Taxi Driver Online

Criminal record checks BANNED on foreign murderers and rapists who want to be minicab drivers if they have applied for asylum or refugees status



Asylum seekers and refugees applying to be minicab drivers are exempt from criminal records checks, potentially allowing murderers and rapists to get behind the wheel.

Rules laid down by Transport for London (TfL) mean refugees and those applying for asylum do not have to reveal whether they have a criminal history when trying to become a cab driver.

The legal loophole in an official application document on 'private hire driver licensing' says people coming to Britain will not be required to have their criminal convictions checked.

The form, seen by the Daily Express, states: 'With regards to overseas criminal records checks, no such checks will be made in respect of those applicants who declare that they are in possession of or who have applied for refugee or asylum status.'

Everyone else who applies for a cab licence must undergo criminal records checks. Those from outside the EU who have spent more than three months abroad over the last three years have to provide a 'letter of good conduct' from their home country.

This usually requires their country of origin to give a reference to the Home Office, revealing whether the applicant has a criminal history.

But asylum seekers and refugees are exempt from this too, according to a second document.

A TfL guide on taxi and private hire applications states: 'Any applicant who has been granted or is awaiting a decision to be granted asylum/refugee status will not be required to produce a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country he is claiming asylum from.'

Applicants from outside the EU must provide a letter of 'good conduct' from their home country - but asylum seekers do not have to

Campaigners called for a change in the guidelines, calling on all minicab drivers to undergo thorough criminal checks.

Tory MP Nick de Bois said: 'They should not be offering licences to those they can't check on. They could be putting vulnerable members of the public in the hands of thieves, murderers and rapists. It beggars belief.'

Helen Chapman, manager of London taxi and private hire at TfL, said: 'All applicants for a Taxi or Private Hire drivers licence are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check which is carried out by the Home Office.

'Any applicant that has lived in a country other than the UK for more than three months within the last three years is also required to produce a Certificate of Good Conduct from the relevant country.

'We recognise this may not be possible if an applicant is granted asylum or refugee status and, where applicable, these applicants will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct from any other country of residence within the last three years. They will also be required to provide evidence of their Certificate of Registration or a letter from the Border and Immigration Agency.'


source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... tatus.html

That's right Nick, you pretty much covered all the hysterical bases with one sweeping statement.

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

Is there anything stopping an operator from requiring such DBS checks or are they barred on the basis of being considered as discriminating against immigrants/asylum seekers?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

That would be the operators own decision - mind you if a refugee has only been here a month - the chances are you'll get a one month record that is totally free from conviction?

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

I figured that, but, I was just checking that there is nothing in law to prevent an operator from insisting on a DBS check of several years if they wanted to.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

wouldn't that be discrimination?

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

Probably Joking aside that is the question

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

well if you're going to discriminate - do it properly - I recommend showing the applicant the following you tube clip from the 1970's;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1dakp4FT0w

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

I used to love the programme

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Would their Syrian or where ever's Drivers license cover them for driving and working here, was their driving test simply 3 laps round a camel, would it wash with our ever picky vehicle Insurers?

He'll have one of them letters of good conduct you can get off Ebay.

The whole story is that because they are refugees or asylum seekers means that they can't get the letter of good conduct so they will no longer require one.

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Grandad,

They'll still buy one along with the fake licenses.

what could possibly go wrong

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

They wont if they don't need one. We all know that they are not worth the paper they are printed on so why bother with them at all? In my opinion, potential drivers should have the same level of checks as UK citizens and it should cover at least 5 years.

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Grandad,