Source: Warrington Guardian

PINK Ladies have likened the company’s battle for women’s rights to the work of suffragette Emily Pankurst. Andrea Winders, co-director of the non-profit making business, said the staff feel a little like the woman’s activist after fighting for the rights of women in an ‘archaic legal framework’.

The comments follow Pink Ladies’ showdown against Warrington Borough Council on Friday when they fought to overturn convictions handed by District Judge Ross in July.

But Judge David Hale upheld the district judge’s decision that Mrs Winders and Tina Dutton, co-director, were operating an unlicensed private hire company and threw out claims that Pink Ladies was a members club.

Mrs Winders said: “Since its inception Pink Ladies has insisted that it is not a taxi firm and are pleased to have found legislation that fits the operation. It is unfortunate that this form of licence has only come into play since April 2009, as it would have made things much simpler. ”

Following last year’s court case, the organisation secured licensing under Vehicle and Operator Services Agency standards (VOSA) – a Government agency – rather than the local authority.

Mrs Winders said requests to meet with Warrington Borough Council to work with them have been declined for the past six months. She said if the council could work with Pink Ladies it could have saved a lot of money during cash strapped times.

She added: “The judge’s decision does not affect the operation of Pink Ladies, it is more of a personal nature, which is the only reason why we issued this challenge – we would like to clear our names.”

David Boyer, head of sustainable transport at the council, said: “We’re pleased that our case has been upheld. It is important that the council is seen to uphold the law at it relates to taxi and private hire operations.“ Legislation requires those operating and driving taxis and private hire vehicles to undergo regular police and medical checks, maintain and service vehicles at least twice a year to a standard higher that the normal MOT test.

The council said it welcomes the fact that Pink Ladies is regulated by VOSA. Mrs Winders and Mrs Dutton were ordered to each pay £3,000 legal costs.

Source: Asian News

A PRIVATE hire taxi driver who tried to pick up revellers following one of this summer’s Oasis concerts at Heaton Park has been ordered to pay more than £2,500.

Biswajit Pal, aged 44, of Farrant Road in Longsight, was found guilty in his absence after failing to turn up to a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, December 16.

He was fined £500 for the plying-for-hire offence, £1,000 for having no insurance and £1,066.11 costs with a £15 victims of crime surcharge – a total of £2,581.

Private hire journeys have to be pre-booked through an operator and are not insured if a driver stops to pick up passengers on the street without a booking.

Pal also received eight penalty points on his driving licence for the offence, and will now have to appear before a Manchester City Council licensing panel, for them to review whether he is a fit and proper person to drive private hire vehicles.

Council licensing officers spotted Pal pull over to pick up two female passengers on Middleton Road, following the concert on Sunday, June 7, and offer to take them into the city centre for £20 – around twice the normal rate.

The officer then identified himself to the driver and the two women walked away, saying they thought the driver was trying to rip them off.

Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “This summer’s Oasis concerts saw 70,000 leave Heaton Park each night, and unfortunately there were taxi drivers who attempted to exploit people as they tried to get home.

“Our licensing officers were out in force during each of the nights looking out for private hire drivers who were trying to illegally pick people up from the street – meaning passengers wouldn’t have been insured if the vehicle was involved in an accident.

“This case should reassure residents that we do prosecute illegal drivers who operate with no regard for their customers’ safety, and should also serve as a warning to any private hire drivers who want to risk receiving a large fine for the sake of a fare.

“Over the Christmas period we expect demand for taxis and private hire vehicles to be high and we would encourage the public to plan their journeys. If people are intending to use private hire vehicles please book them in advance so the vehicles and drivers are fully insured. Black cab taxis can be picked up in the city at taxi ranks or hailed in the street.”

Source: Metropolitan Police Service

The Metropolitan police service’s cab enforcement unit, part of the Transport for London-funded Safer Transport Command, made forty arrests during a recent covert operation earlier this month

Cab enforcement unit officers patrolled touting hotspots in central London locations such as the Haymarket and in prevalent areas in south London.

They dealt with touting, illegal operating, illegal plying for hire, and unlicensed drivers and vehicles. This is not only to ensure compliance with regulations but most importantly to enhance the safety of the travelling public.

Officers used specialist undercover tactics to catch touts red handed. The operation was not only successful in arresting illegal touts, but also acquired valuable intelligence.

Cab enforcement operations are carried out on a regular basis in line with current intelligence on touting behaviour. More than a dozen operations have taken place in the last two months to tackle illegal cabs and touting across London.

Mayor Boris Johnson has taken a tough line on touting, and any licensed private hire driver convicted of touting will now lose their Public Carriage Office driver’s licence. He also doubled the number of dedicated cab enforcement officers in the capital by employing another thirty-four officers. The cab enforcement unit has made over 5500 arrests for touting and cab-related offences since 2003.

Chief superintendent Joe Royle from the Safer Transport Command, said: ‘We are working together with our policing partners to keep London moving safely by further driving down crime and the fear of crime.

‘Illegal cabs and touting undermines the legitimate cab trade and raises the fear of crime.

‘The Safer Transport Command regularly targets policing activity on unlicensed and uninsured vehicles, and carries out major operations targeting offenders who pose as taxi or minicab drivers.

‘The safety of the public is paramount and I would advise everyone not to get into any vehicle that they have not booked and always book a cab through a reputable PCO licensed company.’

Steve Burton, director of community safety enforcement and policing, said: ‘Dealing with illegal cabs and touting in London is a priority for TfL as we are committed to getting Londoners home safely and supporting the law abiding drivers in the taxi and private hire trades.

‘TfL funds sixty-eight dedicated cab enforcement officers in both the Metropolitan police service and the City of London police who carry out regular covert and high visibility operations to deter and apprehend illegal cab drivers.

‘It is also worth remembering that only taxis (black cabs) can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank without booking. Any minicab journey that hasn’t been booked through a licensed operator is illegal uninsured and unsafe.’

Source: South Yorkshire Star

TWO South Yorkshire drivers and a private hire taxi operator have been fined for running unlicensed vehicles. Michelle Greaves, aged 40, of Probert Avenue, Goldthorpe, proprietor of D&M Cars, pleaded guilty at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court to using an unlicensed private hire vehicle and driver.

Driver Ricky Dobson, 24, also of Probert Avenue, Goldthorpe, pleaded guilty to driving an unlicensed vehicle and not holding a private hire driver’s licence. Greaves and Dobson were each fined £115, ordered to pay costs of £187 and a victim surcharge of £15, making a total of £317 each. They also received six points on their driving licences.

Also in court was Michael Moore, 41, of Wombwell Avenue, New Hill, Wath, who was charged with driving without a private hire driver’s licence. He pleaded guilty and was fined £490, plus £356.62 costs and a £15 victim surcharge - a total of £861.62.

Coun Charles Wraith, chairman of the General Regulatory Licensing Board, said: “Unlicensed vehicles and drivers do not have the required checks carried out by Barnsley Council to ensure they are safe for the public to use, therefore they put members of the public at significant risk.

“Where a vehicle is driven illegally, insurance is void and if it is involved in an accident the passengers would also be uninsured. “These breaches of the legislation are totally unacceptable and the council’s enforcement staff will continue to work with the trade in Barnsley to ensure illegal drivers, vehicles and operators are removed from the streets and that the safety of the travelling public is improved.”

Coun Wraith praised the council’s enforcement staff for their hard work in securing the prosecutions and members of the trade who continued to assist the council by providing information on illegal vehicles and drivers.

Source: Leamington Observer

Police have been accused of ignorance and laziness for failing to take seriously the concerns of Leamington taxi drivers about a man who went on to rape a 17-year-old boy.

Whitnash resident Huseyin Cakmak, 48, of Moorhill Road, was found guilty of falsely imprisoning and raping the teenager in a company car park on the Heathcote Industrial Estate after offering him a lift home in the early hours of the morning last November.

But Dil Ramzan, who contacted the Observer on behalf of a group of fellow Hackney carriage drivers in Leamington, said that at the time they had warned police and the council on numerous occasions about the delivery driver illegally plying for hire as a taxi.

Mr Ramzan added: “We would watch him floating around the town trying to pick up drunk and vulnerable people.

“We telephoned the police alerting them to the potential danger and they bounced us back to the district council licensing team, which in turn then directed us to the police.

“It certainly angers any parent to think that dangerous individuals are still at large even after being reported to the authorities.

“As a result we have a young individual whose life is devastated.”

Cakmak, who had denied the charges, was found guilty by a jury at Warwick Crown Court and remanded in custody to be sentenced at a later date.

A spokesman for Warwick District Council said that because the vehicle was not a licensed taxi the enforcement powers would be with police.

A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said: “All information provided to the police by members of the public is considered by our trained Communications Centre staff and the appropriate action taken.

“If this was simply a report of an unlicensed “taxi” then we would normally direct the caller to the relevant licensing authority, such as Warwick District Council.

“If however there was specific information to suggest concerns regarding public safety and risk to our communities then we would risk assess the call and respond accordingly.

“If the taxi drivers feel that the information they provided was not dealt with appropriately they should contact the Communications Centre chief inspector with the dates and times when the calls were made in order that a review can be undertaken.”

Source: Essex Echo

A MAN who operated an unlicensed taxi-cab in Southend has been fined £1,000.

Edward Bridgland, 37, of Brunswick Road, South-end, said he was so broke that he was forced to drive around the town, picking up customers to make ends meet.

He pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates’ Court to driving without insurance and plying for hire without a Hackney carriage licence.

Bridgland was caught driving passengers in the town on Friday, June 12, after legitimate cabbies reported him.

Representing himself, he admitted: “I was skint. It’s not a full defence. The insurance was total neglect. It was just so difficult to get insurance on that car.

“I have insurance now and it has cost me a hell of a lot more than I earned as an illegal taxi driver. I understand you may ban me, which may, in effect, make me lose my job.”

Passing sentence, chairman of the bench Colin Campbell said: “We actually view these offences very seriously indeed. You had no insurance and you were carrying passengers.”

Bridgland was banned for eight months and fined £500 for driving without insurance.

He was fined a further £500 for plying for hire and ordered to pay £60 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Dave Clift, secretary of the Southend Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, welcomed the court’s sentence.

He said: “He was driving without insurance, which highlights the dangers of using unlicensed taxis.

“It is an issue drivers, the council and the police are constantly warning the public about.

“Cabbies spotted him very quickly and reported him, because he had none of the documents all licensed drivers must display in Southend.

“We hope this will warn off anybody considering the same thing.”

Mr Clift added all licensed cabs had stickers on theirs doors and a licence plate on the back of the vehicle, bearing the council’s crest.

Cabbies are also required to carry a personal driver’s licence with a photo and must show it, if challenged.