from the borders telegraph specially for skippy
Borders taxi drivers told to identify themselves
LICENSED taxi drivers in the Borders have been ordered to provide proof they have the right to work in the UK if they wish to continue operating.
The demand, which applies to all new and renewal applications for the one-year permits, comes from Scottish Borders Council which currently licenses 356 drivers and 103 operators across the region under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
Last week these taxi operators, along with 31 private hire car operators, received an email from Mike Wynne, a former police inspector who is SBC’s licensing standards and enforcement officer, telling them to “inform your drivers” of the new requirements and the additional documents which must be submitted with all licence applications.
Mr Wynne cited the recently enacted Immigration Act 2016.
Under that controversial legislation, people who do not have permission to be in the UK face sanctions, including having their bank accounts frozen and driving licences seized.
“Under the provisions of the Act which came into force on December 1, 2016, SBC will not be able to issue a taxi or private hire car driver licence to any person unless a check has first been made to confirm the person is not disqualified by reason of his or her immigration status from driving a taxi or private hire car,” stated Mr Wynne.
“This means all applicants for taxi or private hire car driver licences, including UK passport holders, will need to attend their nearest SBC contact centre or the licensing office at Newtown St Boswells in person with original documents demonstrating they have the right to work in the UK.
“Council staff will require to check the validity of these original documents in the presence of the applicant before the licence can be issued and the council is required to retain copies.”
The operators have been told that if the drivers are British citizens, they must provide a current passport or birth certificate along with a National Insurance card or an up to date P60/P45 containing a National Insurance number.
If the driver is an EU national, a passport or national identify card is required.
And if the driver is neither a British citizen nor an EU national, he or she must provide a passport and “residence permit confirming your immigration status”.
The edict was described this week as “politically driven bureaucracy” by one local taxi operator who does not wish to be named.
“The council issues licences for all manner of things, from scrap metal dealing to tattoo parlours and sex shops, so I’ve no idea why taxi drivers have been targeted and face the inconvenience of complying with these arrangements,” he told the Border Telegraph..
“To get a licence to drive a taxi you already need to prove your date of birth, have a driving licence and undergo a police national computer (PNC) check. And if a disclosure check shows you’ve missed something out, you’re called before councillors who have the power to revoke your licence.
“In other words, there is a more than adequate identity system which works well in the Borders without this extra layer of politically driven bureaucracy.”
A council spokesperson said the new legislation required all licensing authorities in the UK to check the right to work credentials of all applicants prior to the issue of licences for taxi and private hire care licences.
“It is worth nothing this legislation only applies to drivers and that the identity check will only be required once and not every year,” added the spokesperson.
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