Taxi Driver Online

Fewer checks on cabbies

FEWER checks will soon be made on prospective taxi and private hire drivers in Lincolnshire.

The existing policy requires all applicants for a licence to undertake a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check to enhanced standard which details criminal convictions and lists people barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

In March this year the CRB told councils that enhanced checks could only legally be required for drivers who transport children and vulnerable adults as part of a contract to or from schools or hospitals.

Aside from reducing the level of screening available to councils, some applicants may have to pay for two separate CRB checks, one standard and one enhanced.

North Kesteven District Council's licensing panel is to amend its taxi licensing policy accordingly when it meets next Wednesday to comply with the Government instructions.

source: http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/

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

Taxi Drivers : Standard or Enhanced?

Let’s first set out the basics and the legislative framework.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA), (Exceptions) Order 1975 lists the types of occupations, professions and positions for which you are legally entitled to request a Standard CRB check. Taxi Drivers’ Licences are included in this list and are therefore clearly entitled to a Standard level of check.

The question we often get asked is “Can I request an Enhanced CRB check on a Taxi Driver?” To answer this question you must consider other legislation, in particular the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (SVG) Act 2006.

The Police Act 1997 sets out a list of employments and positions which are entitled to an Enhanced CRB check. As it currently stands, the issuing of a licence in respect of either a Taxi Driver or Private Hire Vehicle driver is not listed. This means that it would be illegal to request an Enhanced CRB check for the sole purpose of issuing a licence to a Taxi or Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver.

Taxi and PHV drivers are not a specified position in the SVG Act 2006, however in certain circumstances some drivers will be carrying out regulated activity but only when they transport children or vulnerable adults to or from a regulated activity AND it is organised by the providers of the regulated activity or an organisation working on their behalf, e.g. a Local Authority school contract or NHS contract.

It is not regulated activity if a child/vulnerable adult hires a taxi in the street or by telephone privately.

For more information please see the Department for Transport’s “Taxi and PHV Licensing Best Practice Guidance of March 2010”.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publicatio ... ?view=Html

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

Although I'm aware that the law appears to have been in place for a little while, am I alone in thinking this is a step backwards?

A STANDARD CRB check:- "will provide information regarding

CONVICTIONS, CAUTIONS, REPRIMANDS and WARNINGS held on the

PNC. (police national computers)"

Is there really any more a council needs to (re) badge a driver?

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Former taxi driver

It is a massive step backwards, but in all fairness the CRB folks are merely confirming the law as it was written.

What we need is a change of law to make it mandatory for licensed taxi/PH drivers, and proper guidance from gov as to exactly what is, or who is, 'fit and proper'.

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IDFIMH

In the vast majority of cases no.

However if an alleged rapist, who has been interviewed a number of times by the police, then maybe councils should see that info to allow them to make an informed judgement as to the fitness of an applicant.

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IDFIMH

So why cant we just get a PNC check done at the local Police Station for £11 and done within 4 days?

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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

So a decision on a drivers fitness should be made on unfounded allegations?

I thought that a cornerstone of British Justice was innocent until PROVEN guilty.

Does anyone out there really think that a person who has been accused of a crime such as sexual assault, but not charged, should subsequently be considered not "fit and proper" to drive a taxi?

Ever been accused of something you did not do? I have.

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Former taxi driver

Agree %100 , clear and accurate guidance is needed

Define "clear and accurate" to a 100% absolute.

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Former taxi driver

A start would be the minimum amount of time since a specific conviction until anyone can apply for a license.

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IDFIMH

The real problem lies with those who have not been apprehended for their misdeeds.

A set of guidelines already exists as to minimum times, doesn't it?

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Former taxi driver

Indeed, but how many councils adhere to them?

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IDFIMH