeting the council approved changes to its hackney carriage licensing policy, deciding to introduce new regulations taxi drivers must cooperate with.
The changes included giving officers greater power to force private hire vehicles to undergo garage inspections after an accident, allowing replacement vehicles to be licensed for three months rather than two months, and rules to promote better disability awareness for both drivers and operators.
https://goo.gl/o7hQqP
-----------------------------------
READING
An appeal from a Reading cab driver who lost his licence after a sexual assault complaint been thrown out by a judge.
Abid Hussain, 32, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, had his taxi licence taken away by Reading Borough Council's Licensing Applications sub-committee in March this year after a complaint.
The committee heard how Mr Hussain picked up a female student outside Q Club in Friar Street in November 2017.
He took her to Cemetery Junction in Reading, Berkshire, where he helped her from the cab.
He then allegedly tried to kiss her and sexually assaulted her.
The woman complained to Thames Valley Police and the council, but the police did not pursue a prosecution.
However, the council revoked his taxi licence after hearing the evidence at the meeting in March.
Mr Hussain's appeal against the decision was held at Reading Magistrates' Court on Friday, October 5.
A district judge dismissed the appeal and stated the council's decision was correct.
After the hearing, Councillor Tony Page, the council's lead member for transport, said: “People taking a black cab have a right to feel confident that they will be transported safely and without incident.
“This is a shocking case which belies the professional behaviour of a vast majority of Reading’s Hackney carriage drivers.
“This case acts as an example of the good work our licensing officers do to ensure the town’s licensed taxis meet the high standards expected by the council and the Reading public.”
https://goo.gl/vjBCr6
-------------------------------------
LIVERPOOL
An elderly couple were left with serious injuries after being knocked down in a Tesco car park.
Emergency services were called to Park Road in Toxteth at around 5.10pm to reports of a collision between a car and two pedestrians.
Witnesses said that three ambulances arrived at the scene with a number of police cars also attending.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said that an elderly man and woman were injured in the incident that involved a silver Ford Mondeo private hire car.
The force said: "Emergency services were called shortly after 5pm to reports that an elderly couple had been hit by a car.
"A woman is believed to have suffered a broken hip and the man has sustained a suspected broken leg.
https://goo.gl/2pHK4y
--------------------------------------
Tuesday 23 October 2018
WAKEFIELD
Proposed changes to Wakefield Council's taxi policy have now been opened up to a consultation.
Wakefield Council's plans to tighten rules for taxi drivers have been branded "pointless" because of government deregulation of the industry.
The local authority wants to make it harder for cabbies with a criminal conviction to get their licence back, while it also intends to raise standards for English tests drivers have to take.
Ossett councillor Nick Farmer described the changes as "pointless".
Ossett councillor Nick Farmer described the changes as "pointless".
But a law change in 2015 means that cabbies need just one council to grant them a licence, which can then be used anywhere else in the UK.
It's led to reports earlier this year that drivers are flocking to Wolverhampton to be granted permission to operate, because their standards are supposedly more relaxed and the application process is cheaper than elsewhere.
Now, council staff have said the law has left them powerless to investigate any possible wrongdoing committed by taxis who are licensed outside of West Yorkshire and York, even if they are operating in the Wakefield district.
The chair of Wakefield's licensing committee, Coun Martyn Johnson, said that toughening regulation was part of efforts to make the rules consistent across West Yorkshire and York.
But in response, his deputy Coun Yvonne Crewe said: "That's all well and good, but they (taxi drivers) are not going to other West Yorkshire authorities for a licence.
"They're going well out of the district.
"We (members of a licensing sub-committee) got threatened by one driver that if we didn't give him a licence, he'd just go elsewhere.
"One operator said he'd just take them all to Wolverhampton. It really worries me."
Council licensing officer Kevin Straw said that although police could search vehicles regardless of where their licence was from, the local authority did not have the same powers.
He added: "If the licence concerned was Leeds, then we could take action.
"We share enforcement action as far as we can across West Yorkshire and York, but not further afield.
"We're limited in what we can do."
Conservative councillor Nick Farmer responded: "This (proposals on tighter regulation) is all pointless then isn't it?
"If they're all just going to go to Wolverhampton, what's the point?"
Mr Straw replied: "Well I wouldn't be particularly happy if the council didn't have its own convictions policy."
A 10 week consultation has now started on the local rule changes, where members of the public and cabbies can all express their opinion.
The Wakefield Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers Association criticised the plans last week and claimed that the industry in the district is already "over-regulated".
Should the new policy come into being, drivers' previous good record or character would have no effect on any attempt to get their licence back after a conviction.
This is contrast to a court of law, where defendants who've committed all types of crime have mitigating factors taken into account when they are sentenced.
https://goo.gl/pKeRnR
---------------------------------
WOLVERHAMPTON
A knife-wielding 14-year-old repeatedly stabbed a taxi driver who asked for a £5 fare to be paid up front in Wolverhampton, a judge heard.
The teenage thug launched the attack on cabbie Harkawaljit Sarkaria in Denmore Gardens, Moseley, making off with his wallet with £250 in it, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The attacker, who had marked his 14th birthday just weeks before, was also later found with a Taser disguised as a torch by police.
He was given an 18-month detention and training order – around half to be served behind bars.
Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting told the court how the teenager opened the front door and snatched Mr Sarkaria’s wallet after a row over the fare but was pursued by the victim.
The defendant then pulled out a knife and started stabbing Mr Sarkaria around the shoulder before another passenger joined in kicking the victim and jumping on his taxi.
Two passers-by rushed to help detaining the young suspect until police arrived at the scene.
Mr Sarkaria has made a recovery but remains fearful of strangers in his taxi after the August 22 attack, the court heard.
The other older youth was dealt with separately.
Judge Michael Challinor told the younger defendant, who admitted wounding with intent, possession of a disguised firearm, robbery and possession of a knife: “It is shocking that someone as young as you is facing such serious offences.”
https://goo.gl/NKB4Cp
Proposed changes to Wakefield Council's taxi policy have now been opened up to a consultation.
Wakefield Council's plans to tighten rules for taxi drivers have been branded "pointless" because of government deregulation of the industry.
The local authority wants to make it harder for cabbies with a criminal conviction to get their licence back, while it also intends to raise standards for English tests drivers have to take.
Ossett councillor Nick Farmer described the changes as "pointless".
Ossett councillor Nick Farmer described the changes as "pointless".
But a law change in 2015 means that cabbies need just one council to grant them a licence, which can then be used anywhere else in the UK.
It's led to reports earlier this year that drivers are flocking to Wolverhampton to be granted permission to operate, because their standards are supposedly more relaxed and the application process is cheaper than elsewhere.
Now, council staff have said the law has left them powerless to investigate any possible wrongdoing committed by taxis who are licensed outside of West Yorkshire and York, even if they are operating in the Wakefield district.
The chair of Wakefield's licensing committee, Coun Martyn Johnson, said that toughening regulation was part of efforts to make the rules consistent across West Yorkshire and York.
But in response, his deputy Coun Yvonne Crewe said: "That's all well and good, but they (taxi drivers) are not going to other West Yorkshire authorities for a licence.
"They're going well out of the district.
"We (members of a licensing sub-committee) got threatened by one driver that if we didn't give him a licence, he'd just go elsewhere.
"One operator said he'd just take them all to Wolverhampton. It really worries me."
Council licensing officer Kevin Straw said that although police could search vehicles regardless of where their licence was from, the local authority did not have the same powers.
He added: "If the licence concerned was Leeds, then we could take action.
"We share enforcement action as far as we can across West Yorkshire and York, but not further afield.
"We're limited in what we can do."
Conservative councillor Nick Farmer responded: "This (proposals on tighter regulation) is all pointless then isn't it?
"If they're all just going to go to Wolverhampton, what's the point?"
Mr Straw replied: "Well I wouldn't be particularly happy if the council didn't have its own convictions policy."
A 10 week consultation has now started on the local rule changes, where members of the public and cabbies can all express their opinion.
The Wakefield Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers Association criticised the plans last week and claimed that the industry in the district is already "over-regulated".
Should the new policy come into being, drivers' previous good record or character would have no effect on any attempt to get their licence back after a conviction.
This is contrast to a court of law, where defendants who've committed all types of crime have mitigating factors taken into account when they are sentenced.
https://goo.gl/pKeRnR
---------------------------------
WOLVERHAMPTON
A knife-wielding 14-year-old repeatedly stabbed a taxi driver who asked for a £5 fare to be paid up front in Wolverhampton, a judge heard.
The teenage thug launched the attack on cabbie Harkawaljit Sarkaria in Denmore Gardens, Moseley, making off with his wallet with £250 in it, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The attacker, who had marked his 14th birthday just weeks before, was also later found with a Taser disguised as a torch by police.
He was given an 18-month detention and training order – around half to be served behind bars.
Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting told the court how the teenager opened the front door and snatched Mr Sarkaria’s wallet after a row over the fare but was pursued by the victim.
The defendant then pulled out a knife and started stabbing Mr Sarkaria around the shoulder before another passenger joined in kicking the victim and jumping on his taxi.
Two passers-by rushed to help detaining the young suspect until police arrived at the scene.
Mr Sarkaria has made a recovery but remains fearful of strangers in his taxi after the August 22 attack, the court heard.
The other older youth was dealt with separately.
Judge Michael Challinor told the younger defendant, who admitted wounding with intent, possession of a disguised firearm, robbery and possession of a knife: “It is shocking that someone as young as you is facing such serious offences.”
https://goo.gl/NKB4Cp
Thursday 18 October 2018
BRISTOL
As he marks 18 months in his role, PC Patrick Quinton, Taxi Cop for Avon & Somerset police tells us about his job and how he’s making a positive difference to communities in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
“Originally the intention was to create a traffic officer type role, similar to one they have in Birmingham, but when I got the job, I realised the role needed to be more community focussed. So rather than just issuing tickets and enforcing the law, I do a lot of problem solving. I offer support and a listening ear to drivers, feeding back their thoughts to the Councils and other partners.
I help drivers when they’re victims of crime themselves and provide them with information. I gather intelligence which I then pass along to investigating officers; this can be in cases where taxi drivers themselves are committing crimes.
My primary focus is about public safety, and that involves standards of driving, standards of vehicle, detecting and prosecuting unlicensed drivers, traffic management, crime investigation and many other things!
How did your role come about?
“Taxi drivers in Bristol were very unhappy. They didn’t feel there was effective enforcement when it came to taxis from outside our area operating in the city, as well as illegal taxis. This was having an effect on trade. SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality) stepped in, working to bridge the gap between the council and the drivers, to improve relationships. As part of that process they found out that Birmingham had a police officer running a Taxi Cop scheme. So SARI invited him to come down and speak at a taxi conference and drivers’ thought it was a brilliant idea. This led to Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils getting together and funding the post, and here I am!”
https://goo.gl/qEmdkr
------------------------------------------------------
LIVERPOOL
A man shot dead in a chilling execution outside a house last night had left a taxi just moments before.
Emergency services were called to Alderson Road , Wavertree, at around 10.40pm last night to reports that a man had been injured.
Paramedics took the victim to hospital but he sadly died a short time later.
Police investigating the fatal shooting, which is the second murder in Liverpool in ten days, said today that the 25-year-old had just got out of a taxi moments before the shots were fired.
It is believed that the man was stood on a doorstep of one of the terraced houses on the street when he was hit.
People in the area told the ECHO that the victim was shot "around four times" before armed police and the ambulance services arrived on the street.
https://goo.gl/PvUQqa
-------------------------------
LEEDS
A taxi driver who picked up a passenger outside a Yorkshire pub before driving to a remote location and raping him has been jailed for 12 years.
The court heard the man had been drinking during a night out and and his friends put him in Ilyas's taxi thinking he would be safe.
Leeds Crown Court heard Ilyas drove his victim to a remote farm track where he orally raped him in the early hours one morning in May 2016.
Ilyas, of Pear Street, Halifax, denied rape but was convicted by a Leeds Crown Court jury after a trial in September.
Reading the man's victim personal statement to the court, prosecutor Matthew Bean said the experience has been a "nightmare," adding: "Because of what the taxi driver did to me that night I have at many points been suicidal."
Mr Bean said the man also wrote: "I never go to town alone anymore and will never get a taxi alone again.
"I will never forget this. I don't know when or if I will ever get over it."
A Mirpuri (Punjabi dialect) interpreter translated at the hearing for Ilyas, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Leeds,
Mitigating, Daniel Calder, said his client is a married-father-of-five with no previous convictions.
Mr Calder said: "This was, and I hope the court will accept this, an isolated incident entirely out of character."
https://goo.gl/LvcCNL
----------------------------------------
OXFORD
A WOMAN in her 20s was sexually assaulted after getting a taxi home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police said the victim had taken a taxi from Park End Street, in the centre of Oxford, at around 1.30am on Sunday, before falling asleep as she was taken to her home in Abingdon.
The victim had taken a taxi from Oxford's Park End Street around 1.30am on Sunday morning
The victim had taken a taxi from Oxford's Park End Street around 1.30am on Sunday morning
She awoke to find the driver undoing her trousers before she was attacked.
The woman got out of the taxi near West St Helen Street, Abingdon but was followed by the driver.
She then approached a member of the public who helped her and the driver walked off.
The driver is described as an Asian male with short black hair and stubble.
Police are appealing for information.
Officers have not yet said if they believe the car to be a genuine licensed taxi or one working illegally.
They have also not disclosed what company the taxi, if any, belongs to, and where it is licensed.
https://goo.gl/oEA8M6
----------------------------------------
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
A taxi driver has been banned from the roads after driving his cab into a canal with his passengers inside.
Charles Payne, 63, had been picking up passengers from a pub following a night out.
They suffered minor injuries, as did, Payne, as the car ended up in the water.
However, instead of driving away from the pub's car park, he ended up in the nearby canal at Fradley Junction, a court has heard.
Payne appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre where he admitted driving without due care and attention.
The court heard that at 11.37pm on April 1, this year, Payne had been called to The Swan pub, at Fradley Junction, in Alrewas, where he picked up an unknown amount of passengers in his Peugeot taxi.
The pub car park is near the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The court heard that the defendant collected his passengers and then drove out of the car park of the pub - straight into the canal on the opposite side of the road.
As a result of the incident the defendant’s vehicle was a potential loss and the driver and passenger received minor injuries, the court was told.
The court heard that the road surface was in good condition and wet.
The Trent and Mersey Canal is 93.5 miles long and passes through the East and West Midlands, and north-west of England.
Payne, of Sorrel, Tamworth, has been fined £347 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
He was also banned from driving for six months due to repeat offending.
As Payne was not arrested at the scene Staffordshire Police said they were unable to provide a comment or a photograph.
https://goo.gl/xkXi26
--------------------------------------
NORTH AYESHIRE
Taxi drivers angry at lack of Stevenston bus lane access
Taxi customers face excessive fares while waiting in traffic because cab drivers are not allowed to use a bus lane in Stevenston.
Jim McKerrell, director of TOA Taxis in Stevenston, said that he has complained to North Ayrshire Council numerous times about getting access to the bus lane but to no avail.
He told the Herald: “To our knowledge Stevenston’s the only place that doesn’t allow taxis on the bus lane. Some of the drivers are refusing to go and pick people up at peak times because it’s up to 25 minutes to do a five-minute job because they’re stuck in traffic. It’s causing excessive fares, it’s wasting petrol and releasing fumes because they’re sitting with their engines running.
“We’re leading up to the festive season again which is going to be more congested – when this lane [the bus lane] is totally empty. It’s going to impact the general public.”
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We have looked into the option of opening up the lane for taxi drivers and discussed this possibility with partners Police Scotland, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and the local bus operator.
“It was agreed that it would not be appropriate to amend the existing Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to allow taxis to use this relatively short bus lane.
“It was felt that we had to be absolutely consistent with all motorists and that it would be unfair on motorists and the bus operators – who carry a significant number of passengers – to allow taxi drivers to use the bus lane.
“As well as causing delays in public transport, it was also felt that general road users could become aggrieved by taxis driving in the bus lanes especially when off hire or not carrying passengers. This in turn could encourage abuse of bus lanes by other motorists.”
https://tinyurl.com/y7y6bkjr
As he marks 18 months in his role, PC Patrick Quinton, Taxi Cop for Avon & Somerset police tells us about his job and how he’s making a positive difference to communities in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
“Originally the intention was to create a traffic officer type role, similar to one they have in Birmingham, but when I got the job, I realised the role needed to be more community focussed. So rather than just issuing tickets and enforcing the law, I do a lot of problem solving. I offer support and a listening ear to drivers, feeding back their thoughts to the Councils and other partners.
I help drivers when they’re victims of crime themselves and provide them with information. I gather intelligence which I then pass along to investigating officers; this can be in cases where taxi drivers themselves are committing crimes.
My primary focus is about public safety, and that involves standards of driving, standards of vehicle, detecting and prosecuting unlicensed drivers, traffic management, crime investigation and many other things!
How did your role come about?
“Taxi drivers in Bristol were very unhappy. They didn’t feel there was effective enforcement when it came to taxis from outside our area operating in the city, as well as illegal taxis. This was having an effect on trade. SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality) stepped in, working to bridge the gap between the council and the drivers, to improve relationships. As part of that process they found out that Birmingham had a police officer running a Taxi Cop scheme. So SARI invited him to come down and speak at a taxi conference and drivers’ thought it was a brilliant idea. This led to Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils getting together and funding the post, and here I am!”
https://goo.gl/qEmdkr
------------------------------------------------------
LIVERPOOL
A man shot dead in a chilling execution outside a house last night had left a taxi just moments before.
Emergency services were called to Alderson Road , Wavertree, at around 10.40pm last night to reports that a man had been injured.
Paramedics took the victim to hospital but he sadly died a short time later.
Police investigating the fatal shooting, which is the second murder in Liverpool in ten days, said today that the 25-year-old had just got out of a taxi moments before the shots were fired.
It is believed that the man was stood on a doorstep of one of the terraced houses on the street when he was hit.
People in the area told the ECHO that the victim was shot "around four times" before armed police and the ambulance services arrived on the street.
https://goo.gl/PvUQqa
-------------------------------
LEEDS
A taxi driver who picked up a passenger outside a Yorkshire pub before driving to a remote location and raping him has been jailed for 12 years.
The court heard the man had been drinking during a night out and and his friends put him in Ilyas's taxi thinking he would be safe.
Leeds Crown Court heard Ilyas drove his victim to a remote farm track where he orally raped him in the early hours one morning in May 2016.
Ilyas, of Pear Street, Halifax, denied rape but was convicted by a Leeds Crown Court jury after a trial in September.
Reading the man's victim personal statement to the court, prosecutor Matthew Bean said the experience has been a "nightmare," adding: "Because of what the taxi driver did to me that night I have at many points been suicidal."
Mr Bean said the man also wrote: "I never go to town alone anymore and will never get a taxi alone again.
"I will never forget this. I don't know when or if I will ever get over it."
A Mirpuri (Punjabi dialect) interpreter translated at the hearing for Ilyas, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Leeds,
Mitigating, Daniel Calder, said his client is a married-father-of-five with no previous convictions.
Mr Calder said: "This was, and I hope the court will accept this, an isolated incident entirely out of character."
https://goo.gl/LvcCNL
----------------------------------------
OXFORD
A WOMAN in her 20s was sexually assaulted after getting a taxi home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police said the victim had taken a taxi from Park End Street, in the centre of Oxford, at around 1.30am on Sunday, before falling asleep as she was taken to her home in Abingdon.
The victim had taken a taxi from Oxford's Park End Street around 1.30am on Sunday morning
The victim had taken a taxi from Oxford's Park End Street around 1.30am on Sunday morning
She awoke to find the driver undoing her trousers before she was attacked.
The woman got out of the taxi near West St Helen Street, Abingdon but was followed by the driver.
She then approached a member of the public who helped her and the driver walked off.
The driver is described as an Asian male with short black hair and stubble.
Police are appealing for information.
Officers have not yet said if they believe the car to be a genuine licensed taxi or one working illegally.
They have also not disclosed what company the taxi, if any, belongs to, and where it is licensed.
https://goo.gl/oEA8M6
----------------------------------------
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
A taxi driver has been banned from the roads after driving his cab into a canal with his passengers inside.
Charles Payne, 63, had been picking up passengers from a pub following a night out.
They suffered minor injuries, as did, Payne, as the car ended up in the water.
However, instead of driving away from the pub's car park, he ended up in the nearby canal at Fradley Junction, a court has heard.
Payne appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre where he admitted driving without due care and attention.
The court heard that at 11.37pm on April 1, this year, Payne had been called to The Swan pub, at Fradley Junction, in Alrewas, where he picked up an unknown amount of passengers in his Peugeot taxi.
The pub car park is near the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The court heard that the defendant collected his passengers and then drove out of the car park of the pub - straight into the canal on the opposite side of the road.
As a result of the incident the defendant’s vehicle was a potential loss and the driver and passenger received minor injuries, the court was told.
The court heard that the road surface was in good condition and wet.
The Trent and Mersey Canal is 93.5 miles long and passes through the East and West Midlands, and north-west of England.
Payne, of Sorrel, Tamworth, has been fined £347 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
He was also banned from driving for six months due to repeat offending.
As Payne was not arrested at the scene Staffordshire Police said they were unable to provide a comment or a photograph.
https://goo.gl/xkXi26
--------------------------------------
NORTH AYESHIRE
Taxi drivers angry at lack of Stevenston bus lane access
Taxi customers face excessive fares while waiting in traffic because cab drivers are not allowed to use a bus lane in Stevenston.
Jim McKerrell, director of TOA Taxis in Stevenston, said that he has complained to North Ayrshire Council numerous times about getting access to the bus lane but to no avail.
He told the Herald: “To our knowledge Stevenston’s the only place that doesn’t allow taxis on the bus lane. Some of the drivers are refusing to go and pick people up at peak times because it’s up to 25 minutes to do a five-minute job because they’re stuck in traffic. It’s causing excessive fares, it’s wasting petrol and releasing fumes because they’re sitting with their engines running.
“We’re leading up to the festive season again which is going to be more congested – when this lane [the bus lane] is totally empty. It’s going to impact the general public.”
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We have looked into the option of opening up the lane for taxi drivers and discussed this possibility with partners Police Scotland, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and the local bus operator.
“It was agreed that it would not be appropriate to amend the existing Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to allow taxis to use this relatively short bus lane.
“It was felt that we had to be absolutely consistent with all motorists and that it would be unfair on motorists and the bus operators – who carry a significant number of passengers – to allow taxi drivers to use the bus lane.
“As well as causing delays in public transport, it was also felt that general road users could become aggrieved by taxis driving in the bus lanes especially when off hire or not carrying passengers. This in turn could encourage abuse of bus lanes by other motorists.”
https://tinyurl.com/y7y6bkjr
Wednesday 17 October 2018
TUESDAY IN PARLIAMENT
Joan Ryan Labour, Enfield North
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent meetings
(a) he, (b) other Ministers and (c) staff of his Department have had with (i) the British Transport Police, (ii) taxi firms and (iii) private hire vehicle (minicab) firms on tackling the county lines drug trade.
(Citation: HC Deb, 16 October 2018, cW)
Victoria Atkins The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Minister for Women
We recognise the value and opportunity presented by those working in the transport sector to identify perpetrators and potential victims of county lines who are being exploited to move drugs. The Home Office has therefore been working with Crimestoppers to deliver an awareness raising campaign with these sectors about county lines.
The Home Office has met with representatives of the British Transport Police, local authority taxi licensing managers, Licensed Private Hire Car Association and Über and officials continue to engage with the transport sector in tackling county lines.
------------------------------------
WAKEFIELD
Taxi drivers say new rules introduced by Wakefield Council are stopping them from taking disabled passengers.
The local authority is bringing in legislation which would stop cabbies from using cars manufactured before September 2016, a move which the district’s drivers say is forcing around 90 per cent of their fleet off the road.
READ: Wakefield Tories call for council leader Peter Box to quit
Now the local Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Association says the new rule is making it impossible for them to buy enough wheelchair-friendly vehicles to serve the area.
A petition, which the associations says has already been signed by 200 drivers, will be submitted to the council in the coming weeks.
Association chairman Wajid Ali said: “Our customers are upset we can’t provide them with the service they deserve but it’s out of our hands.
“Under the Disability Discrimination Act it’s up to local authorities to help drivers be disabled-friendly.
“The NHS used to provide transport for patients between home and hospital, but they’ve cut back so much now we’ve picked up a lot of that work.
“That’s one area where taxis have a vital role to play in our society.”
Mr Ali was also critical of plans to introduce more legislation, which will be discussed by councillors next week.
Under consideration are plans to make it harder for cabbies with a driving conviction to get their licence back.
But Mr Ali claims that the system in Wakefield is already “over-regulated” and he’s accused the council of not being “business-friendly”.
He said: “Our vehicles are subject to tests every six months, while every other local authority does it once a year over five years and then periodically after that.
“It costs us £160, and we’re paying that twice a year for no reason.
“There’s no chance that will change with this new legislation.
“If we get so much as a parking ticket we have to inform the council within seven days. We can’t do anything without the council knowing about it, so this will make no difference.”
Liz Ogden, Wakefield Council’s Interim City Solicitor, said: “Following extensive consultation, we have updated our hackney carriage and private hire vehicle standards as part of our commitment to ensure that passengers and drivers are safe when travelling and that vehicles meet emissions standards - promoting the uptake of cleaner fuels and improving air quality in the district.
“Those drivers whose vehicles do not meet the new standards have been given a two year period to comply with the new legislation, meaning that they would not need to change their vehicles until 2020, by which time Euro 6 diesels would potentially be five years old and cost less.”
https://goo.gl/MzVi6m
---------------------------------
UNICAB Student Taxi app service launched in Nottingham
Working in partnership with the University of Nottingham Students’ Union (UoNSU), Nottingham’s biggest network of Taxi companies have developed a new Taxi booking app which is designed specifically for the students of Nottingham.
Simply put, the SU commissioned a thought forum to ask students what they wanted from a supplier and we designed the app to meet these requirements.
The apps main features are:
No Surge Charging
Fixed Prices (dramatically less expensive than standard fares)
Loyalty Scheme which gives students money back on rides
On Demand Booking (Only book taxis which are available now)
The app will give Nottingham students access to a combined fleet of over 1000 Taxis from DG Cars, Royal Cars, Trent Cars and Lenton Cars.
The app is available to download now on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Toby Metcalf- Marketing Manager for Unicab said: ‘We believe this app will make travel for students not only easier but cheaper too. The loyalty scheme gives students money back and allows them to gift their loyalty balance to a friend.
We are committed to ensuring students can travel with us knowing that the cost of travel will not “Surge” if Taxis are busy unlike other companies.’
Michael Lappin, Commercial Manager at UoNSU added:
“This service provision was created and shaped by our members and collaboratively delivered by UNICAB.
To put in place an App & Brand that delivers no surcharging, fixed pricing and an inbuilt reward system is testament to all involved, and one that will have a positive impact for all students at the University of Nottingham.”
https://goo.gl/DQMCqh
----------------------------------
The latest spot checks on taxis operating in Sandwell found 17 out of 20 vehicles met all legal requirements.
Among those doing the checks were Police Dog Jasper - who didn’t discover anything untoward during his work.
The council’s taxi licensing team carries out regular checks to make sure vehicles, drivers and passengers are safe.
Saturday’s operation was aimed at checking the roadworthiness of licensed Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles.
Officers also talked to drivers to educate them how to look out for Child Sexual Exploitation and to be alert to the use of drugs in their vehicles.
Twenty taxis were stopped and only minor issues were found with three of the taxis stopped by the operation.
The majority of the vehicles stopped were registered in Sandwell, plus one from Birmingham, three from Dudley and two from Wolverhampton.
Minor problems were found with one Sandwell registered vehicle’s number plate, which has since been resolved, and another had a small mechanical problem. One other vehicle registered with Dudley Council had a defective tyre.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection Councillor Elaine Costigan said: “This was a very successful operation.
“Our staff and colleagues from the police and DVSA found very few issues with the vehicles. These operations are key to driving up standards and making sure taxi drivers realise they have responsibilities – particularly when it comes to vehicles being safe and roadworthy.
“I would like to thank our taxi licensing team and MOT testers, as well as colleagues from West Midlands Police and the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency for their hard work keeping taxis safe for everybody.”
https://goo.gl/U8C9WZ
----------------------------------
Joan Ryan Labour, Enfield North
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent meetings
(a) he, (b) other Ministers and (c) staff of his Department have had with (i) the British Transport Police, (ii) taxi firms and (iii) private hire vehicle (minicab) firms on tackling the county lines drug trade.
(Citation: HC Deb, 16 October 2018, cW)
Victoria Atkins The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Minister for Women
We recognise the value and opportunity presented by those working in the transport sector to identify perpetrators and potential victims of county lines who are being exploited to move drugs. The Home Office has therefore been working with Crimestoppers to deliver an awareness raising campaign with these sectors about county lines.
The Home Office has met with representatives of the British Transport Police, local authority taxi licensing managers, Licensed Private Hire Car Association and Über and officials continue to engage with the transport sector in tackling county lines.
------------------------------------
WAKEFIELD
Taxi drivers say new rules introduced by Wakefield Council are stopping them from taking disabled passengers.
The local authority is bringing in legislation which would stop cabbies from using cars manufactured before September 2016, a move which the district’s drivers say is forcing around 90 per cent of their fleet off the road.
READ: Wakefield Tories call for council leader Peter Box to quit
Now the local Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Association says the new rule is making it impossible for them to buy enough wheelchair-friendly vehicles to serve the area.
A petition, which the associations says has already been signed by 200 drivers, will be submitted to the council in the coming weeks.
Association chairman Wajid Ali said: “Our customers are upset we can’t provide them with the service they deserve but it’s out of our hands.
“Under the Disability Discrimination Act it’s up to local authorities to help drivers be disabled-friendly.
“The NHS used to provide transport for patients between home and hospital, but they’ve cut back so much now we’ve picked up a lot of that work.
“That’s one area where taxis have a vital role to play in our society.”
Mr Ali was also critical of plans to introduce more legislation, which will be discussed by councillors next week.
Under consideration are plans to make it harder for cabbies with a driving conviction to get their licence back.
But Mr Ali claims that the system in Wakefield is already “over-regulated” and he’s accused the council of not being “business-friendly”.
He said: “Our vehicles are subject to tests every six months, while every other local authority does it once a year over five years and then periodically after that.
“It costs us £160, and we’re paying that twice a year for no reason.
“There’s no chance that will change with this new legislation.
“If we get so much as a parking ticket we have to inform the council within seven days. We can’t do anything without the council knowing about it, so this will make no difference.”
Liz Ogden, Wakefield Council’s Interim City Solicitor, said: “Following extensive consultation, we have updated our hackney carriage and private hire vehicle standards as part of our commitment to ensure that passengers and drivers are safe when travelling and that vehicles meet emissions standards - promoting the uptake of cleaner fuels and improving air quality in the district.
“Those drivers whose vehicles do not meet the new standards have been given a two year period to comply with the new legislation, meaning that they would not need to change their vehicles until 2020, by which time Euro 6 diesels would potentially be five years old and cost less.”
https://goo.gl/MzVi6m
---------------------------------
UNICAB Student Taxi app service launched in Nottingham
Working in partnership with the University of Nottingham Students’ Union (UoNSU), Nottingham’s biggest network of Taxi companies have developed a new Taxi booking app which is designed specifically for the students of Nottingham.
Simply put, the SU commissioned a thought forum to ask students what they wanted from a supplier and we designed the app to meet these requirements.
The apps main features are:
No Surge Charging
Fixed Prices (dramatically less expensive than standard fares)
Loyalty Scheme which gives students money back on rides
On Demand Booking (Only book taxis which are available now)
The app will give Nottingham students access to a combined fleet of over 1000 Taxis from DG Cars, Royal Cars, Trent Cars and Lenton Cars.
The app is available to download now on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Toby Metcalf- Marketing Manager for Unicab said: ‘We believe this app will make travel for students not only easier but cheaper too. The loyalty scheme gives students money back and allows them to gift their loyalty balance to a friend.
We are committed to ensuring students can travel with us knowing that the cost of travel will not “Surge” if Taxis are busy unlike other companies.’
Michael Lappin, Commercial Manager at UoNSU added:
“This service provision was created and shaped by our members and collaboratively delivered by UNICAB.
To put in place an App & Brand that delivers no surcharging, fixed pricing and an inbuilt reward system is testament to all involved, and one that will have a positive impact for all students at the University of Nottingham.”
https://goo.gl/DQMCqh
----------------------------------
The latest spot checks on taxis operating in Sandwell found 17 out of 20 vehicles met all legal requirements.
Among those doing the checks were Police Dog Jasper - who didn’t discover anything untoward during his work.
The council’s taxi licensing team carries out regular checks to make sure vehicles, drivers and passengers are safe.
Saturday’s operation was aimed at checking the roadworthiness of licensed Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles.
Officers also talked to drivers to educate them how to look out for Child Sexual Exploitation and to be alert to the use of drugs in their vehicles.
Twenty taxis were stopped and only minor issues were found with three of the taxis stopped by the operation.
The majority of the vehicles stopped were registered in Sandwell, plus one from Birmingham, three from Dudley and two from Wolverhampton.
Minor problems were found with one Sandwell registered vehicle’s number plate, which has since been resolved, and another had a small mechanical problem. One other vehicle registered with Dudley Council had a defective tyre.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection Councillor Elaine Costigan said: “This was a very successful operation.
“Our staff and colleagues from the police and DVSA found very few issues with the vehicles. These operations are key to driving up standards and making sure taxi drivers realise they have responsibilities – particularly when it comes to vehicles being safe and roadworthy.
“I would like to thank our taxi licensing team and MOT testers, as well as colleagues from West Midlands Police and the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency for their hard work keeping taxis safe for everybody.”
https://goo.gl/U8C9WZ
----------------------------------
Tuesday 16 October 2018
YESTERDAY IN PARLIAMENT
Wes Streeting Labour, Ilford North
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on regulatory reform of the taxi and private hire industry.
(Citation: HC Deb, 15 October 2018, cW)
Ghani Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
Ministers are considering the recommendations made by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing, a Government response will be issued in due course.
Legislation to reform the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles will be brought forward if required.
-----------------------------------------
Frank Field Chair, Work and Pensions Committee
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation granting licensing authorities a statutory basis for creating minimum wage thresholds for drivers within the licensing criteria for private hire operators.
(Citation: HC Deb, 16 October 2018, cW)
Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
At a Westminster Hall Debate last year, the Rt Hon John Hayes MP announced the formation of a Task and Finish group to consider any taxi and private hire regulatory issues, their causes and potential remedies. The Group’s report was published on 24 September and it includes a chapter on industry working conditions. The Government response to the report will be published in due course.
--------------------------------------------------
Taxi fares in Scarborough are set to rise for the first time in five years.
Scarborough Borough Council’s cabinet today agreed to a request from the Scarborough and District Taxi Association to increase prices.
The changes will now go out to a public consultation.
Under the request from the association, the average fare will increase at all times alongside a raft of other changes.
In a report which went before the cabinet members, it noted that the cost of a journey between 6am and 9pm go up by an average of 10.7%. A one-mile mile journey would, therefore, cost £5.20 up from £4.80.
The proposal for 9pm to midnight could see an average rise of 22% on current fares. A one-mile journey would cost £5.60. From midnight to 6am the average rise requested is 13.7% and would see a one-mile fare increase to £6.
Cllr Bill Chatt said the change would apply to the so-called “white plate” taxi drivers, who are sole traders and don’t work out of a taxi office, instead they pick up fares from ranks.
He added:
“They haven’t put their prices up for a long time.
Without these [drivers] our area would be poorer because they are the ones who pick people up from the station and they are the first point of call people will see when they get out [of the train station].
They are a very essential part of what we are trying to do in the borough.”
The cabinet report, written by the council’s environment and regulation manager Mark Heaton, noted that a number of other changes would be implemented.
He wrote:
“Other amendments include an additional charge of £1 per passenger where more than four passengers are carried; to double the existing charge applied in respect of luggage, bicycles, pushchairs, dogs etc. to 20p per item; extending the definition of ‘Bank Holidays’ to include the bank holiday weekend i.e. Saturday, Sunday, Monday and annual Good Friday and to double the existing soiling charge from £40 to £80.”
Mr Heaton told the meeting that the association asked for a rise in fares in 2015 but it was rejected by the council’s licensing committee.
https://www.yorkshirecoastradio.com/news/local-news/2713384/scarborough-taxi-fares-set-to-rise/
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — After all of the hardship that has befallen San Francisco’s taxicab industry, drivers gathered Tuesday outside City Hall to predict more disaster.
Inside, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency was presenting a set of taxi market reforms designed to help the drivers who have invested as much as a quarter million dollars in the city’s medallion program, only to see that entire economy undermined by tens of thousands of rideshare drivers.
So, the reforms are aimed at the drivers who made that investment – such as giving them exclusive access to pickups at San Francisco International Airport.
“We’re trying to bring value to our purchased medallion holders, because they are the ones who have invested the most,” said Kate Toran, SFMTA Director, Taxi and Accessible Services.
Another proposal would eliminate an entire class of medallions. “And so their plan is to directly confiscate what are called the pre-K medallions, under the guise that they’ve made enough money in their lifetime, which I think is sadistic,” said taxi driver Carl Macmurdo.
The city also wants to loosen up the frozen market by allowing for new possible buyers and eliminating the transfer fees. We ran those ideas past the city’s medallion lending partner, who is currently suing the city for $28 million.
“Too little, too late,” said SF Federal Credit Union CEO Jonathan Oliver. “The elephant in the room is still the medallion price. No one will buy a medallion at $250,000, even with these changes.”
So a bit of a fait accompli Tuesday, we knew drivers would not like the proposals. They showed up in numbers that overwhelmed the hearing room and they’re a little upset about these proposals.
What we do not know, is how SFMTA will receive the proposals. They could accept some, all, or none of it.
Meanwhile, five San Francisco supervisors have sent a letter to the SFMTA asking them to slow down on the proposals.
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/10/16/cab-drivers-wary-of-proposed-san-francisco-taxi-industry-reforms/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTTINGHAM
Four teenagers accused of the murder of Lyrico Steede travelled by taxi to the area where he was knifed - but did not have the fare upfront.
His alleged killers were making their way over to where 17-year-old Lyrico had been together with a 16-year-old girl, also now on trial for his murder.
The girl - said to have lured Lyrico there - had taken him to a bench in a Bulwell playground where they sat together, Nottingham Crown Court has heard.
Prosecutor Peter Joyce QC earlier told the jury she had told one or more of the four young men in the dock where she would be with him. It has been claimed they knew exactly where to go to hunt him down to attack him.
"They knew exactly where their prey would be and where she had taken him," said Mr Joyce.
A taxi had been booked with Central Cars that night of Tuesday, February 13. Shortly after 6.47pm, the driver, Mauzzum Nazer, picked up four men in Shrewsbury Road, off Sneinton Boulevard.
Mr Nazer asked for the money for the fare upfront but was told "we will pay you when we get to Bulwell".
"I said 'no, I can't take you without upfront payment'," he told the court. "I said 'you can give me a deposit like a mobile phone'.
"I just asked for anything of equivalent value, because the fare is normally £11 or £12. One of the men sitting at the back gave me a mobile phone, which was a very cheap one. I refused to take that. Another gentleman at the front gave me his iPhone, which was quite expensive".
Mr Nazer took the phone as security for payment at the other end before he set off.
He also said that one of them said "when we get to Bulwell my mum would pay" and he made a phone call to a lady.
Three of the men in the back were talking amongst themselves, he said, and he could not hear them properly as he had light music on.
The passenger in the front was chatting to him. Mr Nazer described this to the jury as "taxi driver chat" about "was this my car?" and "how much money do I make?"
He said a man in the back made a call to somebody to borrow some money for the taxi fare but the other person said "do a runner".
"I was confident inside that at least I had something as a deposit," added Mr Nazer.
Jurors have heard the taxi dropped the men off at an address in Bulwell.
"When I dropped them off, they didn't have any money on them," said Mr Nazer. "I saw a white guy coming towards them".
Then one of his passengers paid Mr Nazer and he gave him the change and phone back.
The court has heard that the four men allegedly walked towards Hempshill Lane and to the park to kill Lyrico.
He was chased over several hundred yards from the dark park - set in a recreation ground off Hempshill Lane.
He was only caught when he stumbled, tripped or fell over a low railing on a road in Stock Well, the trial has heard.
He died five days after he was stabbed with a knife or knives.
Two 17-year-olds males and the 16-year-old girl are accused of the murder with Kasharn Campbell, 19, of no fixed address, and Remmell Campbell-Miller, 18, of Sneinton Boulevard.
The trial continues.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/alleged-murderers-lyrico-steede-travelled-2116373
----------------------------------------------------
I Always Wanted to Be a Secret Agent
Taxi drivers and door staff will be given guidance on spotting hate crime under a new Government clampdown.
On Tuesday ministers will publish a refreshed strategy aimed at improving the response to and raising awareness of offences that target a victim because of personal characteristics such as race, religion or sexual orientation.
The blueprint includes steps designed to ensure that taxi and private hire vehicle drivers identify and report hate crime in the night-time economy.
Advice will be included in the Department for Transport’s best practice guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, which is scheduled to be updated in 2019 and will be considered for adoption by all 293 licensing authorities in England, the document says.
https://goo.gl/1Qj2Lr
Taxi drivers and door staff will be given guidance on spotting hate crime under a new Government clampdown.
On Tuesday ministers will publish a refreshed strategy aimed at improving the response to and raising awareness of offences that target a victim because of personal characteristics such as race, religion or sexual orientation.
The blueprint includes steps designed to ensure that taxi and private hire vehicle drivers identify and report hate crime in the night-time economy.
Advice will be included in the Department for Transport’s best practice guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, which is scheduled to be updated in 2019 and will be considered for adoption by all 293 licensing authorities in England, the document says.
https://goo.gl/1Qj2Lr
Sunday 14 October 2018
NEXT WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
Licensing of Taxis. Road Safety Bill.
https://goo.gl/P7mGaQ (Bill as Written)
It is the 7th Bill of about 40 listed for the afternoon, so do not expect too much.
Licensing of Taxis. Road Safety Bill.
https://goo.gl/P7mGaQ (Bill as Written)
It is the 7th Bill of about 40 listed for the afternoon, so do not expect too much.
LIVERPOOL
A taxi driver was attacked with a machete yesterday evening after refusing to take a male passenger.
The 44-year-old victim was left injured after the incident outside Office World on Shaw Street at around 6.30pm.
It is believed that the driver was parked up when he was approached by a man and woman.
The man asked the driver if he could get into the taxi but he was refused.
He then swung, what is believed to have been, a machete towards the driver causing cuts to his hands.
The male and female then walked off in the direction of Everton Road .
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "The driver attended at hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not considered life threatening.
"The male is described as being white, around 35 years-of age, 5ft 11in tall, of slim build, with short light coloured hair. He was wearing a green short-sleeved T-shirt and back tracksuit bottoms.
"An investigation is underway and CCTV enquiries are being carried out in the local area."
Detective Constable Nick Glascott-Tull said: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Shaw Street or Islington last night who saw anything or saw anyone fitting the description of the male to contact us.
"I would also appeal to anyone who was in the area who may have dash-cam footage to get in touch as they may have information which is vital to our investigation."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC .
https://goo.gl/Uovnzj
--------------------------------------------
HARTLEPOOL
Clamping down on the outfits taxi drivers wear will be part of new stricter taxi licensing guidelines.
Hartlepool Borough Council’s licensing committee approved new regulations which will see more comprehensive and deeper checks into those looking to obtain a licence to drive a taxi.
The committee also agreed to be part of a new national register ‘NR3’ which will show information about when councils nationwide refused or revoke a driver’s licence, which will now be visible to everyone.
The committee also agreed to write to drivers in Hartlepool to raise concerns about the standards of dress of taxi drivers.
Taxi drivers are currently advised to wear ‘smart clothing’ but there is no rules to enforce what they wear.
Coun Rob Cook said: “The problem we have is when you see drivers in shorts and vests.
“That sort of thing doesn’t give a very good impression of our excellent hackney carriage drivers.”
Councillors noted while a tie would be a safety hazard they would like to see taxi drivers in a shirt or polo shirt.
The new stricter regulations come from a revised document from the Institute of Licensing which has updated the previous version to take into account recent developments in the law and the continued need for the highest standards of public protection.
The legislation states that licensing authorities must only license drivers that are considered to be ‘fit and proper’ but there is no statutory definition of exactly what this means.
An example of the new stricter guidelines include how people who committed a violent offence could have to wait 10 years to receive a license, compared to 3 to 5 previously.
Ian Harrison, council trading standards and licensing manager, said: “They have come up with a new set of guidelines which is much more thorough.
“They have been extended quite significantly in some areas including the amount of time that should pass before someone is considered for a new proposal.
“We’re hoping it’s now much more comprehensive, there have been significant changes.
“However every application will be considered on its own merits and these are for guidance purposes.”
The committee also voted to be part of the new national NR3 register to try and clamp down on drivers who have licenses rejected attempting to gain approval in other areas.
Previously taxi drivers who had their licenses revoked or applications refused in one local authority would be able to visit another authority and try to gain a licence with no record of past applications.
The new register means the authority will be able to search for an applicants history attempting to gain a licence elsewhere, with records lasting for 25 years.
Coun Mike Young said: “It is all about safeguarding the general public who use these taxis and make sure they are better served.”
Nic Marko , Local Democracy Reporting Service
https://goo.gl/RNEUBs
-------------------------------------
LONDON
A HIGH-FLYING city worker’s life was ruined when he was driven into a crazy rage by his girlfriend’s mobile phone addiction, a court heard.
Financial systems analyst Stephen Jennings, 45, took his then partner Anna Markin out for a romantic meal to celebrate a big business deal.
But he told a court she spent the entire date at a swanky restaurant he booked in London’s Park Lane glued to her phone.
Ms Markin talked and texted the whole time while eating dinner and downing a bottle of wine and cross Mr Jennings went to the hotel bar to drink alone.
But he blew his top at the end of the two-hour night out when he returned to the table and found she was still on the phone, Central London County Court was told.
The couple - who had both been drinking - had a furious bust-up in the street outside which ended when Mr Jennings ran into the road in a wild rage and was knocked down by a taxi.
Mr Jennings, from Windsor, Berks suffered devastating head injuries when he was struck by the black cab, and had to give up his highly paid city job.
The analyst - who was left with epilepsy and memory loss which forced him to quit The City - said: "It was rude of my then girlfriend to be on the phone. She was on the phone to Australia for two hours.
"She ordered food and drank a whole bottle of wine. I went to the hotel bar and had a beer or two and when I got back she was still on the phone."
The City high-flyer was triggered by his date’s mobile phone addiction, ran into the road and got flattened by a London black cab.
Details of the 2012 bust-up emerged for the first time last week when Mr Jennings lost a battle for £1 million compensation from the driver of the taxi.
Judge Alan Saggerson threw out his claim, saying his injuries resulted from his own "stupidity" in running into seven lanes of moving traffic.
https://goo.gl/28ea9p
-----------------------------------------
Taxi firms have criticised Aberdeenshire Council’s “shambolic” new system for tendering school transport contracts.
The local authority spends about £13million on school transport every year, and has recently upgraded the tender process for taxi and bus contracts.
But two firms have now separately complained about the way the council dealt with additional support needs (ASN) transport contracts.
They raised concerns about a deleted database, e-mails being sent out containing sensitive information about children and incorrectly worded questionnaires.
Laurencekirk-based operator Stewart Wight said last night: “It would be complimentary to say it has been shambolic.
“First we were all invited in for training on the new system, then we were told there had been told to stick with the old system because all the database had been deleted by accident.
“They didn’t have back-ups so had to input it all by hand again.”
Mr Wight also raised concerns about an e-mail that was sent out to the successful bidder – before they had agreed to take on the work.
He claimed: “They also sent out sensitive information about the children involved along with the successful tenders – but they should have waited until the tenders were accepted and signed by those firms. An e-mail came out later reminding us not to disclose any of the information – I think they had realised their error and were trying to cover their own backs.”
But Aberdeenshire Council last night said the reminder had been sent out as “standard procedure” and denied any data breach.
A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) was last night nable to confirm if a data breach had been reported.
Mr Wight believes the new system is unfair, and was backed by Inverurie-based Allways Taxis – who says they have missed out on around £24,000 of school contracts due to the council’s blunders.
Mr McKay said: “We were not invited or notified of the tender for the latest ASN contract – we only heard about it after another taxi firm told us about it.
“It’s a complete farce, we joined the new DPS scheme thinking it would automatically inform us when a tender came out.”
An Aberdeenshire Council last night insisted the new system had been designed to create competition to ensure the authority gets best value.
A spokesman said: “The new approach to tendering for contracts has been established to ensure as much competition as possible and to allow suppliers to enter their details and bids via an online platform.
“While there have been some initial delays, the majority of suppliers have been able to complete this process successfully.
“We are sorry to hear some companies have found the new processes challenging but will continue to offer advice and support to those offering services to the council.”
https://goo.gl/drcdaT
A taxi driver was attacked with a machete yesterday evening after refusing to take a male passenger.
The 44-year-old victim was left injured after the incident outside Office World on Shaw Street at around 6.30pm.
It is believed that the driver was parked up when he was approached by a man and woman.
The man asked the driver if he could get into the taxi but he was refused.
He then swung, what is believed to have been, a machete towards the driver causing cuts to his hands.
The male and female then walked off in the direction of Everton Road .
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "The driver attended at hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not considered life threatening.
"The male is described as being white, around 35 years-of age, 5ft 11in tall, of slim build, with short light coloured hair. He was wearing a green short-sleeved T-shirt and back tracksuit bottoms.
"An investigation is underway and CCTV enquiries are being carried out in the local area."
Detective Constable Nick Glascott-Tull said: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Shaw Street or Islington last night who saw anything or saw anyone fitting the description of the male to contact us.
"I would also appeal to anyone who was in the area who may have dash-cam footage to get in touch as they may have information which is vital to our investigation."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC .
https://goo.gl/Uovnzj
--------------------------------------------
HARTLEPOOL
Clamping down on the outfits taxi drivers wear will be part of new stricter taxi licensing guidelines.
Hartlepool Borough Council’s licensing committee approved new regulations which will see more comprehensive and deeper checks into those looking to obtain a licence to drive a taxi.
The committee also agreed to be part of a new national register ‘NR3’ which will show information about when councils nationwide refused or revoke a driver’s licence, which will now be visible to everyone.
The committee also agreed to write to drivers in Hartlepool to raise concerns about the standards of dress of taxi drivers.
Taxi drivers are currently advised to wear ‘smart clothing’ but there is no rules to enforce what they wear.
Coun Rob Cook said: “The problem we have is when you see drivers in shorts and vests.
“That sort of thing doesn’t give a very good impression of our excellent hackney carriage drivers.”
Councillors noted while a tie would be a safety hazard they would like to see taxi drivers in a shirt or polo shirt.
The new stricter regulations come from a revised document from the Institute of Licensing which has updated the previous version to take into account recent developments in the law and the continued need for the highest standards of public protection.
The legislation states that licensing authorities must only license drivers that are considered to be ‘fit and proper’ but there is no statutory definition of exactly what this means.
An example of the new stricter guidelines include how people who committed a violent offence could have to wait 10 years to receive a license, compared to 3 to 5 previously.
Ian Harrison, council trading standards and licensing manager, said: “They have come up with a new set of guidelines which is much more thorough.
“They have been extended quite significantly in some areas including the amount of time that should pass before someone is considered for a new proposal.
“We’re hoping it’s now much more comprehensive, there have been significant changes.
“However every application will be considered on its own merits and these are for guidance purposes.”
The committee also voted to be part of the new national NR3 register to try and clamp down on drivers who have licenses rejected attempting to gain approval in other areas.
Previously taxi drivers who had their licenses revoked or applications refused in one local authority would be able to visit another authority and try to gain a licence with no record of past applications.
The new register means the authority will be able to search for an applicants history attempting to gain a licence elsewhere, with records lasting for 25 years.
Coun Mike Young said: “It is all about safeguarding the general public who use these taxis and make sure they are better served.”
Nic Marko , Local Democracy Reporting Service
https://goo.gl/RNEUBs
-------------------------------------
LONDON
A HIGH-FLYING city worker’s life was ruined when he was driven into a crazy rage by his girlfriend’s mobile phone addiction, a court heard.
Financial systems analyst Stephen Jennings, 45, took his then partner Anna Markin out for a romantic meal to celebrate a big business deal.
But he told a court she spent the entire date at a swanky restaurant he booked in London’s Park Lane glued to her phone.
Ms Markin talked and texted the whole time while eating dinner and downing a bottle of wine and cross Mr Jennings went to the hotel bar to drink alone.
But he blew his top at the end of the two-hour night out when he returned to the table and found she was still on the phone, Central London County Court was told.
The couple - who had both been drinking - had a furious bust-up in the street outside which ended when Mr Jennings ran into the road in a wild rage and was knocked down by a taxi.
Mr Jennings, from Windsor, Berks suffered devastating head injuries when he was struck by the black cab, and had to give up his highly paid city job.
The analyst - who was left with epilepsy and memory loss which forced him to quit The City - said: "It was rude of my then girlfriend to be on the phone. She was on the phone to Australia for two hours.
"She ordered food and drank a whole bottle of wine. I went to the hotel bar and had a beer or two and when I got back she was still on the phone."
The City high-flyer was triggered by his date’s mobile phone addiction, ran into the road and got flattened by a London black cab.
Details of the 2012 bust-up emerged for the first time last week when Mr Jennings lost a battle for £1 million compensation from the driver of the taxi.
Judge Alan Saggerson threw out his claim, saying his injuries resulted from his own "stupidity" in running into seven lanes of moving traffic.
https://goo.gl/28ea9p
-----------------------------------------
Taxi firms have criticised Aberdeenshire Council’s “shambolic” new system for tendering school transport contracts.
The local authority spends about £13million on school transport every year, and has recently upgraded the tender process for taxi and bus contracts.
But two firms have now separately complained about the way the council dealt with additional support needs (ASN) transport contracts.
They raised concerns about a deleted database, e-mails being sent out containing sensitive information about children and incorrectly worded questionnaires.
Laurencekirk-based operator Stewart Wight said last night: “It would be complimentary to say it has been shambolic.
“First we were all invited in for training on the new system, then we were told there had been told to stick with the old system because all the database had been deleted by accident.
“They didn’t have back-ups so had to input it all by hand again.”
Mr Wight also raised concerns about an e-mail that was sent out to the successful bidder – before they had agreed to take on the work.
He claimed: “They also sent out sensitive information about the children involved along with the successful tenders – but they should have waited until the tenders were accepted and signed by those firms. An e-mail came out later reminding us not to disclose any of the information – I think they had realised their error and were trying to cover their own backs.”
But Aberdeenshire Council last night said the reminder had been sent out as “standard procedure” and denied any data breach.
A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) was last night nable to confirm if a data breach had been reported.
Mr Wight believes the new system is unfair, and was backed by Inverurie-based Allways Taxis – who says they have missed out on around £24,000 of school contracts due to the council’s blunders.
Mr McKay said: “We were not invited or notified of the tender for the latest ASN contract – we only heard about it after another taxi firm told us about it.
“It’s a complete farce, we joined the new DPS scheme thinking it would automatically inform us when a tender came out.”
An Aberdeenshire Council last night insisted the new system had been designed to create competition to ensure the authority gets best value.
A spokesman said: “The new approach to tendering for contracts has been established to ensure as much competition as possible and to allow suppliers to enter their details and bids via an online platform.
“While there have been some initial delays, the majority of suppliers have been able to complete this process successfully.
“We are sorry to hear some companies have found the new processes challenging but will continue to offer advice and support to those offering services to the council.”
https://goo.gl/drcdaT
Saturday 13 October 2018
LAST WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
11 Oct.
Jim Cunningham Labour, Coventry South
There have been a number of incidents involving Uber and black-cab drivers in the west midlands, and in one instance police were called to Coventry station to sort the problem out. When will the Minister legislate, as recommended by the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing?
Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
The Task and Finish Group was established as a result of the ingenious foresight of a previous Transport Minister, my right hon. Friend Mr Hayes. Its report was made public only in the summer, but I am evaluating all its recommendations and will make a statement shortly.
11 Oct.
Jim Cunningham Labour, Coventry South
There have been a number of incidents involving Uber and black-cab drivers in the west midlands, and in one instance police were called to Coventry station to sort the problem out. When will the Minister legislate, as recommended by the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing?
Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
The Task and Finish Group was established as a result of the ingenious foresight of a previous Transport Minister, my right hon. Friend Mr Hayes. Its report was made public only in the summer, but I am evaluating all its recommendations and will make a statement shortly.
LAST year Bolton Council suspended 34 taxi licences, revoked 19, and refused to renew eight. Local democracy reporter NICK STATHAM finds out why and what measures are being taken to tighten up private hire and hackney carriage licensing.
THERE are currently more than 1,800 licensed taxi drivers in Bolton and while the majority of journeys are completed safely and professionally, there are also cases of overcharging, sexually inappropriate behaviour and violence from those behind the wheel.
When these are reported the question of whether the driver remains “a fit and proper person” to hold either a private hire or hackney carriage licence goes before Bolton Council’s licensing and environmental regulation committee — or the traffic offences sub-committee for less serious matters.
The hearings are held behind closed doors, but the minutes which later appear on the council’s website reveal how far some drivers stray from the standards expected of them.
Earlier this month a taxi driver was stripped of his private hire licence after licensing chiefs heard he had threatened a member of the public with a screwdriver. He also had an undeclared conviction for common assault.
Back in July another driver had his licence revoked after taking a lone female passenger home “via a long route through dark streets” during which he asked her personal questions the left her feeling “scared, uncomfortable and panicked”. He later tried to contact the woman via her Instagram account.
And in June Perez Sajid was suspended for five weeks by council licensing chiefs after being found guilty of overcharging a disabled passenger at Bolton Magistrates Court.
Figures provided by Bolton Council make clear the measures the licensing committee is taking to ensure people can be confident of their own safety when they get into a taxi or private hire vehicle.
Last year the authority suspended 34, revoked 19, and refused to renew eight licences. It also issued one warning. The number of licensed drivers fluctuates throughout the year, but the current number is 1,850, which gives an indication of the proportion who are breaching the trust placed in them by passengers.
And of the 212 applications for new licences it refused 12 – just under six per cent of those received.
When taxi drivers first apply for a private hire or hackney carriage licence a check is made to see if they have a criminal record through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
This is repeated when they are renewed every 12 months and police also inform licensing chiefs of relevant intelligence throughout the year.
But Cllr Nick Peel, the council’s environmental services chief who sits on the licensing panel, said he was happy that the authority had a “fair but robust system”.
He added: “In any profession there’s always going to be a minority of bad eggs, but the main thing is taxi drivers are in a very, very privileged position of trust.
“That’s why it’s so important that the drivers are “fit and proper” to carry out what I would describe as a unique privilege.
“Where else would you get a stranger alone with a vulnerable person, or a child? It would be hard to find another example so, for that reason, we don’t tolerate anything that looks like inappropriate behaviour.”
Cllr Peel added that council figures show there are no issues with the “overwhelming majority” of drivers but licensing chiefs were willing to take strong action where required.
He said: “We will refuse applications if standards are not met and we will also revoke or suspend licences of drivers found to be breaking the law or breaching licensing requirements.
"The safety of the public is of paramount importance to us and this is at the heart of our licensing duties.”
Taxi drivers staged a protest this year over what they described as “unfair” licensing rulings, which took cabbies off the road for minor or historical offences.
But Cllr Peel said the panel looked at patterns and frequencies of offences, as well as their seriousness when reaching a decision.
He said: “We would like to reassure the public we will continue to take action and if they have concerns about drivers they can report these to us.
“Similarly if a driver is unhappy with any decision they have the right of appeal to both Bolton Magistrates and Crown Courts.”
https://goo.gl/Rmgs1A
-------------------------------------
DUBAI: Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the launch of a host of smart initiatives & services as part of RTA’s participation at GITEX 2018. The event will witness the test run of the first ‘Autonomous taxi’ in the region.
The launch of these new initiatives and smart services are in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city.
“At GITEX, RTA will start the test run of the first ‘Autonomous taxi’ designed in partnership with Dubai Silicon Oasis and DG World for robots & artificial applications. The vehicle, which will be tentatively run on dedicated routes at the Dubai Silicon Oasis, has top safety and security standards. It is equipped with cameras and sensors that fully view traffic and road conditions, controls the vehicle and avoids collision. The ‘Autonomous taxi’ contributes to the integration of mass transport systems by facilitating the movement of public transport users, specifically Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram, to reach their final destinations (last mile),” said Al Tayer.
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/f52ef076-b287-413d-96aa-1d3b02cf4636.aspx
------------------------------------------
LEICESTER
A taxi driver was stabbed after dropping off a group of passengers in Leicester city centre this afternoon.
The driver, who is in his 60s, was attacked in Humberstone Gate, near the Sainsbury’s supermarket.
He suffered a stab wound, which Leicestershire Police said was not life-threatening.
A short time later, an 18-year-old man was arrested at the scene.
Several armed officers were among those who responded to the incident. Much of their focus appeared to be on the Vestry House block of flats opposite the supermarket.
The victim works for a taxi firm which is based in the city.
A spokesman for the company said the driver had picked up four passengers – two men and two women – in the Belgrave area of Leicester, and then taken them to the city centre.
The company spokesman, who asked Leicestershire Live not to name the firm, said: “He has been bandaged up and is going to be okay.
“He has high blood pressure and was also treated for shock.”
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “Shortly before 1.15 this afternoon, we received a report that a man in his 60s had been stabbed.
“Offices attended and subsequently an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of GBH.
“The man’s injuries are not life-threatening or life-changing.”
The incident happened just hours after another knife crime in Leicester, in which a 16-year-old boy was found with a stab wound in a house off Saffron Lane.
https://goo.gl/FqGF9S
Thursday 11 October 2018
GLASGOW UBERK
A cabby who denied ‘pirating’ and asking a female passenger about her sexual history has been branded as a “liar”.
Uber driver Mohammed Addow was effectively stripped of his cab licence after failing to persuade city bosses that he was innocent of the allegations.
He had refuted claims that he picked three women up illegally on Queen Street last year, instead insisting that they had entered his cab without permission.
Mr Addow also denied an allegation from a fellow cabby in 2016 that he had been “pirating in town all the time and taking lots of money”.
And in a third allegation, made in 2015, the driver denied asking sexually motivated questions of a female passenger at a McDonald’s drive-through on Crow Road in Jordanhill.
But licensing committee member Gary Gray said: “As far as I’m concerned, you’re a liar. I’m surprised you have a licence.”
Mr Gray’s blast came after Mr Addow changed his story about all of the incidents several times, despite providing written statements to enforcement officers.
Speaking about the Queen Street incident, Mr Addow said: “That evening was a long time ago. I told the enforcement officers clearly that I don’t remember every job I do.”
That came despite him given a detailed written submission to enforcement officers, in which he claimed the women were ushered into his car by his friend. He also told the committee that when the women entered the cab, one of his female friends was already inside – something he never mentioned to enforcement officers.
Mr Addow was extensively questioned on the 2015 incidents, when he was alleged to have picked a woman up from Queen Margaret Union. After seeing she was upset, Mr Addow admitted to enforcement officers that he took her to a McDonalds drive-through before later claiming that the fast food outlet “may not have been open”.
The woman claimed the cabby had asked her a string of questions about her sexual history and that he had boasted about sleeping with students.
Mr Addow instead told licensing chiefs that it was the woman who had behaved inappropriately and had asked him if he had ever had a threesome. He also claimed the woman had racially abused him by calling him a “black b******” after he rejected her advances.
But licensing committee member Graham Campbell described those claims as “highly unlikely”, adding: “I don’t believe she asked you any questions about your sexual history.
“You said that the woman became racially abusive. I take exception when racism is used to defend oneself when it’s not warranted. It undermines all the other times when it is true. I don’t think you’re telling the truth.”
Mr Addow then admitted that he had made up his version of events and apologised to the committee.
Muslim committee member Hanif Raja then slammed Mr Addow for embarrassing himself.
He said: “I feel embarrassed. I’m very shocked at the way you’ve behaved today. You think we’re stupid. We’re not.
“Anybody who is serving the city of Glasgow is responsible for making sure passengers are safe. The claims against you aren’t made because of your colour. It’s because you were doing these things.
“I’ve been living in this country for 52 years, I’ve never come across one person accusing me of sexually harassing people. It’s not your right to question people sexually.”
The committee suspended Mr Addow’s cab licence until it expires, meaning he’ll have to re-apply for his job when the suspension is lifted.
https://goo.gl/FHr4rj
----------------------------------------
STOCKTON
A taxi driver has been left “terrified” after a thug set him alight in an unprovoked attack.
Sean Rogan, who has been a cabby for 30 years, had only just picked up two men on Oxbridge Avenue in Stockton when he felt a burning sensation on his arm.
He quickly realised his shirt had been set alight and jumped out of his Royal Cars taxi - the culprit then tried to fight him.
In a bizarre twist, the men then attempted to order another Royal Cars taxi immediately after the episode.
“They asked me to take them from Wembley Court in Oxbridge to Greta Road in Norton and then back again”, Sean, 51, said.
“They gave me the money before they even got in the car and we set off on the journey.
“I could then smell burning and then I just felt the heat, I looked down and my shirt was on fire.
“I immediately pulled over on Oxbridge Lane and jumped out of the car and told them to get out.
“When I looked round, one of the lads was holding a lighter and putting his fists up like he wanted to fight.
“They just did it for no apparent reason. They were shouting that they wanted their money back.”
Panicking, Sean fled and pulled over in a nearby Sainsbury’s where he called the office.
“When I called the office they told me the same lads had just tried to book another taxi from the Sainsbury’s I was at.
“I’ve had people do runners from my taxi and things in the past, but nothing like this.
https://goo.gl/tnUJ54
---------------------------------------
A cabby who denied ‘pirating’ and asking a female passenger about her sexual history has been branded as a “liar”.
Uber driver Mohammed Addow was effectively stripped of his cab licence after failing to persuade city bosses that he was innocent of the allegations.
He had refuted claims that he picked three women up illegally on Queen Street last year, instead insisting that they had entered his cab without permission.
Mr Addow also denied an allegation from a fellow cabby in 2016 that he had been “pirating in town all the time and taking lots of money”.
And in a third allegation, made in 2015, the driver denied asking sexually motivated questions of a female passenger at a McDonald’s drive-through on Crow Road in Jordanhill.
But licensing committee member Gary Gray said: “As far as I’m concerned, you’re a liar. I’m surprised you have a licence.”
Mr Gray’s blast came after Mr Addow changed his story about all of the incidents several times, despite providing written statements to enforcement officers.
Speaking about the Queen Street incident, Mr Addow said: “That evening was a long time ago. I told the enforcement officers clearly that I don’t remember every job I do.”
That came despite him given a detailed written submission to enforcement officers, in which he claimed the women were ushered into his car by his friend. He also told the committee that when the women entered the cab, one of his female friends was already inside – something he never mentioned to enforcement officers.
Mr Addow was extensively questioned on the 2015 incidents, when he was alleged to have picked a woman up from Queen Margaret Union. After seeing she was upset, Mr Addow admitted to enforcement officers that he took her to a McDonalds drive-through before later claiming that the fast food outlet “may not have been open”.
The woman claimed the cabby had asked her a string of questions about her sexual history and that he had boasted about sleeping with students.
Mr Addow instead told licensing chiefs that it was the woman who had behaved inappropriately and had asked him if he had ever had a threesome. He also claimed the woman had racially abused him by calling him a “black b******” after he rejected her advances.
But licensing committee member Graham Campbell described those claims as “highly unlikely”, adding: “I don’t believe she asked you any questions about your sexual history.
“You said that the woman became racially abusive. I take exception when racism is used to defend oneself when it’s not warranted. It undermines all the other times when it is true. I don’t think you’re telling the truth.”
Mr Addow then admitted that he had made up his version of events and apologised to the committee.
Muslim committee member Hanif Raja then slammed Mr Addow for embarrassing himself.
He said: “I feel embarrassed. I’m very shocked at the way you’ve behaved today. You think we’re stupid. We’re not.
“Anybody who is serving the city of Glasgow is responsible for making sure passengers are safe. The claims against you aren’t made because of your colour. It’s because you were doing these things.
“I’ve been living in this country for 52 years, I’ve never come across one person accusing me of sexually harassing people. It’s not your right to question people sexually.”
The committee suspended Mr Addow’s cab licence until it expires, meaning he’ll have to re-apply for his job when the suspension is lifted.
https://goo.gl/FHr4rj
----------------------------------------
STOCKTON
A taxi driver has been left “terrified” after a thug set him alight in an unprovoked attack.
Sean Rogan, who has been a cabby for 30 years, had only just picked up two men on Oxbridge Avenue in Stockton when he felt a burning sensation on his arm.
He quickly realised his shirt had been set alight and jumped out of his Royal Cars taxi - the culprit then tried to fight him.
In a bizarre twist, the men then attempted to order another Royal Cars taxi immediately after the episode.
“They asked me to take them from Wembley Court in Oxbridge to Greta Road in Norton and then back again”, Sean, 51, said.
“They gave me the money before they even got in the car and we set off on the journey.
“I could then smell burning and then I just felt the heat, I looked down and my shirt was on fire.
“I immediately pulled over on Oxbridge Lane and jumped out of the car and told them to get out.
“When I looked round, one of the lads was holding a lighter and putting his fists up like he wanted to fight.
“They just did it for no apparent reason. They were shouting that they wanted their money back.”
Panicking, Sean fled and pulled over in a nearby Sainsbury’s where he called the office.
“When I called the office they told me the same lads had just tried to book another taxi from the Sainsbury’s I was at.
“I’ve had people do runners from my taxi and things in the past, but nothing like this.
https://goo.gl/tnUJ54
---------------------------------------
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