Taxi Driver Online

Banned Rotherham taxi drivers could still work in town, MPs warned



Taxi drivers banned from Rotherham in the wake of the child abuse scandal may still be able to work in the town, MPs have been warned.

Rotherham Council commissioner Mary Ney said that the introduction of tougher standards in the town has resulted in around 40 drivers losing their taxi licences.

But she said those turned down for licences in Rotherham may be able to get them from neighbouring local councils who do not have the same standards before returning to ply their trade in Rotherham.

Rotherham has introduced tougher standards - including CCTV in cabs - after the ‘prominent’ role of taxi drivers in the grooming scandal was highlighted in two reports.

Commissioner Ney told a hearing of the Communities and Local Government Committee: “We can and will get drivers coming from other parts, who are not at the same standard.

“We are talking with councils in the South Yorkshire region to try and see if we can all achieve the same standard locally, which will help, but there are some councils that have had lower sets of standards and they have licensed a lot of drivers, because you are not allowed by law to set a cap.

“It does present a problem because, if they operate in your borough, we cannot enforce against them; we have to require their licensing authority to enforce against them if there is a problem with their practice.”

When asked by MPs if drivers could go to a neighbouring authority if they are turned down in Rotherham, she said: “I think that we will probably see some of that because they will know our standards are higher and they will not come to us.”

She made the comments last week as part of an inquiry into the work of the commissioners, who were appointed by the Government in February 2015 in the wake of the abuse scandal.

Local government minister Marcus Jones told the inquiry today that new legislation currently going through Parliament is trying to ensure ‘consistency’ on taxi licensing rules across the country.

Read more: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/banned-ro ... z4DSrmwMwE

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

I don't think they are keeping up with things as most of the councils which have been used to license drivers/vehicles have tightened up their rules a little.

it is interesting to note that 40 have lost their licenses so you would wonder if Rotherham style improved screening was applied nationwide how many would become unlicensed

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

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

really and what legislation would that be the ammendment 56 one ? police and criminal act ?

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

your guess is as good as mine - I don't know if you've noticed but the shower tend to say lots and do very little

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

Welcome to the 2016 taxi/PH trade.

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IDFIMH

As I've said before 20% at least are licensed from rossendale etc so it's all balloni and on Saturday night anything goes!

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

There was a Gedling plated Rotherham private hire round here at the weekend.

How did the ridiculous state of affairs of Hackneys being able to carry out private hire work anywhere come about in the first place?

try reading up on the History of our trade hackney carriages have always been hired out on private hire (pre booked) work

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

Hackney Carriages do not carry out private hire work,the booking is a pre-booked job for a TAXI,if you do not fulfil the obligation you can be hauled up in front of the Justices.

This does not happen with the private hire regime who can only take bookings for the provision of supplying a private hire vehicle.

Are you saying that a private hire operator can't sub contract work to a hackney carriage? This kind of sub contracting has always been done.

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Grandad,

My point is not that hackneys are able to do pre booked work it is why are they able to do it anywhere in the country? And not just in the area they are licensed in ?

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IDFIMH