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
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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
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 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 
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  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