Taxi Driver Online

Criminals refused taxi driver licences in East Herts

THREE men with criminal records who applied for taxi licences with East Herts Council have had their applications thrown out.

The applicants had failed to disclose some of their convictions on their application forms, but their shady pasts emerged after council staff applied for enhanced CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checks from the Home Office. The Home Office had previously banned councils from carrying out enhanced checks on people wanting to become licensed taxi drivers but performed a u-turn after the potential dangers were highlighted, including by the Mercury.

East Herts leader Cllr Tony Jackson (Con, Datchworth and Aston) ordered a licensing review after a series of Mercury articles uncovered the lax checks in place.

The council’s licensing committee is due to meet today to agree changes on how it deals with licence applications from those with a criminal record.

Committee chairman Cllr Rose Cheswright (Con, Braughing) said: “We want our policies to protect the residents of East Herts. Our task and finish group has come up with a number of recommendations and it may be that most or all of these are adopted. It’s been very thorough. I attended many of the meetings and it’s been an extremely useful process. Scrutiny groups are always useful at looking at how aspects of a particular committee works.”

Of the three people whose applications were thrown out, the first man had a criminal conviction for violent disorder committed in 2003 that will not be spent until May 2015. The second had a string of convictions, including making a false statement to obtain vehicle insurance and four cautions for making off without payment. He also had nine penalty points on his licence. The third applicant had convictions for burglary and theft, as well as assault, affray and handling stolen goods. He had a total of seven convictions comprising 14 separate counts.

Councillors are expected to approve the creation of an assessment grid of offences and convictions that would standardise taxi licensing decisions tonight (March 14).

source: http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/N ... 095327.htm

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

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

Article from Friday 21 December 2012 Written by Ciaran Gold

Cabbies set for tough new tests after Mercury probe



TAXI drivers with a murky past of convictions could face tougher tests if the recommendations of a review sparked by a Mercury investigation are adopted.


We started looking into taxi licensing last year after revealing some East Herts cabbies were granted licenses despite having a history of crime.

East Herts Council leader Cllr Tony Jackson (Con, Datchworth and Aston) promised a review of taxi licensing following our story and a task and finish group was formed earlier this year.

The group, which has looked at the issue and heard evidence over the past few months, has concluded that a convictions policy should be introduced to "safeguard residents and strengthen confidence in the system."

Group members have proposed an assessment grid of offences and convictions that would standardise taxi licensing decisions and make the system more transparent.

Task and finish group chairman Cllr Roger Beeching (Con, Sawbridgeworth) described the review as "comprehensive".

He said: "We did about five meetings with different groups looking at the effectiveness, efficiency and economic areas [of taxi licensing].

"The recommendations took notice of what taxi drivers and other groups had to say to us and we have listened.

"It’s been a very interesting experience one thing brought up was the conviction policy. We went into that into great detail.

"But it’s minor things as well like driver’s badges."

Devolving licensing decisions to officers is also recommended, which is some five times cheaper than committee decision making.

The group want officers to see if a uniform could be adopted, explore implementing a gold standard drive scheme and seek funding opportunities for in-car security cameras.

"Everybody are the winners here," continued Cllr Beeching. "The council tax payers are saving a bit of money, taxi drivers know where they stand and the public will know 100 per cent they are safe [getting into their cab]."

Our original story in September 2011 revealed how taxi licences were granted to applicants such as one who racked up two drink-driving offences in three years, along with convictions for theft and disorderly behaviour.

Another got the all clear despite committing a violent offence at a sporting fixture in front of children and lied about it on their application form.

And a third was given a license even with three driving while disqualified convictions and two offences of driving without insurance.

All three would face a much sterner test to get their license if the groups’ findings last month are passed by the licensing committee in March.

http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/H ... 122012.htm

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

I wonder if they were Scousers?

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

Ive got just the job for em MP's they would be at home with that lot

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

The question must be asked as to why this council didn't do that 10 years ago.

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IDFIMH