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GMB Slams Criminal Record Bureau
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Author:  brightonbreezy [ Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:57 pm ]
Post subject:  GMB Slams Criminal Record Bureau
GMB Slams Criminal Record Bureau For Putting the Public At Risk By Stopping Vital Checks On Private Hire Drivers (Mini Cabs), Hackney Cabs And Chauffeurs In England Wales And Scotland.

Vulnerable children and adults put at unnecessary risk with loss of background checks says GMB
5 Feb 2009

GMB today called on the Home Secretary to restore the stringent standards for the licensing of all new private hire (mini cab) drivers, Hackney Carriage and chauffeurs. GMB has learned that the need for the ‘Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) checks was removed by the Criminal Record Bureau in April 2008.


GMB, the union for professional drivers has written today to the Home Secretary seeking an explanation on why the Criminal Record Bureau has been allowed to waive the requirement for licensed mini cab drivers and chauffeurs to have their background checked.


Terence Flanagan, GMB Professional Driver Branch Secretary said, “In many cases these drivers will be booked by the Local Authority, School, Hospital or Care Home who will have a reasonable expectation that the driver’s background will have been fully checked by the licensing authority involved. With an estimated 50,000 drivers in London alone and a Public Carriage Office (PCO) estimated turnover of 1,000 drivers per week, GMB believe that the restoration of the full POVA checks and stringent licensing conditions for all new driver applicants is the only way of ensuring the safety of the travelling public.


The POVA check gives the public peace of mind, especially the many parents and carers of the elderly who regularly use private hire drivers to transport their dependents unaccompanied. The withdrawal of this crucial check will undoubtedly harm the public image of drivers. The check is important in ensuring the public feel safe when they travel by private hire vehicles.”


Ends


Contact: Terence Flanagan, GMB Professional Driver Branch Secretary on 07958 275339 or GMB Press Office: 07921 289880 o r07974 251823.


Notes to Editors:

The text of the letter is as follows: To The Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP, Secretary of State of Home Office


I am writing to you on behalf of our members working in the private hire and chauffeur industry.

We have been advised in writing by the Public Carriage Office, who are responsible for issuing licenses to new private hire drivers and chauffeurs in London, that there has been a significant relaxation in licensing standards by the Criminal Records Bureau for new private hire drivers and chauffeurs in London. We understand that the Criminal Records Bureau has not required the Public Carriage Office to request a POVA check for every new applicant since April 2008 and that the PCO has complied with this advice since that time. Our members across the country also report similar problems with their licensing authorities.

GMB has campaigned for full and effective licensing of vehicles and drivers in the private hire and chauffeur industry for many years as the best way of protecting both the interests of drivers and the safety of the public. A key element of our call for licensing has always been the need for a full POVA check on all drivers, since the vast majority of chauffeurs and private hire drivers will at one time or other carry NHS patients, Social Services clients, young children, elderly day care and care home residents in their vehicles.

In many cases these drivers will be booked by the Local Authority, School, Hospital or Care Home who will have a reasonable expectation that the driver’s background will have been fully checked by the licensing authority involved. It is not the case that only specialist private hire firms undertake this work and that therefore POVA checks can be effectively targeted. With an estimated 50,000 drivers in London and a PCO estimated turnover of 1,000 drivers per week, we believe that full POVA checks and stringent licensing conditions for all new applicants is the only way of ensuring effective standards of public safety.

In addition, the POVA check also gives the public peace of mind, especially the many parents and carers of the elderly who regularly use private hire drivers to transport their dependents unaccompanied. The withdrawal of this crucial check will undoubtedly harm the public image of drivers. The check is important in ensuring the public feel safe when they travel by private hire vehicles.

Given these considerations, I would appreciate you clarifying the position. In addition, I would also be grateful if you, or more likely one of your ministers, meet with representatives of the GMB working in the industry, along with myself, so the drivers can explain their concerns and hopefully be reassured that this oversight will be corrected. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Author:  MR T [ Fri Feb 06, 2009 1:34 am ]
Post subject: 
GMB Slams Criminal Record Bureau For Putting the Public At Risk By Stopping Vital Checks On Private Hire Drivers (Mini Cabs), Hackney Cabs And Chauffeurs In England Wales And Scotland. :shock:


I think this is a bit back to front.... or I might just be wrong... :shock:
step 1 .. the council adopts a policy of CRB checks.
step 2.. the council implement that policy by requiring all drivers are checked .
The CRB Bureau is an independent company .
It's the POC. that have decided they do not require the checks... :mrgreen:
Author:  GBC [ Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GMB Slams Criminal Record Bureau
brightonbreezy wrote:
a Public Carriage Office (PCO) estimated turnover of 1,000 drivers per week


:shock:
Author:  JD [ Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GMB Slams Criminal Record Bureau
brightonbreezy wrote:
GMB Slams Criminal Record Bureau For Putting the Public At Risk By Stopping Vital Checks On Private Hire Drivers (Mini Cabs), Hackney Cabs And Chauffeurs In England Wales And Scotland.


Without reading any further the CRB have no power to stop anything, they are an agency setup to deliver data by request held on those persons in the united kingdom who may or may not have a criminal record? Policy decisions in respect of CRB checks are for each individual licensing authority to make.

Were those opening remarks made with the understanding that licensing authorities set their own standards or were they an unfortunate mistake? Or perhaps I made a mistake by not reading the whole article?

Regards

JD
Author:  echo15 [ Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Click

Today's Torygraph
Author:  Tom Thumb [ Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
The GMB,the professional drivers union..... Well I am a professional driver and they aren't my union.

I wonder how many Hacks and PH drivers are members of this esteemed organisation?
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
I wasn't aware that many councils did the standard CRB check, as opposed to the enhanced version.

But in October we will all have to do the new ISA, and even bus drivers will have to do that bugger.

And any naughties will automatically be sent to the boss. :shock:
Author:  toots [ Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sussex wrote:
I wasn't aware that many councils did the standard CRB check, as opposed to the enhanced version.

But in October we will all have to do the new ISA, and even bus drivers will have to do that bugger.

And any naughties will automatically be sent to the boss. :shock:


As far as I am concerned they can check all they like, I am a good girl and IMO the only people who will be concerned about these checks will be people who perhaps are better not working with children or vunerable adults. I do however hope that they put all the checks into one cost, but, they probably won't :roll:
Author:  captain cab [ Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Taxi drivers do not need full CRB checks

Taxi and mini-cab drivers no longer need full CRB checks raising concerns for children and vulnerable adults.

The GMB union called the Government to restore the stringent standards for the licensing of all new private hire drivers, taxi drivers and chauffeurs.

The requirement for new drivers to have enhanced criminal checks - so-called “Protection of Vulnerable Adults” (Pova) checks - was removed in April 2008.

Instead prospective drivers were only asked to apply for standard checks, which do not pick up “spent” convictions that were handed down more than seven years before.

The result is that drivers who have not had their backgrounds vetted are being used by parents and local authorities to transport children and vulnerable adults alone.

The GMB called for “the restoration of the full Pova checks and stringent licensing conditions for all new driver applicants”.

Councils, schools, hospital and care home managers had “a reasonable expectation that the driver’s background will have been fully checked by the licensing authority involved”.

Terence Flanagan, the GMB’s professional driver branch secretary, said: “The Pova check gives the public peace of mind, especially the many parents and carers of the elderly who regularly use private hire drivers to transport their dependants unaccompanied.

“The withdrawal of this crucial check will undoubtedly harm the public image of drivers.

The check is important in ensuring the public feel safe when they travel by private hire vehicles.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “All taxi drivers have been and will remain subject to stringent CRB checks.”
Author:  captain cab [ Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Is this a London thing? because taxi drivers have never needed a full enhanced check.....its only those LA's that are somewhat enlightened that insist on the enhanced version.

CC
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