Taxi Driver Online

Five Cardiff taxi drivers have licences suspended after increase in complaints about refusals of fares for short journeys


Cardiff council has confirmed its licensing section has seen an increase in the number of complaints about hackney carriage drivers since last September

Five Cardiff taxi drivers have had their licences suspended after an increase in complaints over drivers not collecting passengers for short journeys.

Formal complaints about hackney carriages refusing to pick up passengers who would have paid a smaller fare spiked last autumn.

It came in the wake of a number of alleged sex attacks in the city – prompting the chairman of the Cardiff Hackney Cabs Association to appeal to drivers to collect passengers, particularly lone female students.

Now Cardiff council has confirmed its licensing section has seen an increase in the number of complaints about hackney carriage drivers since last September.

Mystery shopper exercises

Five drivers have had their licences suspended following investigations by licensing enforcement officers following the complaints.

Others are still being investigated and further ‘mystery shopper’ exercises will continue.

Council officers, South Wales Police and some nighttime economy door staff will also be handing out information cards to potential taxi customers advising them that taxi drivers cannot refuse a fare which starts and ends in Cardiff without reasonable excuse – and that the meter must be used.

Details of how to make a complaint are also published on the back of the card.

'Flush out the minority of drivers operating outside the law'

Councillor Jacqueline Parry, chairman of the authority’s licensing committee, said: “If members of the public are refused a fare, we ask that you can take note or take a photo of either the driver’s badge number (worn by driver or displayed on the windscreen), the vehicle registration number, or the licence plate number (displayed on rear of vehicle) and report it to licensing@cardiff.gov.uk. Alternatively the public can call 029 20871651.

“We want to work with the public to flush out the minority of drivers that seem to think they can operate in breach of the law.

“We take complaints very seriously, but it is important to understand that the council may have to take these matters to court, so complaints can only be investigated if there is sufficient evidence and those making the complaint are willing to provide a statement and attend either the committee or the magistrates’ court, if the complaint escalates.”

source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... s-10945269

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