Taxi Driver Online

Rapist taxi driver: New measures in Milton Keynes to improve passenger safety in wake of scandal



Measures to improve the safety of taxi passengers in Milton Keynes are being introduced in the wake of the rapist taxi driver scandal.

Former mayor Subhan Shafiq resigned in August 2014, after it was revealed he had provided a character reference for convicted rapist Nadeem Ahmed Kiani which helped him secure his taxi licence.

The scandal received national attention, and new measures from Milton Keynes Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy will take effect from January 1, 2016, as a result.

Drivers will be encouraged to install CCTV in their vehicles, and they will be required to take a further driving test when their taxi licences are up for renewal.

Councillor Catriona Morris, chair of the council’s regulatory and licensing committee, believes the new measures will ensure the public have ‘complete confidence’ when using taxis.

She said: We need to promote that taxi drivers in Milton Keynes are safe after what happened.”

“Everything in the policy is to do with the safety of both passenger and the driver, and to make an improvement to the existing service.

“As I keep saying to the drivers, they are a really important part of the Milton Keynes society as they will often be the first person residents and visitors encounter in the city.

All drivers applying for their taxi licence will also be expected to provide evidence of their level of English, or take a test if they are unable to offer sufficient proof.

“In December last year, we made the first amendments and strengthened the policy that already existed.

Cllr Morris added: “Since then, we have been in consultation with customers and members of the trade on ways to improve the policy. Hopefully now, we are at a point where it is now at its strongest.”

source: http://www.onemk.co.uk/news/traffic-and ... 50032.html

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

So a 'have it if you want' CCTV policy, and a new driving test is going to deter rapists?

FFS.

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IDFIMH

Whatnhappens when minimum checked and without any test licensed drivers arrive in town with Rossendale licensed Hackneys arrive in town, are there any contingency plans to check those cowboys?

I'm guessing those non local cabs are working with local PH circuits.

Maybe the answer is to make it a licensing condition that such operators keep proper records of all their drivers, for local inspection, and if any drivers on that local PH circuit aren't up to scratch, then they lose their ops license.

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IDFIMH