A well timed press release from the Local Government Association

Vital efforts to protect children from criminals hiding behind their position as taxi drivers to commit sex offences are being hampered by new restrictions on crucial background checks, councils warn.

The Local Government Association said police forces across the country are no longer providing information to councils on criminal investigations involving prospective taxi drivers because of a dispute between the Home Office and police on whether it is lawful.

Some councils have also been told by the Disclosure and Barring Service that they can no longer check whether a prospective taxi driver has been barred from working with children or vulnerable adults unless they work on a school transport contract.

It comes as government's plans to extend the duration of taxi licences from one to three years will return to Parliament today as part of the Deregulation Bill.

The LGA is warning that forcing councils to issue longer licences without access to vital intelligence on applicants could put children and vulnerable people at greater risk of becoming victims of sex crimes, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and trafficking from organised gangs.

It is calling for the clauses in the Deregulation Bill to be deleted and a comprehensive reform of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing undertaken, based on the Law Commission's report last year.

The LGA also demands a guarantee from the Department of Transport and the Home Office that access to this vital information will be immediately returned and maintained in the future, without risk of it being removed again.

Cllr Ann Lucas OBE, Chair of the LGA's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: "Extending the length of taxi licences without ensuring councils can keep carrying out robust checks risks putting children and vulnerable people at risk.

"Recent child sex abuse cases in Rotherham and Rochdale are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of some passengers.

"CSE is a terrible crime with destructive and far reaching consequences for victims, their families, and society and councils are determined that nothing like this can be allowed to happen again. That is why we are extremely alarmed at actually being given less access to information about who is applying for a taxi licence.

"Taxi drivers routinely work with vulnerable adults and children as part of their daily work, regardless of whether they have a school contract or not. It is imperative that councils can keep checking applicants against barred lists and be able to find out if they are under criminal investigation.

"The consequence could be councils unknowingly granting licences to people investigated for sexual offences and only finding out three years later when the driver renews the licence and has the conviction flagged up.

"As we know, the consequences for someone entering a taxi where the driver has not been adequately vetted by the council can be devastating. We should not be doing anything that increases the chances of that happening."

ENDS

http://goo.gl/7yjUxK
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EIRE

More than 1,700 taxi drivers quit their jobs last year as the number of taxi driver licences in Ireland fell below 30,000 for the first time in a decade.

Data from the National Transport Authority (NTA) shows there were 1,729 fewer taxi licence holders at the end of 2014 compared to 12 months earlier.

It means the number of people working in the sector has declined by 38% since 2009, when the figure peaked at more than 47,200 drivers following deregulation of the industry in 2000.

More than 17,800 drivers have now been part of an exodus from the profession in the past six years.

However, the decline in the number of taxi drivers is regarded by one taxi representative group as a sign of growth in the economy and improved job creation.

“You’ll find that a lot of guys, including many from the construction industry, came into the taxi industry in desperation during the downturn,” said Eoin Candon, spokesman of the National Taxi Driver Association. “With the pick-up in the economy, many of them are now going back to their old jobs.”

Mr Candon said the falling number of drivers, combined with an effective cap on new licences which are restricted to drivers with wheelchair accessible vehicles, was welcomed by those in the sector.

“There have been problems of over-supply, particularly in Dublin, and these trends are definitely improving the viability of work as a taxi driver,” he said.

There were 353 fewer taxis operating in 2014 compared to the previous year, with 21,547 vehicles licensed as taxis at the end of December.

All counties saw a fall in the size of their taxi fleet with the exception of Meath, Sligo, and Monaghan. An extra 30 taxi plates were issued in Meath during 2014, bringing the number of taxis in the county to 1,152 — the third highest number after Dublin and Cork.

Although Dublin accounts for more than half of all taxis in the country, the number of taxis in the capital fell by 456 cabs during 2014, or 4% of the city’s taxi fleet of almost 11,000 vehicles. In Cork, there were 63 fewer taxis at the end of last year, leaving 1,929 still operating.

Not surprisingly, Dublin has the highest concentration of taxis, with more than eight vehicles per 1,000 people, followed by Meath, Louth, and Kildare. Cork has 3.7 taxis per 1,000 people.

Meanwhile, the number of fines imposed on taxi drivers for breaching regulations soared by 64% last year.

The NTA said the surge in fines imposed on taxi drivers was a direct result of a trebling in the number of compliance officers, who carried out more than 28,000 spot checks during 2014.

The extra NTA staff led to 1,369 fixed charge penalties being issued last year. Individual fines can range from €40 to €250.

More than half the fines related to the failure by drivers to display details of the taxi in their cab, while 262 drivers were fined for having their vehicles for hire at an unauthorised location.

Taxi drivers say increased business was a factor in the 28% rise in complaints against taxi drivers last year. A total of 952 complaints were made against taxi drivers last year — an increase of 210 compared to 2013. Almost half the complaints contained criticism of the conduct of taxi drivers, while a third of cases were in relation to fares, including allegations of overcharging.

Another 113 complaints were about the actual hiring of a taxi, while 47 complaints related to the condition and cleanliness of the vehicle.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/mhkfaueycwau/rss2/

LONDON

A black cab driver who sexually assaulted two young women who fell asleep in his taxi may have preyed on more victims, police fear.

David Perry, of Gayton House in Bow, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted rape, one count of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault against one victim and one count of sexual assault on a second victim today.

The attacks took place in January 2013 in north London and May last year in east London.

Both offences were committed in the early hours of the morning against women in their 20s who had been out socialising before getting into Perry's cab and falling asleep. When they woke up they each found him assaulting them in the two attacks.

Police linked DNA from both crimes to the same offender but it did not match any existing profiles on the database.

In August last year the black London taxi registered to Perry was identified as a vehicle of interest.

The 52-year-old, who has no previous convictions, was arrested and his DNA was matched to both attacks.

Perry has been a cab driver for 25 years and police appealed for any other potential victims to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Price said: "Perry, as the driver of an iconic black taxi, was in a position of trust. Sadly, he breached that trust by targeting women who he perceived to be vulnerable.

"Thankfully, those women came forward and reported him to the police. Today, I must praise them both for their strength and determination to see him brought to justice.

"Perry was a taxi driver for some 25 years and I must consider the possibility he may have committed other offences that have not been reported to the police.

"As part of this investigation we have made detailed enquiries into his past and eliminated unsolved cases from this enquiry.

"I would now appeal directly to anyone, who as a result of this case, thinks they may have been raped or assaulted by Perry.

"I would like to reassure anyone worried about coming forward that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and specially trained officers will be available to listen to them and support them through each step."

Perry pleaded guilty on what would have been the first day of a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London.

He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing next month.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/black-cab-driver-admits-sexually-assaulting-women-who-fell-asleep-in-the-back-of-his-taxi-10019253.html

POST OFFICE BUY RATES THIS WEEK

Be careful taking Euro's this week gang.

Euro's have fallen to 66 pence each (Post Office Buy Rate)

USD is steady at 59 pence each. (P.O. buy Rate)

Do not fall for Tourist rates listed in Daily papers.

NISSAN ELECTRIC NV200

A Cornish cab driver has hailed a Burnley firm – after becoming one of the first people in the UK to take delivery of a new Nissan electric taxi.

Mark Richards clocked up more than 700 miles when he made the round trip from St Austell in Cornwall to the Chorley Group’s Nissan dealership in Westgate, Burnley.

But the taxi boss didn’t need to worry about his meter racking up a bill on the return journey because his all-electric new motor costs just 2p a mile to run.

The Chorley Group are one of the first Nissan dealers in the country to sell the new e-NV200 taxi.

Mark, who works for C&C Taxis in St Austell, said: “We’ve been using Nissan Leafs for a while now.

“The e-NV200 will have paid for itself in savings within a few years and it is much better for the environment than the big carriers we use at the minute.”

Andy Lloyd, general manager of the Chorley Group’s Burnley dealership, said the company had invested a lot of money in electric vehicle technology over the last 18 months and that demand was constantly growing.

http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/business/local-business/taxi-boss-in-700-mile-round-trip-to-pick-up-electric-car-1-7081386

Comment: I do not know how long it took him to get home to Burnley from Cornwall.
A recent study of electric cars shows that the Nissan leaf performs the best and that only has an effective range of 76 miles.

That is why Electric Cabs will not work, hybrids might however.

A GROUP of Exeter taxi drivers are considering legal action against the city council over plans to remove restrictions on the number of hackney carriages.

Councillors will decide on proposals to de-restrict the quantity of cabbies allowed to collect passengers from the city’s 10 taxi ranks and be hailed in the street.

Some cabbies fear their livelihoods would be destroyed if the plans are given the go-ahead at a meeting on Tuesday.

The Exeter St David’s Taxi Association will seek a judicial review in court if the licensing committee rules for an increase on the current limit of 66 licensed hackneys.

In a ‘warning’ letter to the council, Terry Falcao of Stephens Scown solicitors, said: “The instruction to me is unequivocal: to resist at all costs and to take such legal steps as are necessary to ensure that a fair and legally compliant process is followed in relation to any steps to deregulate taxis in Exeter.

“The council should think carefully before it changes a system for which there is no evidence that it is failing, that it does not pass the public benefit test, or that there is unmet demand.”

Hassan Al-Seaidy, who owns two Hackney carriage plates in Exeter, warned removing quantity restrictions would “open the floodgates” for drivers to get plates.

Drivers fear they would not be able to earn enough money to stay in business, because custom would be spread more thinly.

Nick Holladay, chairman of Exeter Taxi Association said: “By de-restricting the council can put into place new conditions making standards similar to London cabs.

“But with more vehicles on the road drivers are going to take less money. And with more vehicles available to drive the cost of rental will come down, meaning owners will get less income.”

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw said he had “serious concerns” about the possibility of de-restriction after a Law Commission report concluded there was a ‘lack of empirical’ evidence of the benefits.

The licensing committee will also decide a related bid to impose new quality criteria for taxis, including a distinctive colour scheme, in-cab CCTV, improved wheelchair access and low-emission vehicles.

The council said the enhanced standards would improve standards and prevent any negative impact from de-restriction.

If approved, the new policies would come into effect on May 4. The council began a public consultation in July 2014 to decide whether to remove the policy of restriction in a ‘managed’ way.

A spokesman said: “A report is tabled for Licensing Committee on February 3 in respect of the outcome of this consultation. And while the strong interest of the 60 proprietors is acknowledged, there are also the interests of other stakeholders such as the 309 licensed taxi drivers, the many users of taxis and the wider public interest to take into account.

“The licensing committee will be considering these matters very carefully before making a decision on the matter.”

http://goo.gl/V8wrS2

I really would find this hilarious, were it not for the fact it is yet another young Lady has been raped in a Minicab, bogus or otherwise.

When this sick pervert gets released, when he undoubtedly gets another PH License (do not want to jeopardise his Human rights)
he must inform all single females getting into his car he is a convicted rapist.

I am sure his future passengers will be reassured and have a comfortable ride home.
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An illegal taxi driver has been jailed for 10 years for raping a young woman put in his cab by her friend who wanted to make sure she got home safely. 

Abdel Baisar, 34, picked up his victim in the early hours of June 20 last year in Leicester Square, central London after she was on a night out with friends.

Baisar, who already had a conviction for taxi-touting, was driving in the area when he picked up the victim.

He drove the woman to her address in south east London and then attacked her.

The victim woke up to discover she had been raped.

Baisar was traced through a match on the National DNA database and arrested on July 16. He was charged the following day.

Baisar of Tulse Hill, south London pleaded not guilty to the offence but the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court after being found guilty of rape on January 19.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for life.

In the unlikely event he is ever granted a minicab licence again, the court ruled he must declare himself a convicted rapist to any single female fares.

Detective Constable Mark Azariah of the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: 'I would like to praise the bravery of the victim in coming forward to the police in this distressing case and supporting the investigation.
'I would urge anyone to come forward to the police in such cases and work with us to convict these predatory males who target women when they are at their most vulnerable.

'I hope that the sentence handed down by the Judge goes some way in helping the victim recover from this ordeal.' 

http://goo.gl/XKKjLd

Deregulation Bill, Amendment to be moved on report.