Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers in Lincoln welcome U-turn over enhanced CRB checks



Taxi drivers have welcomed a council victory to reinstate tougher criminal record checks to their industry.

In March 2011, the Home Office revoked a policy that ensured enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks on taxi and private hire drivers.

But the City of Lincoln Council and a handful of other authorities opposed the decision and demanded a U-turn to ensure public safety.

The Home Office has now said it will revoke its guidance that only standard checks need to be carried out.

Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks cost drivers £44, compared to £26 for standard assessments.

Chris Weston, 51, spokesman for the Lincoln Private Hire & Taxi Association, said enhanced checks are sound in principle.

"What we have been saying for a long time is that we accept and appreciate that enhanced checks are a good idea," said Mr Weston, who lives in Ingham.

"This is because they go right back into someone's deepest history. But I don't see why the full checks should be done every three years.

"Yes, do the big one first, but then simply look back over the previous three years, every three years.

"The point is there's still a lot of people who come into close contact with children – tradesmen working in schools – who don't go through the same checks we do.

"And when we are dealing with vulnerable children, 9 times out of 10 we pick up a transport escort first."

The standard check reveals only a record of previous criminal convictions, cautions and warnings.

Enhanced checks include any relevant information held by police and other bodies, such as whether or not the applicant is prevented from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Steve Brooks, general manager of Discount Cabs, in Lincoln, said most of its drivers hold badges issued by the city council and county council.

"In order to get the Lincolnshire County Council passenger transport badge you have to have an enhanced CRB already, which is transferable with the city council," he said.

"But if they get a standard CRB with the city they will then have to get an extra enhanced CRB for the county council.

"Standard disclosure will not show if someone has committed an offence, perhaps a very serious one, 10 years ago as it is classed as spent.

"Surely, as our drivers are carrying members of the public, including children and older people, the higher the level of checks the better."

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, leader of the city council, said: "As the licensing authority, we are responsible for ensuring the safety of people using licensed vehicles and it is recognised that there could be a small number of people not suitable to hold licences.

"Enhanced checks reveal relevant information which helps our licensing committee to make well-informed decisions on whether or not to give licences to potential drivers."

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Tax ... story.html

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

And no-one is more happier than one of TDO's own, Mr Jimbo.

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IDFIMH

A Council officer told an Echo reporter today:- "The guidance was legally binding and we were going against it when we continued to do enhanced checks but they were continued because we believed it was the right stance in order to protect the public and we were willing to take the risk (of a legal challenge)

Which I interpret as who gives a phuck about the law?

Read todays "Telegraph" Front Page.

"20,000 named as criminals"

"At least 20,000 people have been wrongly named as criminals because of blunders by the police and the crb"

So if you believe in the law of averages, how many criminals have been given a clean bill of health?

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Former taxi driver

And the "change in policy" requires a change in the Law.

So the City of Lincoln Council are still acting illegally, until that change in legislation is passed.

But hey ho! It's only the Law of the land they're ignoring, and who, besides me gives a phuck?

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Former taxi driver

Don't know about that.

The checks might reveal that Jimbo was once caught doing 31 mph in a 30 zone but got off with a slapped wrist.

Actually, the ticket said 38 mph.

But it was challenged and overuled.

But I was probably guilty, in the eyes of the so called "law"

I love the apparent view on here is that it is basically OK for Councils to flout the law of the land.

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Former taxi driver

Not sure that's 'the view on here', as the law is the law.

However if the council are breaking it, then taking them to court over this issue is a very long way down the list of anyone's priorities.

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IDFIMH