Taxi Driver Online

Thought this was an unusual local example of a firm using the term 'driver partner', but had forgotten about the Veezu angle, which is mentioned further down the page.

But this certainly seems a tad unusual, even for the standards of this kind of thing. It's not entirely clear, but this reads like it may have involved several different passengers over the weekend (or, perhaps, all the charges relate to an individual female).

So it's either several different people he's alleged to have attacked, or it's the same individual over the whole weekend - hence the false imprisonment charge?

If it did involve several different people over a short period, then I'd guess he's maybe not been in the game that long, but there's no evidence below in that regard either.

Anyway, Veezu has gone into PR overdrive mode over it all - who'd have expected that?


Sex assault charge driver worked for ABC Taxis in Norwich

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24 ... s-norwich/

A city taxi firm has stressed that customer safety is its "number one priority" after one of its drivers was charged with sexual assault.

Alexandru Tapurin, 35, of Tizzick Close in Norwich, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault at a number of locations across Norwich last weekend.

He was also charged with false imprisonment and causing a woman aged 16 or over to engage in a non-penetrative sexual activity between January 20 and 21.

Tapurin was a driver-partner with ABC Taxis, which has operated in the city since 1994.

The taxi company, which was taken over by Welsh digital hire firm Veezu in November 2022, issued a statement saying: "Safety remains the number one priority.

"The company can confirm that it acted swiftly when it became aware of these allegations.

"The self-employed driver-partner, who has the freedom to take bookings from multiple ride-booking platforms available in Norwich, was removed from the booking system and reported to the local authority.

"Every ride on the system is tracked door-to-door so once a booking is made, passengers can see the details of the driver-partner and the vehicle registration.

"All driver-partners undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, underscoring the paramount importance placed on the safety of passengers.

"Due to the current legal proceedings, the company is unable to provide any additional comments at this time.

"However it is actively cooperating with the ongoing police investigation concerning a driver-partner."

Under statutory guidance from the Department for Transport, all taxi and private hire drivers are required to have an enhanced DBS check in place for their application which includes:

- A check against the Police National Computer for any cautions, warnings, reprimands, or convictions (spent or unspent)

- A check against the DBS’s Children’s or Adult’s Barred Lists

- A check for any relevant police notes on the applicant

Norfolk Police said Tapurin was arrested on Sunday morning and taken to Wymondham police station for questioning.

He was subsequently charged and appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court on Tuesday, being kept in custody ahead of his next court appearance on February 20 at Norwich Crown Court.

I mean, all this makes it sound like it was Veezu who's done it all, rather than doing what they had absolutely zero choice about doing. It says, for example, that they reported the driver to the local authority. Not to police? Of course not - the police probably had him in custody by that point, and Veezu just trying to make it sound like a lot of it is down to them, while carefully wording what they say to ensure it's not actually factually incorrect.

Then there's the attempt at blame-shifting by saying he has "the freedom to take bookings from multiple ride-booking platforms available in Norwich."

Which is a bit different to saying he actually was working across different platforms...not sure if other big apps are available in Norwich, but I'd guess he wouldn't be allowed to work for a more traditional office.

So, in essence, he was simply what we'd call a Veezu/ABC driver, but it's made to sound like he was more of a freelancer, or free spirit.


More bull - surely the case simply demonstrates that all this stuff doesn't guarantee safety, while Veezu makes it sound like, er, safety is paramount, or whatever.

And, again, this is the usual spin of making it sound like the DBS checks are down to Veezu, as opposed to the licensing authority (presumably).


Again, stuff like 'actively cooperating' is just sugar coating what Veezu are duty bound to do. It would be more interesting and newsworthy if they weren't actively cooperating with police

This is the image used by the Norwich Evening News to illustrate the piece, which is credited to 'Norfolk Constabulary/ABC Taxis'. Bet Veezu are cock-a-hoop with this

especially as to do so might risk losing their ops licence !

ps same article appeared on BBC news website more or less word for word

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Surprised Veezu issued the press release under Veezu rather than ABC Taxis.

But why the big PR spiel anyway? No one is blaming the operator for the actions of an individual, nor should they.

As for the charges, I suspect they were all on the same girl.

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IDFIMH

In fact I think it may have been issued under the ABC Taxis name, but I've attributed it to Veezu using the quote function

It's not entirely clear from the article, but I suspect it was the local press who introduced the Veezu angle, and I followed suit - the BBC version directly attributes the quotes to ABC, and doesn't mention the V-word

But the reason I highlighted the Veezu angle was partly due to the use of the 'driver partner' terminology, and also because it was a good example of their kind of mega-corp style PR and spin, etc


On the contrary, I'm quite sure they'll consider that this kind of thing damages their brand, and makes people think they're maybe unsafe - punters won't necessarily view it as rationally as you do.

Hence the fact they're emphasising the DBS stuff and suchlike, and the fact that the driver was dumped immediately, and they're co-operating with police etc.

And, perhaps in particular, that the driver may as well have been working for any other 'platform'.

It's a damage limitation PR exercise, essentially

Maybe in the short term, but I'm not convinced people's memory is that good, or that long.

However negative Uber driver articles do we see, but do people stop using them?

Down here a few years back one firm has two or three drivers jailed for rape over a two-year period.

It had absolutely no negative long-term consequences.

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IDFIMH

Well looks like it was three different women after all, over the one weekend

Which again suggests to me he's fairly new to the job - when he got his badge, he viewed it as (literally) a licence to take advantage of drunken women in his cab

There's zero information below in that regard, though, but no doubt more detail will come out at the trial. Through his Romanian interpreter, no doubt


Norwich taxi driver denies sexual assaulting three women

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24135480.n ... ree-women/

A Norwich taxi driver has denied a series of sexual assaults on three different women over a single weekend.

Alexandru Tapurin, 35, faces five separate charges including an allegation involving the false imprisonment of one of the women.

The offences are said to have occurred at a number of locations across Norwich between January 19 and 21.

Tapurin, who was a driver-partner with ABC Taxis, appeared before Norwich Crown Court via video link from HMP Norwich.

Wearing a green sweatshirt and speaking through a Romanian interpreter he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and to enter not guilty pleas to all five charges.

The court was told he is accused of two charges of sexual assault on one woman on January 21 by touching her sexually when she did not consent.

He is also said to have held the woman against her will for the purpose of sexually assaulting her.

He is also accused of sexually touching another woman without consent and forcing a third woman to engage in sexual activity, both on January 19.

Judge Andrew Shaw set a date for the trial, expected to last five days, to take place on July 15 but warned Tapurin it could be delayed due to the “unprecedented demand” on court time.

Tapurin, of Tizzick Close in Norwich, who remains on remand, was told he needed to submit the basis of his defence by April 10.

Following his arrest in January ABC Taxis said it had acted swiftly to end his involvement with the firm.

"The self-employed driver-partner, who has the freedom to take bookings from multiple ride-booking platforms available in Norwich, was removed from the booking system and reported to the local authority,” it said.

The company is “actively cooperating with the ongoing police investigation", it added.

Funny how when it suits, the drivers really have nothing to do with the operator.

On the other hand, check out the video on this page...

https://www.abctaxisnorwich.co.uk/drive-with-abc/

The drivers have absolutely nothing to do with ABC Taxis, and are working as freelancers on several different platforms

Makes him sound like a company director.

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IDFIMH

Taxi driver jailed for Norwich attacks on three women



A taxi driver has been jailed for sexually assaulted three lone women he picked up in Norwich in the space of just a few days.

Alexandru Tapurin, 36, had been working as a self-employed taxi driver for ABC in Norwich when he gave lifts to the women - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - from pubs in the city.

Norwich Crown Court heard at least two of the victims were locked in Tapurin's Toyota car during the attacks which happened between January 19 and 22 this year.

Danielle O'Donovan, prosecuting, said Tapurin picked up the first victim from the William IV pub, telling her she was "attractive and really pretty".

He dropped her at a friend's house and urged her to take his number so she could call him when she wanted picking up. When she got back into his car later, Tapurin - who used a Romanian interpreter in court - pulled over into a side street and locked the taxi's doors.

Miss O'Donovan said the victim, who was in the front passenger seat, became "very anxious" and "tried to create some distance" between them. The woman said she wanted to go home before he leaned over and asked her for "half an hour", but she said "no". He again leaned over, kissing her neck and put his hands between her legs, touching her over her clothing for about 15 minutes.

Tapurin eventually unlocked the door before letting her go, telling her "I will see you again".

Miss O'Donovan said he then picked up a second woman, aged 48, from the Fiveways pub. He asked the victim, who was sat in the front seat, if she wanted sex and if he could come in with her when they reached her home. She said no but he continued "badgering" her before grabbing her hand and forcing her to touch him.

In a further incident a third lone woman, then 18, was picked her up from the Bell Hotel. The victim sat in the back of the taxi and was told she was "beautiful" by Tapurin who then turned into a side road. He stopped the car, turned to look at her and said: "Shall we do this." The woman said "no" but he turned and touched her skin before later taking her home.

Tapurin, of Tizzick Close, Norwich, appeared in court for sentence on Friday, having previously admitted three counts of sexual assault. Jailing him for 21 months Lord Justice Edis said he had "engaged in predatory conduct".

He said Tapurin had admitted three "significant sexual offences" against three lone females who "simply wanted to get home safely". Lord Justice Edis said each had trusted him to get them home but he "took advantage of that trust" and sexually assaulted them.

Michael Clare, mitigating, accepted there had been a "breach of trust" against all three victims. He said Tapurin, who was of previous good character, admitted the offences, sparing victims the ordeal of coming to court to give evidence.

Mr Clare said the defendant had extreme remorse which was "sincere" and had excellent insight into his offending. Tapurin was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for 10 years and put on the sex offenders register, also for 10 years.

A spokesman for ABC Taxis, said: "The disturbing incident involving Alexandru Tapurin is completely unacceptable and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families. "As soon as we were made aware of the Tapurin incidents, he was reported to the local licensing authority, his license was revoked, and he was permanently barred from operating via ABC Taxis."

Speaking after the case, DS Ricki Peake who led the investigation said Tapurin had committed a "huge breach of trust".
He commended the victims for their "bravery and strength in coming forward" after what must have been a "terrifying" ordeal.

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IDFIMH

I'm shaking my head in disbelief here

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

And how long for shouting at a police dog?

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IDFIMH

Zero information regarding why he targetted three different women over the same weekend. The BBC report simply quotes a DS saying it's 'unusual', but no more information:


As regards my suggestion that the pattern might indicate that he was new to the job, nothing on that either, although this suggests he was on the job for the best part of a year before the incidents in January 2024 (and also suggests he was working cross-border - who'd have expected that with Veezu ):


Of course, that's not definitive evidence as regards how long he'd been working as a driver, and certainly doesn't mean he'd definitely been driving with ABC in Norwich for ten months prior to the incidents