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MADRID (Reuters) - Taxi-drivers in the Spanish capital seeking tighter regulation of Uber and other ride-hailing services called off their indefinite strike on Tuesday after 16 days during which they obtained no concessions from the Madrid regional government.

Madrid’s refusal to accept drivers’ demands came after ride-hailing companies Uber and Cabify said last week they were suspending their services in Barcelona in response to the regional government’s imposition of limits on how they operate in the city.

Union representatives in Madrid said the strike had demonstrated the unity and power of the drivers, which would help them continue the fight for their demands.

“It is a long war, in which you can lose battles, but in the end I’m sure we can win,” Julio Sanz, head of the Taxi Federation union, told reporters.

The city’s taxi drivers started the protests on Jan. 20 against the private services, which offer rides that often undercut taxi prices and can be hailed via the internet rather than in the street.

Last week, riot police backed by a fleet of tow trucks had to clear hundreds of vehicles blocking the capital’s Paseo de la Castellana thoroughfare.

In September, Spain’s government gave ride-hailing companies four years to comply with regulation granting them just one new license for every 30 taxi licenses. The cab drivers are demanding stricter regulations now.

Following protests by Barcelona taxi-drivers, the Catalan government had ruled that ride-hailing services could only pick up passengers after a 15-minute delay from the time they were booked. 

https://reut.rs/2t5u9Tw
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 HOVE

A FORMER taxi driver who sexually assaulted two young girls has been sent to prison for 18 years.

Harry Miah from Norfolk Drive, St Leonards, used to work as a cab driver driving children to schools in East Sussex.

The 53-year-old was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Monday.

The sex attacks happened between 1991 and 1998 in the Hastings area.

Miah’s job was taking care of vulnerable young children and escorting them to school and home.

During the taxi school run he sexually abused a schoolgirl aged between the ages of 12 and 15 on multiple occasions.

In September last year he was convicted of two counts of indecency with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

During the same period Miah also sexually abused another young girl he knew from when she was six until her teenage years.

He was convicted of two counts of indecency with a child after a trial in September last year, and in January this year he pleaded guilty to another count of indecency with a child and one count of attempted rape, all in relation to that girl.

He also admitted having extreme pornography on his computer.

Miah will be a registered sex offender for life and was also given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, severely restricting his access to children and computers.

PC Kelley Gray said: “This has been a really difficult and distressing case, due to it’s historic nature and to the challenge of sensitively but fully obtaining the evidence from such a long time ago, but this outcome shows that it is possible.

“This investigation started in April 2016 when the victim of the offences in Miah’s taxi contacted us about a separate matter and was triggered by this into recalling and disclosing what had happened to her in the 1990’s.

“This has been a very long process for everyone involved. Both victims showed great courage and strength in coming forward to describe the horrific events that they have experienced, events that as young vulnerable children they should never have had to endure.”

“Victims of this type of offending do not need to suffer in silence. If you, or people you know, are being abused in this way, contact us in confidence at any time online or by calling 101,and arrange to talk in confidence to experienced investigators.”

Children's charity the NSPCC said: "Miah was trusted to look after the vulnerable children in his care and instead of ensuring their safety he carried out a prolonged campaign of abuse.

“His victims have shown great bravery in speaking out about their experiences and we hope they have received help and support to get their lives back on track.

“This case sends a clear message that victims of sexual abuse can achieve justice and they will be listened to.”

https://bit.ly/2t6qwg7
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A TAXI driver has criticised Durham County Council over the way it awards contracts to transport children and vulnerable adults to school.

Trade representative for Durham City cabbies, Neville Forbes, said the council is running a two-tier system with Durham drivers and those from outside the area.

He said those applying for a Durham taxi licence have to pass a council-approved driving test as well as a local knowledge test to operate in the county.

However, he said those bidding for educational contracts did not require either and are “putting children at risk”.

Mr Forbes, who has been a taxi driver for more than 15 years, said: “You have to pass both tests and when we have asked why we have these tests they say it’s safeguarding.

“I accept it and I think it’s a good idea but we also have an integrated transport system with a portal where you can register an interest in contracts – I have asked the council if drivers from outside County Durham tender was lower and they said yes so they’re allowing out of town drivers to transport vulnerable adults and school children without all of the criteria.”

Mr Forbes added: “They’re putting the lives of children at risk by allowing contracts to be performed by people who have not reached these standards.

“The only way they can do it fairly is to insist these out of town drivers take these tests – until that takes place they should not be doing education contracts as the council is operating a two-tier system.”

Mr Forbes said he understood the council wanted to get the best deal but that the competition had to be “fair” for all.

He has now submitted a complaint to the council to ask bosses to change the policy.

He said: “I just think if Durham County Council has certain criteria for its drivers then any other driver coming into County Durham to perform contracts should meet the requirements that the county set out – otherwise you are putting children and vulnerable adults at risk.”

Andy Leadbeater, integrated passenger transport manager at Durham County Council, said the council had received Mr Forbes complaint and insisted the safety of children and vulnerable adults was “paramount”.

He said: “Ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable adults is paramount in our transport arrangements and is why all of the drivers and passenger assistants we contract undergo enhanced DBS checks and safeguarding training.

"We have received Mr Forbes’ complaint and will respond to him directly.”

https://bit.ly/2Sc8HuV