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Press release from the Home Office
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Author:  captain cab [ Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Press release from the Home Office
ENHANCED CHECKS TO GIVE PUBLIC GREATER CONFIDENCE IN TAXI DRIVERS



Taxi licensing authorities will be able to apply for enhanced vetting checks for all their taxi and private hire vehicle drivers under new government proposals to ensure the safety of vulnerable people.

The proposed changes – part of plans to simplify and reform the system of criminal record checks – will give reassurance to women travelling alone and other vulnerable customers who use taxis and mini-cabs.

Under the current regime only drivers who regularly pick up children or vulnerable adults have been eligible for enhanced checks. However, it has become commonplace for some licensing authorities to apply for enhanced checks regardless of the role their drivers have. The proposed changes will standardise this practice and simplify the system.

Following the proposals for reform of work place checks in the Protection of Freedoms Bill, ministers have announced their intention to:

Make all taxi and private hire vehicle drivers eligible for enhanced criminal records checks; and

Enable licensing authorities to check whether any applicant for a taxi licence is barred from work with children or vulnerable adults.

Lynne Featherstone, Criminal Information Minister, said:


We are determined to ensure the criminal records scheme is balanced to respect civil liberties and protect the public.

Taxi drivers provide a valuable service transporting children to school and lone women home after a night out so it is only right that the public should have confidence proper checks have been carried out.

These proposals will ensure that licensing authorities have all the information they need to make informed decisions before granting licences to drivers.”

The changes are part of a radical overhaul of the vetting and barring and criminal records regime intended to scale it back to common sense levels, while still ensuring adequate protections are in place where they are needed most.

Linda Craig, director of Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said:


Suzy Lamplugh Trust welcomes this announcement and believes that all licensing authorities should ask for enhanced checks in making decisions about granting licences. The public are encouraged to use licensed minicabs and taxis so these licences must deliver the safety the public expects.”

Licensing authorities will make the final decision on whether to grant a licence based on the information available to them. Criminal records checks play a vital role in recruitment practices, providing employers with the information they need to employ the right person for the role. But a criminal record check alone should not replace correct employment practices and supervision of staff.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said;


When you get into a taxi, particularly late at night, you want to have confidence that you are in safe hands. I therefore welcome this announcement which will make people feel more secure.

Notes to Editors:
1.The proposals will mean new taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are eligible for an enhanced criminal records check before they are issued with their licence. Current drivers will be required to have the additional checks when they apply to renew their licence.

2.Enhanced checks go beyond standard checks and disclose relevant non-conviction information held by local police forces and details of any information from the Independent Safeguarding Authority’s barred list.

3.Changes will be made by secondary legislation as soon as practicable.

4.Information on the Protection of Freedoms Bill is available here:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publicatio ... edoms-bill

The government published its report into the vetting and barring scheme in February 2011:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/vett ... ng-scheme/

For more information call the Home Office Press Office on 020 7035 3535.

source: http://www.national-taxi-association.co.uk/?p=2342
Author:  jimbo [ Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Press release from the Home Office
Absolutely no need for a change in the law regarding enhanced CRB checks.

Many Councils, including mine, just ignore the law, illegally request an enhanced check, (or no badge, even when you've been continually licenced for over 25 years) make a false declaration as to entitlement, (a criminal offence) and send the illegal application off to the CRB who will then disregard their own ruling and issue an enhanced CRB certificate.

So why the need for "a change in the law?"
Author:  Sussex [ Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Press release from the Home Office
jimbo wrote:
So why the need for "a change in the law?"

To make what they do illegally legal.
Author:  sasha [ Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Press release from the Home Office
Sussex wrote:
jimbo wrote:
So why the need for "a change in the law?"

To make what they do illegally legal.

Because it's better to charge £45 +10% processing fee for an enhanced check than £30 +10% processing fee, at least for licensings coffers.
But if these are only proposed changes that means that until the law changes asking for enhanced checks remains illegal ? By saying that they will make it legal, by definition that means it is currently illegal.

Coincidentaly I got my *enhanced* check back from the CRB today, does this ruling mean I can now get a refund from my LA for the cost difference between a standard and enhanced check ?
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