LIVERPOOL
A man who was found injured in Aintree this evening is believed to have “fallen out of a taxi window“.
The man, who police said was in his 20s, was found shortly before 5pm on Warbreck Moor having suffered a head injury.
Police are attempting to trace the driver of a black Hackney cab following the incident.
An eyewitness, who claims to have seen the incident, told The ECHO that the man had fallen through the window of the taxi before being found on the footpath.
He said: “It looked like he fell through the window of a black cab before landing on the pavement.
“He was in a bad way, bleeding from his head, it looked really serious.”
The taxi was believed to have been travelling in the direction of Walton Vale when the incident happened.
The injured man was taken to hospital for assessment and his condition is described as stable.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “Detectives would like to trace the driver of a black Hackney cab.
“It is believed that the injured man may have been a passenger in the taxi prior to suffering his injury.”
A man at the scene said he found the victim lying on footpath.
He told the ECHO: “He was lying face down with his head on his arm. I asked him was he ok but realised he was bleeding from the head.
“I rang the ambulance for him but left when they arrived as I didn’t want to crowd them.
“I don’t know how long he’d been lying there.”
Detective Inspector Steve McGrath said: “At this stage we are trying to establish the circumstances leading up to the man being found with a head injury.
“As part of the investigation we want to trace the driver of a black Hackney cab which was heading from the Aintree area towards the city centre at approximately 4.50pm.
http://bit.ly/2CfPk9k
----------------------------------------------
LONDON
The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association brought a private prosecution against a driver who was licensed as a private hire driver by Transport for London, claiming that he was plying for hire. The Association had employed two private detectives in what they claimed was a “sting” operation.
The basis for the sting was that one of them booked the driver through the app and then took a ride, while the other filmed the operation. The gravamen of the prosecution was that the ability to see a car on the app meant that the car was plying for hire.
The Defendant’s case was that driving in accordance with the Uber app is obviously not plying for hire.
The Defendant’s legal team then requested the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to take over the prosecution and discontinue it. This power is given to the CPS under section 6(2) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. It is very rarely exercised.
In this case, however, the CPS did decide to take over the prosecution and discontinue it. The prosecution was, therefore, nipped in the bud.
The case shows that the CPS will in fact intervene in unwarranted private prosecutions, of which this was one.
Philip Kolvin QC acted for the Defendant, instructed by Woods Whur Solicitors.
http://bit.ly/2pL2pVD
------------------------------------
NOTTINGHAM/GEDLING
Council bosses have sent out a hard hitting letter to 1,000 taxi drivers warning them that if they are caught picking up passengers illegally they will be prosecuted and could lose their license.
Gedling Borough Council has sent out the letter after a late night sting was carried out by the Post and Nottingham City Council’s head of licensing.
In just one hour, 15 drivers were caught picking up customers illegally, the majority had their licences issued in Gedling.
The city council's licensing team are targeting drivers who obtain private hire licences from other councils such as Gedling and then 'tout' for business - also known as 'plying for hire' - on the streets of Nottingham.
Private hire vehicles may only pick up passengers when pre-booked, rather than from a rank or being hailed down like a city hackney cab.
But the city council says around 200 are regularly breaking the law and putting the public at risk, with a small minority using their cover to commit serious crimes such as sexual assaults.
Other offences committed by illegal drivers include not setting the meter, charging high prices, and leaving the passenger uninsured if an accident was to occur while in the vehicle.
Gedling Borough Council says the warning letter comes after the Post and Nottingham City Council carried out a late night investigation this month and found a small number of Gedling Borough Council plated vehicles picking up customers in the city who had not pre-booked - which is illegal.
Councillor David Ellis from Gedling Borough Council with the letter sent out to taxi drivers.
The letter, issued to 1,000 licenced drivers, reminds drivers that they must only pick up pre-booked passengers outside of the Gedling boundary.
It also reminds them that if they pick up illegally they are also invalidating their insurance and, if caught, they will be summoned to appear at the licencing committee where they could lose their licence.
Councillor David Ellis, portfolio holder for public protection for Gedling, said: "We have been working with our colleagues at Nottingham city to ensure that all of our drivers are conducting themselves properly and many do, however, this recent exercise has highlighted that some drivers are not following the rules and we are being very clear that if they are caught, they could lose their licence.
"We also must make sure that when passengers flag down a taxi that they can be sure that it is insured and safe, that’s the most important thing here.”
Head of licensing for Nottingham City Council Richard Antcliffe said this was "positive news" and would help drive down illegal taxi drivers.
He said: "We have been in contact with Gedling following the revelations and they have said they will support us.
"After Christmas they have said they will do more joint operations and stings with us, the next step is for both licensing authorities to go out together and tackle this so that Gedling understands the full scale of the problem. We hope that we keep the momentum. If you take your eye off it you are back to square one."
http://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/around-1000-taxi-drivers-warned-957100
---------------------------------------
NEW YORK
Uber, the ride-hailing company, has had a bad year — capped off this month by the murder of a British diplomat by an on-duty Uber driver, and, less tragically, a European court determination that it’s a transportation company, not a tech company. Uber’s woes wouldn’t be a surprise to the company’s investors if they hadn’t assumed that technical innovation equals financial success.
In New York, Uber has improved the quality of life for people who live far from mass transit and where traditional yellow cabs don’t want to go. It’s also convenient for Manhattanites who don’t want to chance waiting for a cab, particularly at rush hour.
None of this, though, guarantees a payoff for the global investors who valued the company at $69 billion early this year. Tech is colliding with the real world — and the real world, for the moment, is winning, with Uber’s value down an estimated 30 percent in the past few months.
Uber’s first problem is government power. For all its pretensions otherwise, Uber is nothing new: It is, as the European Court just ruled and as New York City has long held, a for-hire car service, subject to all the local rules around the world that govern such services.
The fact that Uber makes taking a car easier and cheaper actually means it needs more regulation, not less. As Bruce Scaller, former deputy traffic commissioner at the city’s Transportation Department, just noted in a report out last week, cheaper and more plentiful cars have caused oversaturation.
According to Scaller, although total taxi and for-hire car trips in Manhattan’s central business district increased by 15 percent on the average weekday between June 2013 and June 2017, total mileage for these cars in the same area increased by 36 percent.
The number of taxi and for-hire vehicles increased by 59 percent, but the number of unoccupied vehicles increased by 81 percent, with each for-hire driver waiting 11 minutes between fares. During the afternoon rush, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., 10,000 for-hire vehicles are trawling Manhattan. Taxis and other for-hire cars now account for more than half of daytime traffic on major avenues.
The conclusion: The only way Uber and its competitors can make each trip so convenient for its passengers is to flood the streets with empty cars. You may not wait standing on the street for a cab, but now you wait on the street in a black car, behind all of those other black cars.
This situation won’t last forever. When Gov. Cuomo unveils his congestion-pricing plan next month, as expected, he’s going to have to tackle Manhattan’s idle Ubers. Roughly the same problem — and solution — exists in other dense cities, Uber’s most lucrative markets.
Uber’s second problem, paradoxically, is government weakness. For all of its promise that algorithmic solutions would reduce the need for government-required background checks, Uber needs such checks to keep its customers safe. The driver in Lebanon who strangled British diplomat Rebecca Dykes passed a government-mandated background check despite a criminal record.
Places where Uber wants to grow and provide a genuinely needed service — a safe ride home — are also places where fake documents, corruption and unsolved crimes are rife.
Uber also has more than its fair share of terrorists in the West, from the driver who committed a sword attack at Buckingham Palace this summer to New York’s bike-path killer, who had previously worked for the service.
Uber’s biggest problem, though, is that its technology is not that special. The company has formidable competitors, from Lyft at home to Gett in Britain to Didi in China, which has already won the battle for market share there.
Allegations that Uber stole trade secrets and spied on rivals aren’t just indications of the company’s poor culture. They also suggest the company is desperate for some advantage.
All this is why Uber lost nearly $1.5 billion last quarter alone, with no indication that it will stop losing money.
It’s a risk of capitalism that the world’s savviest investors, from the Saudi Arabian sovereign-wealth fund to the wealthy clients of Goldman Sachs, didn’t grasp. Uber spawned e-hailing — but e-hailing could well outlast Uber.
http://nyp.st/2kZj9Dx
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Monday, 25 December 2017
Blackpool taxi driver robbed at knifepoint
The incident happened on the Yeadon Way service station at around 7.30pm. The attacker, a male with his face covered by a scarf, appeared at first to be a customer. But he forced the driver out of the taxi - an electric vehicle - after pulling a kitchen knife out and threatening him.
The male then got in the vehicle and drove off, resulting in a police pursuit of it down the M61 into the Greater Manchester area.
The police helicopter was scrambled and followed the stolen vehicle, reporting its progress from above. Police said the vehicle came to a halt in the Westhoughton area after it ran out of power at about 8.10pm.
A man was detained at the scene.
http://bit.ly/2zumdfm
Comment: Not much of a story, but, I noticed it was an electric Car, leading seller Nissan Leaf and it ran out of power after a 36 mile run at full speed.
What use is that for a Taxi Driver : FFS !
---------------------------------------
A cabbie was caught watching a pop video while driving in Derby.
Derbyshire police tweeted to say the man was caught watching it on his mobile phone while he had passengers in the car.
The taxi driver, who was issued with a ticket, was licensed by Gedling Borough Council.
That may infuriate some Derby taxi drivers as there is an ongoing controversy around some cabbies getting their licences from outside of the city.
Taxis and drivers licensed in Derby undergo checks and their vehicles are subject to tests by the authority.
But increased charges and the introduction of a points-based assessment scheme have led many drivers to look elsewhere for their licences.
The deregulation of taxis allows drivers to get their badges and licences elsewhere and still drive in Derby – weakening the city council’s control over them.
The police have said they will be letting Gedling Borough Council know about what happened with the pop video.
Imtiaz Choudhary commented on the police Twitter post, saying: "The truth is that the public have had bad experiences from these drivers so they treat all the other drivers with disrespect.
"This is unfair on the drivers licensed by Derby City Council who have passed an intense knowledge test to safely transport the public whereas these haven't."
It is not yet known exactly when the pop video incident happened although it was at some point on Saturday evening or Christmas Eve morning.
http://bit.ly/2ptNL4G
-----------------------------------------------------
MINICAB firm Uber have had their license to operate in Swindon renewed – despite making no moves to actually operate in the town.
The US company, which allows customers to book cars through an app and prices journeys based on demand, first applied for an operating license in the town in 2015.
The move was controversial at the time.
Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United Radio Cars, told the Adver: “We do have some concerns. People like their drivers to know the area but Uber drivers do not have to come from Swindon.
“This means any driver from anywhere can pick up in Swindon. Also, the drivers often do not realise the costs which Uber charge.”
A spokesman for V Cars said: “Competition is a good thing and we are confident of taking Uber on. But if Uber put their prices up between say 7am and 9am, drivers will understandably go and work for them to get a higher price.
“This will mean no other company can respond during this period so the customer ends up paying more.”
At the time, an Uber spokesman said: "Millions of people in fifteen towns and cities across the country now use our app to get a convenient, safe and affordable ride at the push of a button.
"For drivers who partner with us it's also a chance to be their own boss as they can decide when and where they work. We look forward to bringing Uber to many more towns and cities across the UK in the coming months."
Two years on from being granted its initial license, Uber are yet to take a single fare in Swindon.
Earlier this year, the trouble-hit firm lost its license to operate in London after Transport for London deemed it “unfit” to run a taxi service. It came amid concerns from unions and black cab drivers about working conditions for Uber drivers.
Uber have appealed against the decision.
Swindon Borough Council said that all new operators have a one year license reviewed after three months. Assuming there are no concerns, the minicab firm is then offered a five year license.
The borough said that they would want to monitor Uber “closely” for 12 months should they start operating in the town.
Uber was approached for comment.
http://bit.ly/2BoVClC
----------------------------------------------
Newcastle City Council's Licensing Authority has conducted a series of operations to target private hire and non-Newcastle licensed drivers who pick up illegally on the street.
The council says the problem gets worse at Christmas as more and more people visit the city.
Eight drivers were recently prosecuted, fined and ordered to pay legal costs after being caught during test purchase operations.
Anyone caught plying for trade illegally face fines, legal costs, victim surcharges and points on their licence, which in some cases can lead to them being disqualified from driving.
During an operation last night, licensing officer, Jonathan Bryce, stopped a taxi driver who had a license to operate in an area outside of Newcastle. He was parked in a loading bay and had no booking in place.
He could have been approached by a member of the public, he could have picked them up without a hiring in place and that’s what we aim to identify through our test purchase basis - we approach vehicles, we ask if they’re free and we go to a pre-determined location and we take formal action against them for not only the invalid insurance aspect, but also the unlicensed activity that takes place.
– JONATHAN BRYCE, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
More concerning for the police was that when they approached the driver they saw him viewing pornography on his phone.
PC Stu Dixon said this was concerning because it is "inappropriate" for a taxi driver to do this in a public place and "it's not the kind of behaviour we expect from a person who is taking our vulnerable people home from the city this evening".
City Centre Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Wykes explained incidents of this nature are the reason why the police are supporting the council in this operation. He said public safety is key.
It’s really important, of course, for the community to know they are getting into safe taxis, whether that be safety in respect of the standard of the vehicle that they’re getting into or safety in respect of the conduct of the driver and so this is really about confidence, its about protecting people, its about doing the right thing for the people here in the region.
– INSPECTOR STEVE WYKES, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE
In conjunction with Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the Traffic Unit more than 900 drivers have additionally been stopped and had their vehicles checked as part of operations in 2017.
Newcastle has a vibrant night-time economy which is something we are really proud of, but we want to make sure that the city is safe and ensure that people aren’t put at risk by travelling in unsafe and potentially unlicensed vehicles. Our message is simple: taxi drivers who put people at risk by working illegally will be prosecuted and could ultimately lose their livelihoods.
– CLLR NICK KEMP, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
http://bit.ly/2BCVdQW
The incident happened on the Yeadon Way service station at around 7.30pm. The attacker, a male with his face covered by a scarf, appeared at first to be a customer. But he forced the driver out of the taxi - an electric vehicle - after pulling a kitchen knife out and threatening him.
The male then got in the vehicle and drove off, resulting in a police pursuit of it down the M61 into the Greater Manchester area.
The police helicopter was scrambled and followed the stolen vehicle, reporting its progress from above. Police said the vehicle came to a halt in the Westhoughton area after it ran out of power at about 8.10pm.
A man was detained at the scene.
http://bit.ly/2zumdfm
Comment: Not much of a story, but, I noticed it was an electric Car, leading seller Nissan Leaf and it ran out of power after a 36 mile run at full speed.
What use is that for a Taxi Driver : FFS !
---------------------------------------
A cabbie was caught watching a pop video while driving in Derby.
Derbyshire police tweeted to say the man was caught watching it on his mobile phone while he had passengers in the car.
The taxi driver, who was issued with a ticket, was licensed by Gedling Borough Council.
That may infuriate some Derby taxi drivers as there is an ongoing controversy around some cabbies getting their licences from outside of the city.
Taxis and drivers licensed in Derby undergo checks and their vehicles are subject to tests by the authority.
But increased charges and the introduction of a points-based assessment scheme have led many drivers to look elsewhere for their licences.
The deregulation of taxis allows drivers to get their badges and licences elsewhere and still drive in Derby – weakening the city council’s control over them.
The police have said they will be letting Gedling Borough Council know about what happened with the pop video.
Imtiaz Choudhary commented on the police Twitter post, saying: "The truth is that the public have had bad experiences from these drivers so they treat all the other drivers with disrespect.
"This is unfair on the drivers licensed by Derby City Council who have passed an intense knowledge test to safely transport the public whereas these haven't."
It is not yet known exactly when the pop video incident happened although it was at some point on Saturday evening or Christmas Eve morning.
http://bit.ly/2ptNL4G
-----------------------------------------------------
MINICAB firm Uber have had their license to operate in Swindon renewed – despite making no moves to actually operate in the town.
The US company, which allows customers to book cars through an app and prices journeys based on demand, first applied for an operating license in the town in 2015.
The move was controversial at the time.
Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United Radio Cars, told the Adver: “We do have some concerns. People like their drivers to know the area but Uber drivers do not have to come from Swindon.
“This means any driver from anywhere can pick up in Swindon. Also, the drivers often do not realise the costs which Uber charge.”
A spokesman for V Cars said: “Competition is a good thing and we are confident of taking Uber on. But if Uber put their prices up between say 7am and 9am, drivers will understandably go and work for them to get a higher price.
“This will mean no other company can respond during this period so the customer ends up paying more.”
At the time, an Uber spokesman said: "Millions of people in fifteen towns and cities across the country now use our app to get a convenient, safe and affordable ride at the push of a button.
"For drivers who partner with us it's also a chance to be their own boss as they can decide when and where they work. We look forward to bringing Uber to many more towns and cities across the UK in the coming months."
Two years on from being granted its initial license, Uber are yet to take a single fare in Swindon.
Earlier this year, the trouble-hit firm lost its license to operate in London after Transport for London deemed it “unfit” to run a taxi service. It came amid concerns from unions and black cab drivers about working conditions for Uber drivers.
Uber have appealed against the decision.
Swindon Borough Council said that all new operators have a one year license reviewed after three months. Assuming there are no concerns, the minicab firm is then offered a five year license.
The borough said that they would want to monitor Uber “closely” for 12 months should they start operating in the town.
Uber was approached for comment.
http://bit.ly/2BoVClC
----------------------------------------------
Newcastle City Council's Licensing Authority has conducted a series of operations to target private hire and non-Newcastle licensed drivers who pick up illegally on the street.
The council says the problem gets worse at Christmas as more and more people visit the city.
Eight drivers were recently prosecuted, fined and ordered to pay legal costs after being caught during test purchase operations.
Anyone caught plying for trade illegally face fines, legal costs, victim surcharges and points on their licence, which in some cases can lead to them being disqualified from driving.
During an operation last night, licensing officer, Jonathan Bryce, stopped a taxi driver who had a license to operate in an area outside of Newcastle. He was parked in a loading bay and had no booking in place.
He could have been approached by a member of the public, he could have picked them up without a hiring in place and that’s what we aim to identify through our test purchase basis - we approach vehicles, we ask if they’re free and we go to a pre-determined location and we take formal action against them for not only the invalid insurance aspect, but also the unlicensed activity that takes place.
– JONATHAN BRYCE, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
More concerning for the police was that when they approached the driver they saw him viewing pornography on his phone.
PC Stu Dixon said this was concerning because it is "inappropriate" for a taxi driver to do this in a public place and "it's not the kind of behaviour we expect from a person who is taking our vulnerable people home from the city this evening".
City Centre Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Wykes explained incidents of this nature are the reason why the police are supporting the council in this operation. He said public safety is key.
It’s really important, of course, for the community to know they are getting into safe taxis, whether that be safety in respect of the standard of the vehicle that they’re getting into or safety in respect of the conduct of the driver and so this is really about confidence, its about protecting people, its about doing the right thing for the people here in the region.
– INSPECTOR STEVE WYKES, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE
In conjunction with Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the Traffic Unit more than 900 drivers have additionally been stopped and had their vehicles checked as part of operations in 2017.
Newcastle has a vibrant night-time economy which is something we are really proud of, but we want to make sure that the city is safe and ensure that people aren’t put at risk by travelling in unsafe and potentially unlicensed vehicles. Our message is simple: taxi drivers who put people at risk by working illegally will be prosecuted and could ultimately lose their livelihoods.
– CLLR NICK KEMP, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
http://bit.ly/2BCVdQW
Tuesday, 19 December 2017
Taxi drivers to donate £2,750 to Nottingham hospital children’s ward tomorrow
Big-hearted Nottingham hackney taxi drivers are donating £2,750 to the children’s ward at the city’s Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) tomorrow (Wednesday 20 December).
More than 500 licensed hackney carriage drivers – who are represented in a branch of Unite, the country’s largest union – have come together for the first time to donate money to the hospital’s Big Appeal for highly specialised diagnostic equipment that accurately identifies illness and disease at an earlier stage.
Unite branch secretary Kaleem Ashraf said: "Our drivers are local people and we are proud to serve our city. This time of year is about giving, doing our bit and showing that Nottingham is together. It’s a new initiative from the branch.
“Hackney cabs are a vital part of the city’s economy both day and night - keeping the city moving 24/7. Now Nottingham's hackney carriage drivers in association with Unite have decided they would like to give a little back to their local community.
“The cabbies are committed to making further contributions to other local charities in the future, while working closely in conjunction with the city council, as to the best way to direct any fund raising.”
Unite branch chairman Basheer Latif: "We all love Nottingham, and we all want what’s best for this city.
“Nottingham remains an inclusive place where all types of people and businesses can continue to prosper in the years to come. It is always nice to put something back and especially at this special time of year.
“Not everyone will be fortunate enough to spend time at home with their family and this is just something we wanted to do to make life a little easier for others."
Nottingham currently has 411 hackney cabs and over 500 drivers in the city. The cheque will be presented at the QMC tomorrow at 14:30.
ENDS
http://bit.ly/2kOMWxZ
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Unite press office is on: 020 3371 2065. Email: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org
-------------------------------------------------------------
BARCELONA T.O.A -V- UBERK IN EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
The EU's top court will decide on Wednesday if ride-hailing app Uber is an ordinary taxi company and should be regulated as such, in a decision that will be closely watched around the world.
The case is yet another thorn in the side for scandal-rocked Uber, which has drawn the fury of local taxi drivers and officials for flouting local regulations.
It also comes the same week as one of its drivers admitted to the attempted rape and murder of a British embassy worker coming home from a night out in Beirut, Lebanon.
Uber, the biggest name in the exploding gig economy, claims it is a mere service provider, connecting consumers with drivers in more than 600 cities.
But it has run into huge opposition from taxi companies and other competitors who say this allows it to dodge costly regulations such as training and licensing requirements for drivers and vehicles.
The case was brought by a taxi drivers' association in the Spanish city of Barcelona, where belief runs high that Uber is a taxi company that should be subject to rules governing such vehicles.
The court's senior advisor, Advocate General Maciej Szpunar agreed in an opinion in May arguing that Uber "whilst innovative, falls within the field of transport".
"Uber can thus be required to obtain the necessary licences and authorisations under national law," he said.
The company reacted sharply, saying the opinion would change little in practice and only harm innovation.
"To be considered a transport company will not change the regulations we are subject to in most European countries," a spokesman for Uber said.
"It will however hurt the necessary reform of outdated laws which prevent millions of Europeans being able to find a reliable ride with just one click," the spokesman said.
The opinions given by the ECJ's advocate generals -- its top lawyers -- are often followed by the court's judges.
Uber has had a rough ride in Spain, where a judge ruled in 2014 that its UberPop service risked breaking the law, leading to the Barcelona submission to the ECJ.
Early last year it decided to only operate a limited a version of its UberX service in Spain which uses licensed, professional drivers instead of the amateurs who had previously worked via the UberPop application.
Uber has already had problems with the law in several European countries, particularly France where the company was forced to overhaul its business model.
In November a labour court in London, where the company is threatened with losing its license, said it had to pay the drivers a minimum wage and give them paid leave.
Uber does not employ drivers or own vehicles, but instead relies on private contractors with their own cars, allowing them to run their own businesses.
Licensed taxi drivers meanwhile often have to undergo hundreds of hours of training, and they accuse Uber of endangering their jobs by using more affordable drivers who need only a GPS to get around.
http://bit.ly/2BlZkk0
Monday, 18 December 2017
UBERKS CAMBRIDGE RENEWAL: ANOTHER CONFLICT OF INTEREST ?
Cambridge unexpectedly renewed Uberks Operators License in that town this week.
Key submissions in that renewal were submitted by Uber's Barrister Phillip Kolvin Q.C.
Philip Kolvin QC: “One single sexual offence is one too many. Uber is wholly committed to doing everything it can to protect its passengers.
“Of course nobody with a history of sexual misconduct would be permitted to drive with Uber. However, there are people in society who commit sexual offences."
“If, heaven forfend, an Uber driver were to sexually assault somebody, there is a whole record of the journey. I can only tell you that Uber will work with authorities like yours to root out any instances of sexual assault."
Do passengers know who their driver is licensed by?
Philip Kolvin QC says that, by early 2018, there will be a feature in Uber to show people which authority (South Cambs / Cambridge City Council / London / elsewhere) granted the licence.
----------------------------------
All well and good everybody is entitled to representation, even Uberk, but not when it is the Lord Mayor of London's chosen;
London Night Time Commissioner
It would seem the Guardians revelations of September this year were not to far of the mark:
17 Sept 17
LBC has discovered that Sadiq Khan's Night Time Commissioner is representing three Uber drivers in a court case.
Pre-eminent barrister Philip Kolvin QC was appointed by the Mayor of London last December and advises on the project to make London a 24-hour city, bringing together pubs, nightclubs, the police and transport - including Uber.
But it now appears there could be a conflict of interest in Mr Kolvin’s role as Night Time Commissioner because he is representing Uber drivers in court, with those drivers are having their legal costs met by Uber.
Conservative MP and former Transport Minister Theresa Villiers says the London Mayor now needs to review the appointment. She told LBC: "I have concerns about what I've heard bout Philip Kolvin's involvement in defending Uber drivers in court.
"He's got a perfect right to do that, but I do worry that this gives him a conflict of interest regarding his role on the Mayor's Night Time Commission.
"I think the Mayor needs to look at the situation. I'm not sure it's really credible for Mr Kolvin to continue with these cases if he's going to continue with his role as Commissioner."
http://bit.ly/2oGGzSp
-------------------------------------------
Crunch talks between Leeds City Council and protesting private hire taxi drivers have been plunged into chaos thanks to internal squabbling and cancelled meetings.
Leeds city councillors seemingly pulled the plug on crunch talks with protesting taxi drivers at the eleventh hour, leaving drivers furious.
Asif Afzal, chair of the Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) and committee members said he had been due to meet with councillors at 9.30am on this morning (Monday), however when they arrived at the Civic Hall they were told the meeting had been called off.
However Leeds City Council said that the meeting had never been formally confirmed and that the authority had been contacted by the organisation, claiming that Mr Afsal had been replaced as chairman.
The organisation was established just two months ago to address problems private hire drivers are facing in the city and Mr Afsal said he has been chairman since the beginning.
It had been hoped the crunch talks would mean that more protests could be avoided in the lead up to Christmas following last Monday’s go-slow protest through the city.
http://bit.ly/2kihWqF
Cambridge unexpectedly renewed Uberks Operators License in that town this week.
Key submissions in that renewal were submitted by Uber's Barrister Phillip Kolvin Q.C.
Philip Kolvin QC: “One single sexual offence is one too many. Uber is wholly committed to doing everything it can to protect its passengers.
“Of course nobody with a history of sexual misconduct would be permitted to drive with Uber. However, there are people in society who commit sexual offences."
“If, heaven forfend, an Uber driver were to sexually assault somebody, there is a whole record of the journey. I can only tell you that Uber will work with authorities like yours to root out any instances of sexual assault."
Do passengers know who their driver is licensed by?
Philip Kolvin QC says that, by early 2018, there will be a feature in Uber to show people which authority (South Cambs / Cambridge City Council / London / elsewhere) granted the licence.
----------------------------------
All well and good everybody is entitled to representation, even Uberk, but not when it is the Lord Mayor of London's chosen;
London Night Time Commissioner
It would seem the Guardians revelations of September this year were not to far of the mark:
17 Sept 17
LBC has discovered that Sadiq Khan's Night Time Commissioner is representing three Uber drivers in a court case.
Pre-eminent barrister Philip Kolvin QC was appointed by the Mayor of London last December and advises on the project to make London a 24-hour city, bringing together pubs, nightclubs, the police and transport - including Uber.
But it now appears there could be a conflict of interest in Mr Kolvin’s role as Night Time Commissioner because he is representing Uber drivers in court, with those drivers are having their legal costs met by Uber.
Conservative MP and former Transport Minister Theresa Villiers says the London Mayor now needs to review the appointment. She told LBC: "I have concerns about what I've heard bout Philip Kolvin's involvement in defending Uber drivers in court.
"He's got a perfect right to do that, but I do worry that this gives him a conflict of interest regarding his role on the Mayor's Night Time Commission.
"I think the Mayor needs to look at the situation. I'm not sure it's really credible for Mr Kolvin to continue with these cases if he's going to continue with his role as Commissioner."
http://bit.ly/2oGGzSp
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Crunch talks between Leeds City Council and protesting private hire taxi drivers have been plunged into chaos thanks to internal squabbling and cancelled meetings.
Leeds city councillors seemingly pulled the plug on crunch talks with protesting taxi drivers at the eleventh hour, leaving drivers furious.
Asif Afzal, chair of the Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) and committee members said he had been due to meet with councillors at 9.30am on this morning (Monday), however when they arrived at the Civic Hall they were told the meeting had been called off.
However Leeds City Council said that the meeting had never been formally confirmed and that the authority had been contacted by the organisation, claiming that Mr Afsal had been replaced as chairman.
The organisation was established just two months ago to address problems private hire drivers are facing in the city and Mr Afsal said he has been chairman since the beginning.
It had been hoped the crunch talks would mean that more protests could be avoided in the lead up to Christmas following last Monday’s go-slow protest through the city.
http://bit.ly/2kihWqF
CAMBRIDGE RENEW UBERK'S LICENSE
FOR FIVE YEARS. W.T.F. !
LONDON (Reuters) - The British university city of Cambridge extended Uber’s operating license for five years on Monday in a boost to the taxi app which is battling to keep its cars on the road in London, its most important European market.
The decision comes a week after the northern English city of York refused to renew the Silicon Valley’s license, citing a data breach and a number of complaints, in a ruling the app has until Jan. 5 to appeal.
On Monday, local officials in Cambridge, eastern England, said the U.S. firm, valued at around $70 billion, will be able to keep operating for a further five years.
“We consider Uber to be a fit and proper operator,” said Councillor Gerri Bird, the chairwoman of Cambridge city council’s licensing committee.
In a statement, Uber’s Head of Cities for the UK Fred Jones welcomed the move:
“We’re delighted people in Cambridge can continue to use Uber,” he said. “For both licensed drivers and passengers in the area, the app brings more choice and control.”
Uber is fighting to keep operating in London where the city’s regulator said in September it was “not fit and proper” and stripped it of its license.
The company is appealing the decision and its cars can remain on the streets of the British capital city until an appeals process is exhausted, which could take years.
http://reut.rs/2zkXLQU
FOR FIVE YEARS. W.T.F. !
LONDON (Reuters) - The British university city of Cambridge extended Uber’s operating license for five years on Monday in a boost to the taxi app which is battling to keep its cars on the road in London, its most important European market.
The decision comes a week after the northern English city of York refused to renew the Silicon Valley’s license, citing a data breach and a number of complaints, in a ruling the app has until Jan. 5 to appeal.
On Monday, local officials in Cambridge, eastern England, said the U.S. firm, valued at around $70 billion, will be able to keep operating for a further five years.
“We consider Uber to be a fit and proper operator,” said Councillor Gerri Bird, the chairwoman of Cambridge city council’s licensing committee.
In a statement, Uber’s Head of Cities for the UK Fred Jones welcomed the move:
“We’re delighted people in Cambridge can continue to use Uber,” he said. “For both licensed drivers and passengers in the area, the app brings more choice and control.”
Uber is fighting to keep operating in London where the city’s regulator said in September it was “not fit and proper” and stripped it of its license.
The company is appealing the decision and its cars can remain on the streets of the British capital city until an appeals process is exhausted, which could take years.
http://reut.rs/2zkXLQU
Sunday, 17 December 2017
Uber users say they've been charged up to '12 times' more
It's traditionally the biggest party weekend of the year, as Christmas revellers all over the country hit the town.
But some have been waking up with more than just a hangover, as Uber users have complained about having to pay significantly more than usual in order to get home.
A host of social media users have taken to Twitter to criticise the surge pricing on the taxi app as the Christmas party season reached its peak.
In fact, one claimed he had seen rates as high as 12 times the usual amount in Camden on Saturday.
However, Uber has since denied that the surge pricing reached this level.
One woman described how her journey home cost nearly £100 more than the usual cost
Others said it was the 'biggest Uber suge' they had ever seen, with one man claiming he'd seen a surge that was 12x the normal rate
It comes after Uber was stripped of its permit in the capital by Transport for London
A spokesperson for the company said that the maximum surge charge in the area at the time the tweet was sent was twice the usual rate.
The app uses 'dynamic pricing', which causes fares to temporarily increase when demand is high and 'encourages more drivers to get on the road'.
Uber users are notified on the app when surge pricing is in place.
However, dozens of social media users have complained about the cost of their journeys over the festive period.
One wrote: 'Thanks for the 4.5x surge last night @Uber. my journey cost nearly £100 more than usual'.
http://dailym.ai/2ARlpmr
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It's traditionally the biggest party weekend of the year, as Christmas revellers all over the country hit the town.
But some have been waking up with more than just a hangover, as Uber users have complained about having to pay significantly more than usual in order to get home.
A host of social media users have taken to Twitter to criticise the surge pricing on the taxi app as the Christmas party season reached its peak.
In fact, one claimed he had seen rates as high as 12 times the usual amount in Camden on Saturday.
However, Uber has since denied that the surge pricing reached this level.
One woman described how her journey home cost nearly £100 more than the usual cost
Others said it was the 'biggest Uber suge' they had ever seen, with one man claiming he'd seen a surge that was 12x the normal rate
It comes after Uber was stripped of its permit in the capital by Transport for London
A spokesperson for the company said that the maximum surge charge in the area at the time the tweet was sent was twice the usual rate.
The app uses 'dynamic pricing', which causes fares to temporarily increase when demand is high and 'encourages more drivers to get on the road'.
Uber users are notified on the app when surge pricing is in place.
However, dozens of social media users have complained about the cost of their journeys over the festive period.
One wrote: 'Thanks for the 4.5x surge last night @Uber. my journey cost nearly £100 more than usual'.
http://dailym.ai/2ARlpmr
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Saturday, 16 December 2017
GETT TO EMPLOY UNLISENSED DRIVERS IN LONDON
https://www.appjobs.com/london/gett
Quote from advert:
Gett will suggest you customers in the closest proximity. All you have to do is pick them up and drive them to their destination.
Gett makes the sign up process extremely easy thanks to the user-friendly app. There are also hundreds of jobs that you can choose from! You can also receive bookings whenever you are available.
You will work in your own time without the hassle of getting a contract! You will receive easy payments when you are done, and keep all your tips!
Quote from advert:
Gett will suggest you customers in the closest proximity. All you have to do is pick them up and drive them to their destination.
Gett makes the sign up process extremely easy thanks to the user-friendly app. There are also hundreds of jobs that you can choose from! You can also receive bookings whenever you are available.
You will work in your own time without the hassle of getting a contract! You will receive easy payments when you are done, and keep all your tips!
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