Taxi Driver Online

Rapists, paedophiles and a murderer among people who have applied to be taxi drivers


New figures show that one in five applications to become a taxi driver in Greater Manchester come from people with previous convictions

Rapists, paedophiles and a murderer are among those who have applied to be taxi drivers in Greater Manchester, as one in five applications show previous convictions.

However, despite records for violence, drug dealing and stealing cars, drivers with previous convictions have been handed licences by councils.

Among the previous convictions revealed through the Disclosure and Barring Service for people applying for taxi licences was a murder in Stockport and a rape conviction each in Stockport and Rochdale.

There were also convictions for possessing an indecent picture of a child in Manchester, gross indecency with a boy under 16 in Bolton, gross indecency with a child in Stockport and sex with a girl aged under 13 in Rochdale .

Across Greater Manchester, there were 34 convictions for indecent assault on women aged 16 and over, 22 indecent assaults on girls aged under 14 and one on a boy aged under 16.

There were four convictions for kidnapping across Greater Manchester and seven convictions for manslaughter.

There were convictions for causing death by dangerous driving in Manchester and Wigan , another for causing death by careless driving in Bolton , and one for causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. Across Greater Manchester, there were 89 previous convictions for dangerous driving.

Across the local authorities in Greater Manchester, those applying for taxi licences between April 2012 and March 2015 had 1,082 previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, 1,794 for having no motor insurance, 862 for driving while disqualified, 510 for taking conveyance without authority and 449 for driving while over the limit.

A total of 1,529 applications from across the area in 2014/15 were revealed to have previous convictions, out of 7,723 applications, with a total of 8,723 previous convictions, according to figures revealed following a Freedom of Information request.

One in five applications for taxi licences in 2014/15 (20%) showed previous convictions.

Licences issued despite convictions

Separate figures revealed under the Freedom of Information Act show six drivers in Manchester, nine in Trafford and 69 in Oldham were issued a taxi licence despite criminal convictions between November 2014 and October 2015.

In Trafford, drivers were issued licences despite convictions for wounding and burglary, while in Oldham licences were granted to people with convictions for dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm, taking vehicles without consent, and supplying heroin.

In Manchester, the council said none of those issued licences had convictions involving the sex offender register.

All applicants for new or renewed hackney carriage or private hire licences must obtain a DBS check.

The figures do not show if applicants were given licences, as councils have discretion over whether to disregard previous offences. Decisions are made by the licensing committee.

The figures are based on searching for the word "taxi driver" in the DBS system.

The same applicant may have submitted more than one application in the specified time period. Results are based on the applicant's address not the employer address.

source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... e-10922508

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