Taxi Driver Online

BoS's cabbie safety push reaches Transport Minister





Richard Fuller and Norman Baker

Bedfordshire on Sunday’s campaign for Cabbie and Passenger Safety (CaPS) went to Westminster on Tuesday and will now be presented before the Law Commission.

In March, BoS decided enough was enough after Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver Mehar Dhariwal died following an attack at AGS Cars in St Peter’s Street, Bedford in January.

Since Mr Dhariwal’s funeral BoS has held meetings with both PHV and Hackney Carriage drivers, Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire Police over improving safety in the trade.

The latest trek saw us take suggestions to the capital along with supporter of the CaPS campaign MP for Bedford and Kempston, Richard Fuller. In a meeting held with Minister for Transport Norman Baker he vowed to present the campaign’s recommendations to the Law Commission, which is currently looking to change the law regarding Hackney Carriages and PHVs.

Mr Baker said: “I will make sure that the information provided by Bedfordshire on Sunday and by Mr Fuller will be presented to the Law Commission.

“We don’t want what happened with Mr Dhariwal happening all the time. It’s terrible that someone should be attacked because they were out doing their job – this can’t happen.” Mr Baker also discussed the idea of mandatory CCTV and CRB checks and added: “The issue with CCTV cameras is that there are people who don’t want to be filmed as they are going about their business and it can become a bit George Orwell-like.

“On the other hand there are cameras on trains and on buses and it’s whether people are prepared to be filmed in a vehicle where, while it is a public service, is often on a one-on-one basis between driver and passenger.

“CRB checks are significant for the trade, they make passengers feel safe which can only be a benefit to the drivers as more people feel inclined to use both Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles.”

http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News ... 072012.htm

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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 see what they are after, you can have a CCTV if you wish, you can buy a WAV with a shield if you wish, most safety aspects should come from the office, like don't dispatch to known troubemakers, have a camera etc, but at the end of the day like I said to sussex yesterday, short of having your own protection detail follow you around there isn't really much else that can be done is there.