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PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:34 pm 
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Crime commissioners claim new taxi laws put vulnerable passengers at risk of attack



Crime commissioners call for Government U-turn on new legislation they claim will make it easier for bogus taxi drivers to carry out attacks



New laws governing North taxis will put vulnerable passengers at risk of attack by bogus drivers, police commissioners are warning.

Northumbria Police commissioner Vera Baird, Cleveland’s Barry Coppinger and Durham’s Ron Hogg have joined MPs from across the region to voice fears over a proposed new Deregulation Bill.

Licensing officials, the taxi trade, police and sex abuse charities claim changes to the law would make it easier for bogus drivers to prey on vulnerable people and make it harder for the authorities to ensure vehicles are being operated properly.

It comes just months after the launch of Operation Sanctuary, an investigation into the sexual abuse of vulnerable women and girls in the North East.

As part of the probe, detectives revealed some victims had been picked up by rogue cab drivers, while others were being transported to addresses by taxis where they were later sexually abused or raped.

Now a cross-party group of commissioners, led by Greater Manchester police commissioner Tony Lloyd, have joined forces to lobby Ken Clarke to get the measures removed from the Deregulation Bill, which is currently going through parliament.

Vera Baird QC said: “People should always be safe in the taxi they book and measures in the Deregulation Bill could endanger this. Cutting red tape is to be encouraged across all business but not at the cost of risks to public safety.”

Currently, only licensed private hire drivers can get behind the wheel of a marked private hire vehicle. As part of legislation drivers have to be regularly re-licensed and there are restrictions on vehicles operating across local authority boundaries.

But the new Bill would allow taxi vehicles to be driven by people who are not licensed taxi drivers, when not in use as a taxi, and would allow firms to sub-contract taxi services across local authority boundaries where there are very differing levels of stringency in licensing.

Mrs Baird continued: “Here in Northumbria we’ve been working hard to ensure that people can enjoy themselves safely, in particular in the night-time economy in our cities and towns.

“With our local authority, business and voluntary sector partners, we have been training people, including door supervisors, police officers, taxi drivers, street pastors, public transport workers and business people in the licensed trade to enable them to identify and support vulnerable people on a night out.

“If these proposals go through taxis cruising our streets could undermine that. It is crucial that proper safeguards are in place so the public can be confident that when they book a taxi home they are safe to do so.”

Newcastle Temporary Supt Bruce Storey said: “We value the role taxi drivers play and it is essential that everything possible is done to provide safeguards so that people can use licensed taxis and private hire vehicles with the confidence that they are safe to do so.

“Anything that would detract from that would be a concern.”

The reforms are included in the Government’s Deregulation Bill which will be voted on by MPs tomorrow.

Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah said: “At present minicabs in Newcastle are driven by people who have undergone criminal, medical and background checks with Newcastle City Council. But the Government are threatening to remove these safeguards, and let anyone drive an off duty minicab.

“I know many people in Newcastle particularly women and those with impaired mobility, rely on taxis and minicabs to get home safely. I’m worried that Minister’s plans will increase the number of rogue drivers on Newcastle roads.

“I’m calling on the Government to abandon these proposals and put passenger safety first.”

PCCs who have so far joined the campaign are:

Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester (Labour)

Vera Baird, Northumbria (Labour)

Sir Graham Bright, Cambridgeshire (Conservative)

Kevin Hurley, Surrey (Independent)

Alan Charles, Derbyshire (Labour)

Martyn Underhill, Dorset (Independent)

Martin Surl, Gloucestershire (Independent)

Richard Rhodes, Cumbria (Conservative)

Jane Kennedy, Merseyside (Labour)

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire (Labour)

Ron Hogg, Durham (Labour)

Sue Mountstevens, Avon and Somerset (Independent)

Jane Kennedy, Merseyside (Labour)

Anthony Stansfield, Thames Valley (Conservative)

Winston Roddick, North Wales (Independent)

Stephen Bett, Norfolk (Independent)

Barry Coppinger, Cleveland (Labour)

source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... xi-7305160

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:37 am 
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Currently, only licensed private hire drivers can get behind the wheel of a marked private hire vehicle. As part of legislation drivers have to be regularly re-licensed and there are restrictions on vehicles operating across local authority boundaries.


What the Fech has that got to do with the current price of cheese?? It's nowt to do with Tom, Dick or Harry driving a Taxi and Playing Taxi Driver in a Hack.

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But the new Bill would allow taxi vehicles to be driven by people who are not licensed taxi drivers, when not in use as a taxi, and would allow firms to sub-contract taxi services across local authority boundaries where there are very differing levels of stringency in licensing.




There's no Public safety there, it's simply a rogues charter to encourage the use of illicit drivers to work as hacks when they are not. Idiots..


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 9:08 am 
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bloodnock wrote:
Quote:
Currently, only licensed private hire drivers can get behind the wheel of a marked private hire vehicle. As part of legislation drivers have to be regularly re-licensed and there are restrictions on vehicles operating across local authority boundaries.


What the Fech has that got to do with the current price of cheese?? It's nowt to do with Tom, Dick or Harry driving a Taxi and Playing Taxi Driver in a Hack.

Quote:
But the new Bill would allow taxi vehicles to be driven by people who are not licensed taxi drivers, when not in use as a taxi, and would allow firms to sub-contract taxi services across local authority boundaries where there are very differing levels of stringency in licensing.




There's no Public safety there, it's simply a rogues charter to encourage the use of illicit drivers to work as hacks when they are not. Idiots..

The new bill is all about Private Hire and does not affect Hackney carriages at all. So only licensed Hackney drivers will be allowed to drive Hackney Carriages after the new bill is passed.

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 3:35 pm 
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Quote:
Currently, only licensed private hire drivers can get behind the wheel of a marked private hire vehicle. As part of legislation drivers have to be regularly re-licensed and there are restrictions on vehicles operating across local authority boundaries.


Its allowed in the centre of the universe (London) so why not the rest of the country ?


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 6:13 pm 
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andycable wrote:
Quote:
Currently, only licensed private hire drivers can get behind the wheel of a marked private hire vehicle. As part of legislation drivers have to be regularly re-licensed and there are restrictions on vehicles operating across local authority boundaries.


Its allowed in the centre of the universe (London) so why not the rest of the country ?


The centre of the universe has quite a problem with vulnerable females being attacked, but, I guess that doesn't bother you :roll:

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:49 pm 
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How does this comment

Quote:
Its allowed in the centre of the universe (London) so why not the rest of the country ?


imply that I don't care about someone's sexual assault , you stupid trout !


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 10:09 pm 
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andycable wrote:
How does this comment

Quote:
Its allowed in the centre of the universe (London) so why not the rest of the country ?


imply that I don't care about someone's sexual assault , you stupid trout !


Charming, oh well name calling is clearly something the child in you has to express

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