Call for tougher checks to prevent taxi sex attacks Ministers today called for local authorities to ensure enhanced security checks are carried out on cab drivers to protect passengers from sex attacks.
Transport minister Baroness Kramer is writing to Transport for London and town halls across the country urging them to make “full use” of new powers to probe the background of individuals applying for taxi licences.
“People need to feel safe when using a taxi or private hire vehicle,” she told The Standard. “We have made it easier for local authorities to carry out checks on people who want to drive taxis or private hire vehicles.
“These checks should ensure that violent and sexual criminals aren’t allowed behind the wheel of a taxi.”
Ministers have sought to strengthen the system by encouraging town halls to require enhanced, rather than standard, checks on all mini cab and taxi drivers.
Standard checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service cover spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings.
Enhanced scrutiny includes any additional information held by the police that is considered relevant.
Last month, minicab driver Alaksur Rahman, 39, of Poplar, was jailed for 30 months at Snaresbrook crown court after admitting two charges of sexual assault on PR and media executives.
Five years ago, London taxi driver John Worboys was jailed indefinitely for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers.
Shocking reports have also emerged recently from Rotherham of taxi drivers paid for by council staff ferrying vulnerable young girls in care to be abused by sex attackers, and also carrying out assaults themselves.
source:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics ... 40735.html
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