Students at Manchester Metropolitan University have told of the moment they were met by security and police as they tried to leave their halls of residence.

Accommodation blocks at the Birley Campus, as well as Cambridge Hall have been locked down for a fortnight due to a cluster of Covid-19 cases.

Case numbers have soared to 127 across both sites, leading the council, university and Public Health England to take the drastic decision.

The handling of the situation has been heavily criticised by students, who claim they received no warning of the stringent measures.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/hmp-mmu-students-claim-were-19003637

LAST WEEK IN PALIAMENT

 Diana R. Johnson Labour, Kingston upon Hull North

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2020 to Question 90961 on Cars: Hire Services, and the Prime Minister's statement on covid-19 measures on 22 September 2020, whether it is now mandatory for private hire and taxi drivers to wear face coverings at all times when working.

Rachel Maclean Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Face coverings are now mandatory for customers using taxi and private hire vehicle services, unless they are exempt from wearing one. Face coverings are not mandatory for drivers.

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3rd SEISS Grant

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme#what-you-will-need

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A man who trains city cabbies has hit out at Glasgow City Council’s decision to delay the introduction of a mandatory driver certificate by seven months, describing it as as “seriously flawed”. 

Ross Blyth, head of Roadtrain Glasgow, is warning the authority will receive an influx of Taxi complaints as he fears drivers will fail to meet professional standards having not sat mandatory exams.

A committee held on Wednesday ruled that the certificate - named the introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver at SCQF level five - will be delayed until April due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The professional certificate examines drivers on nine mandatory units, including workplace health and safety, safety in transportation of passengers, professional customer service, maintenance and safety of the licensed vehicle, mobility and wheelchair assistance, routes and fares, transportation of luggage and parcels, safe transportation of school age children and licensing regulations.

Anyone wishing to become a taxi driver for the first time can still access the £400 qualification. But the issue has arisen for existing taxi drivers – who are obliged to sit the exam every three years with the renewal of their license badge.

 

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18746409.glasgow-taxi-trainer-fearful-standards-mandatory-examination-delayed-due-covid-19/

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A NUMBER of Oldham taxi drivers are breaching regulations to combat coronavirus by gathering and socialising near a secondary school.

The Oldham Times was informed of the activities of the taxi drivers by a resident near to Oasis Academy in Hollins Road.

The drivers, from different local taxi firms, are parking in Mill Gate near to the rear goods entrance to the school, where restricted parking for two hours is permitted.

The Oldham Times observed three men in one of the vehicles with a Z Cars logo on the door. After approaching the driver, we asked him if they were from the same household and he said they were not.

He was then asked if he was aware that what they were doing was against the Covid regulations. He just shrugged and said: "We're just talking."

We understand there has been a longstanding tendency for taxi drivers to congregate at that location.

An Oldham Council spokesman said: “Everyone needs to follow the Coronavirus guidance that has been put in place to stop the spread, stay safe and save lives.

“You cannot socialise with anyone who does not live in your house, unless they are part of your support bubble.

“Oldham Council Licensing Team will investigate this incident.”

The Oldham Times has forward images taken at the scene to the town hall's licensing department as requested by the authority.

No-one was available for comment at Z Cars.

https_www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk

 New tax checks on licence renewal applications.

Who is likely to be affected ?

Individuals, partnerships (including limited liability partnerships (LLPs)) and companies applying for licences in England and Wales to either drive taxis or private hire vehicles (PHVs), or both, operate a PHV business or deal in scrap metal.

The measure also affects licensing bodies in England and Wales that administer those licence applications.

General description of the measure

Conditionality will introduce a check on tax registration (tax check) for renewed applications in England and Wales for licences to:

Drive taxis and PHVs (for example, minicabs)

Operate a PHV business

Carry on the business of a scrap metal dealer on a site

Carry on business as a mobile collector of scrap metal

An applicant who wishes to renew a licence will need to carry out a tax check. The licensing body (typically a local authority) will have to obtain confirmation from HMRC that the applicant has completed the check before being able to consider their renewed licence application.

Policy objective:

The hidden economy consists of individuals and businesses with sources of taxable income that are entirely hidden from HMRC. This deprives the government of funding for vital public services. The hidden economy tax gap (the difference between the amount of tax that should, in theory, be collected by HMRC, and what is actually collected) is estimated to be £2.6 billion for 2018 to 2019.

The hidden economy also distorts competition and is linked to wider rule breaking and criminality, including money laundering, health and safety violations, failure to comply with employment rights and immigration offences. HMRC is committed to levelling the playing field for legitimate businesses and has a continuing programme of operational work to tackle the hidden economy.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-tax-checks-on-licence-renewal-applications/new-tax-checks-on-licence-renewal-applications

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LAST WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Daniel Zeichner Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

There are over 360,000 licensed taxi and private hire drivers in England, and the sector has been very hard hit. What assessment has the Secretary of State made of the impact on the sector, and will he tell us how he plans to measure the impact of his rather disappointingly weak statutory guidance issued back in July?

(Citation: HC Deb, 17 September 2020, c480)

Grant Shapps The Secretary of State for Transport

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the impact, and the same is true of many other forms of transport. I pay tribute to the work of taxi drivers and private hire vehicle drivers, who have been incredible during this crisis and have often provided the only form of transport available for people in certain areas.

The statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards have considerable teeth, because for the first time ever we will have national databases, and we will put enormous work into ensuring that all local authorities and hackney carriage authorities sign up to those and use them. I will say more in the not too distant future about our support for taxis and private hire vehicles through the pandemic.

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Police investigating the shooting of three men in a Coventry street want to trace a taxi seen in the area at the time.

Extensive trawls of CCTV footage showed the silver Peugeot Tepee in Far Gosford Street at about 22:00 BST on Thursday, West Midlands Police said.

Officers believe the taxi driver could have valuable information.

The victims were less seriously injured than initially thought and one remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Detectives have described the shooting as an act of "outrageous violence" and want anyone with information to contact them.

"We are continuing with increased patrols and we have a dispersal order in place in the area," Det Insp Kat Sibley said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-54224680

Staffordshire 

A terrified 11-year-old girl ran for her life after a taxi driver tried to lure her into his cab as she walked home.

The girl was walking past Blythe Bridge train station, in Uttoxeter Road, Staffordshire, when a car pulled up alongside her.

The cabbie – described as Asian with stubble and spiky black hair – then tried to persuade her to get in at around 5.30pm on Tuesday, September 15, StokeonTrentLive reports.

It is believed the same driver had approached the victim around an hour and 20 minutes earlier.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/taxi-driver-tries-lure-schoolgirl-22703571

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LONDON PRIUS

This is the shocking moment an angry taxi driver threw his passenger to the ground by speeding away as he climbed out of the cab after a row over face masks.

Jay Henry, who lives in Hackney, east London, had ordered a Bolt taxi to drive him to his mother's house in Stanford Hill, north London, at around 11am on September 4.

But the 36-year-old, who works as a painter and decorator, claims he was left unable to work for weeks after suffering an injured back and foot as a result of the impact.

In the CCTV footage, the blue Toyota Pruis can be seen cruising down a residential road before swerving toward the pavement and coming to an abrupt stop.

The passenger in the back seat begins to open his door as the driver appears to turn around and speak to him.

Mr Henry continues to clamber out and places just one foot on the ground before suddenly the driver of the car speeds away.

He falls to the floor before looking over his shoulder in exasperation.

He manages to get back to his feet and walks steadily down the street in the same direction that the car drove off in.

https://tinyurl.com/yyprm97d

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 A Leeds councillor has called on the Government to compensate hundreds of taxi drivers who paid thousands for new eco-friendly cars, should a review conclude they were not needed.

It follows an announcement last month that funding of the £20m-plus clean air charging zone (CAZ) would be suspended while the authority worked with the Government to understand whether pollution could ever again reach illegal levels.

The CAZ was due to make a daily charge to buses, HGVs and taxis or private hire vehicles driving in certain parts of the city if their engines did not meet eco-friendly requirements.

Many self employed taxi drivers spent thousands upgrading their vehicles in readiness for the scheme, which was expected to be up and running in 2021, only to be told work on the scheme was suspended due to improving air pollution levels in the city.

Taxis and private hire drivers in Leeds have spent thousands upgrading their cars in preparation for a scheme that may no longer take place.

A conclusion of the review into the scheme is set to go before councillors in October’s council executive board meeting, but Labour councillor Javaid Akhtar claimed the government should pay drivers who upgraded their vehicles, should the scheme be scrapped

Coun Akhtar said: “Many businesses have suffered, and the private hire and taxi trade is no different. We know many hundreds of drivers have invested thousands of pounds in the cleaner vehicles.

“Can I now ask the executive board member to join us to campaign for a compensation for those drivers who have already invested in hybrids or electric cars, so the Government has to pay those drivers off during these difficult times.”

Coun James Lewis (Lab), executive board member for resources and deputy council leader, said: “The implementation is under review due to the improvement of air quality since March. It is important that the outcome is not pre-empted.

“I know many taxi and private hire drivers have been in touch since we instigated the review making similar points to those you have made.
“First of all, I would say we have to wait for the outcome of the review.

“Air quality has improved – if the review suggests we don’t need to implement a charging zone, we will make the case to government that the money allocated to us and remains unspent, we continue to support businesses to keep those vehicles on the road, and to invest in new clean vehicles.

“I know Coun Akhtar will make that strong case to the Government. We, should the review say we don’t need a clean air charging zone, will continue to do that.”

Plans for Leeds’s clean air charging zone would see older models of buses, taxis and HGVs travelling in areas around north Leeds and the city centre pay a congestion charge.

The fees would be administered via a £6m camera network, which would identify number plates of cars that didn’t meet green requirements so that drivers could be charged.

It was originally expected to be up and running by January 2020 but, following numerous delays from central government in creating a vehicle database, it was announced in July 2019 that the charging zone should be going live “some time in 2020”.

Last month it was announced that work on the scheme would be halted.

https://tinyurl.com/y694o9vl

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Independent taxi drivers in Inverness are implementing a new initiative to “reclaim the streets” in a bid to fight back from the downturn in trade during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Inverness Taxi Alliance chairman Andrew MacDonald, 75, owns several cars which trade under Caley Taxis and Black Mercedes Taxis, and hires his vehicles to self-employed drivers.

He is urging independent taxi drivers across the city to “reclaim your streets and your livelihood”.

He said: “Here in Highland there are over 1,000 taxi drivers, many are self-employed independents who depend on working the few available ranks.

“Too many are trying to share an ever decreasing slice of the cake.

“Many of this beleaguered section have no choice but to continue working to try and scrape a living. Times were hard prior to Covid – they are significantly worse now.”

Mr MacDonald said he is trying to bring together independent drivers to join an initiative which will provide a 24 hour, seven-day-a-week service which will take many away from waiting hours for a shout on a rank.

He added: “This is an appeal to all independent drivers to reclaim the streets and get their due without dues, reduce pollution and their fuel costs and maximise what work is available.”

Caley Taxis has purchased a phone system that incorporates both the firm’s advertised numbers as well as the drivers’ mobiles.

Calls will be directed to the drivers’ mobiles when a call comes in, and the first to answer will get the job.

The calls will be rotated in sequence to registered drivers.

Mr MacDonald said: “Obviously, an appropriate number of cars are needed to cover 24 hours/seven days will be required.

“This is therefore an appeal to local drivers to join what will basically be a workers’ co-operative – no dues, and no commission for the duration of this crisis.

“The only pre-condition will be that drivers will take a maximum of an eight-hour shift and be available exclusively to the number at those times.”

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/2496958/inverness-taxi-drivers-urged-to-reclaim-the-streets-following-pandemic/

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STAFFORDSHIRE

A terrified 11-year-old girl ran for her life after a taxi driver tried to lure her into his cab as she walked home in North Staffordshire.

The youngster was heading past Blythe Bridge train station, in Uttoxeter Road, when a car pulled up alongside her.

The cabbie - described as Asian with stubble and spiky black hair - then tried to persuade her to get in at around 5.30pm on Tuesday (September 15).

It is believed the same driver had approached the victim around an hour and 20 minutes earlier.

Sharing details of the incident on Facebook to warn other parents, her mum said: "My daughter came in and said that a taxi asked her to get in his car.

"He slowly drove up to her and she knew something was wrong. He also approached her a bit lower down the road too some time earlier.

"Please spread the word as I want to make other children aware.

"My daughter's fine and did the right thing by running straight home."

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/taxi-driver-tries-lure-schoolgirl-4523108

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BLACKBURN

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after some taxi drivers say that tens of thousands of pounds in payments made to cab firms during the coronavirus lockdown have not been passed to them.

The row centres on council contracts handed out to taxi firms to provide school transport for pupils.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/18717367.probe-launched-lockdown-taxi-payouts-blackburn/ 

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A Burton taxi driver has been left feeling "sour and angry" over problems at Burton Railway Station.

Nabil Razzak says has been left out of pocket and lost customers after problems with parking at the train station in town.

He told Burton Live he pays £525 to East Midlands Railway, which runs the station, for a permit to operate there.

Last year, when train operator Network Rail undertook a major revamp of the forecourt, Mr Razzak says he was told it would take five weeks.

But it ended taking for six months, which caused a "drastic reduction" in drivers' income as he had to away from the station.

Mr Razzak, who has been operating in Burton for nine years, says drivers were told to park in Borough Road while the work was being carried out.

But parking wardens warned them they faced fines if they continued to park there..

They were then moved onto the bridge outside the station at the bus stop, but there there was only space for five vehicles when 29 drivers have permits.

Mr Razzak, of Envoy Taxis, says he was given no compensation or refund for the loss of trade he experienced, but the price of the permits have been frozen for two years.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/angry-taxi-driver-demands-compensation-4520791

Ex Manchester Policeman

An ex-policeman who quit the force after admitting abducting a schoolgirl has won a battle to become a taxi driver 13 years after his conviction.

Imran Ali lured a 15-year-old and another girl into a vehicle after a night out in Manchester city centre in 2006.

The following year, the 39-year-old pleaded guilty to abducting a child under 16 at Preston Crown Court and resigned from the force having been based at Didsbury police station at the time of the offence.

Ali, of Merston Drive, Manchester, then applied for a private hire licence from Sefton Council in Merseyside earlier this year, even though he lived some 40 miles away.

Town hall chiefs turned down his application as he 'was not a fit and proper person', adding that 'driving a taxi is a privilege', the Liverpool Echo reports. 

Ali then appealed the decision at South Sefton Magistrates Court where Trading Standards Officer Mark Toohey said the panel had to consider 'whether or not we would be satisfied with a member of our family getting into the vehicle with this person driving. And in this case we would not be.'

However, the court was told the applicant was remorseful and rehabilitated, having worked to deliver food parcels to the needy during the coronavirus pandemic - an act which has seen him nominated for a number of awards.

He added that he was managing three different charities, had built up a property portfolio with 43 tenants and recently qualified as a civil engineer.

When asked why he wanted to drive a taxi considering his other employment experience, Ali said it was due to the flexible working hours, which would help him be able to study for another year for a degree.

He added that the waiting list for a private hire licence was much shorter in Sefton than in Manchester, which he suggested was more important than the distance from his home. 

The council follows a set of guidelines when it comes to granting licences, with individuals involved in an assault with a child given as an example of a situation that would require at least a ten year wait before such permission could be granted.

However, there is no such guidance on child abduction, as such cases come up so rarely, Mr Toohey said.

Having heard the evidence, the court reversed the council's decision and granted Ali his licence.

Magistrate Keith Elford said: 'Mr Ali's conviction dates back more than 14 years. Since then, he has successfully built a business portfolio and achieved qualifications, as well as starting a family. 

'During the Covid-19 pandemic, he has contributed significantly to the welfare of his local community.

'Sefton Council could not set a precedent for this type of offence. He is a fit and proper person for a taxi driver licence.'

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news