Council want change in taxi licensing laws Cheshire East not happy that drivers licensed by other local authorities are allowed to operate in the borough CHESHIRE East is lobbying the Government for a change in taxi driver licensing laws because it fears a loophole could put children at risk from sexual predators.
The council says it is confident in its own rigorous checks on the drivers it licenses – but is not happy that drivers licensed by other local authorities are allowed to operate in Cheshire East.
It fears this could be used by criminals involved in child sexual exploitation and trafficking children from one area to another.
Cllr Rhoda Bailey (Con) told Tuesday’s cabinet meeting: “Cheshire East is very good, adept, vigilant, at making sure that applicants for taxi and private hire vehicle licenses are fit and proper people...
“The law now allows people who have been refused licences in this authority to go to another authority and get one there. We know this has happened in some cases.”
She continued: “Those operators from other areas, can be operating in Cheshire East. Where those drivers and operators acquire criminal convictions, we wouldn’t know about it because only the licensing authority granting the licence would be told by the police.
“The law is frankly too lax in relation to this situation. It’s a gap which is not in the interests of the fare paying public, it’s not in the interest of vulnerable travellers.”
Cllr Rachel Bailey, who has responsibility for safeguarding children, told the meeting: “With regard to child sexual exploitation and any connection to taxi drivers, my understanding is that, within Cheshire East, there has been one case but one case is one too many.”
The council first expressed its concerns over the licensing loophole nearly a year ago when leader Michael Jones wrote to the Government. He didn’t get a response.
Deputy leader David Brown (Con) said this week the council would write immediately to all local MPs, the Local Government Association and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin pushing for a change to the law.
Crewe councillor Dorothy Flude (Lab) told the meeting she was disappointed the Government hadn’t responded to Cllr Jones’ letter.
“We’re an authority that does look seriously at who actually gets a licence in our authority and this is not assisted by our neighbouring local authorities,” she said.
Speaking after the meeting Cllr Flude reiterated she had every confidence in the way Cheshire East licensed its drivers and wanted a system which meant there was nationwide confidence.
She said she wanted a change in the legislation because ‘we want to be 100% sure that people who have criminal convictions are not being able to come and work in Cheshire East’.
source:
http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/cr ... g-10807589
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