Taxi Driver Online

Sex offenders could still get minicab licence
By Tom Spender
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has spoken of his surprise at the fact that his own minicab licensing authority does not automatically ban convicted rapists from driving minicabs.

Two weeks ago, this newspaper reported that Gerald Treacy, of Chace Avenue, Potters Bar, was a convicted rapist who was working for Scorpio Cars in Bounds Green. He was sacked immediately.

Treacy had been given a temporary licence by the Public Carriages Office (PCO), which is part of Transport for London, itself run by Mr Livingstone's Greater London Authority (GLA).

A PCO spokesman said that, in most cases, convicted rapists would be refused a full minicab licence, but that there was no automatic ban — a stance that has outraged rape victim charities.

On Tuesday, Mr Livingstone promised to investigate the anomaly and said he would have assumed rapists and those convicted of other serious sexual offences would be automatically disqualified from driving taxis.

"One of the primary purposes of minicab licensing is to give the public confidence that it is safe to make a journey with a licensed private hire driver. Anyone who could pose a threat to passengers is not a fit person to be licensed.

“I can't envisage any circumstances in which someone with a conviction for a violent sexual offence like rape could be deemed fit to be licensed as a private hire driver," he said.

However, the PCO has previously said it will decide on a case-by-case basis whether a conviction is spent or will prevent someone from receiving a licence.

I think part of the problem is those temporary licenses.

Letting an unchecked driver drive a licensed vehicle is just plain crazy, and the PCO, and for that matter the PH firms that asked for it, should hang their heads in shame.

What was said 18 months ago is as valid today. http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/crb.htm

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IDFIMH

That's what the law states, so don't blame the licensed London PH trade for poor law.

But it's far easier for you fat lumps to sit on your butts and moan about LPH, then sit up and fight the powers that be.

Ollie

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Happy to be legit.

So is the black cab trade any different from the PH side in this regard?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I think the difference is that the black cab boys can't work until they are fully checked, whilst those PH on temporary licenses could work without being fully checked.

But once the temporary thing has gone then I'm assumimng the same level of checks will apply to both sides equally.

A sort of coming together.

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IDFIMH

Yes, however, wouldn't it be the case that they too have to be decided on a 'case-by-case' basis?

I seem to recall a big hoohah a couple of years ago over a similar story in Lancaster or thereabouts.

But I think the problem is that the authorities can't have a blanket rule saying that all ex-sex offenders and the like can't have a license, probably something to do with fettering of discretion and/or human rights or suchlike - if they said they had a blanket rule then that could be challenged.

But, of course, whether the licensing authorities have to go throught the motions of considering such applications, the possibility of them actually granting a license in these circumstances is remote.

(Of course, I'm talking in general terms and not in relation to the temporary permits in London).

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

No need for us to moan.

Your side of the trade shows themselves up so often, we don't have to decry you any more.

Which side of the trade got itself in the news following the bombings of 7/7 for charging £100 (yes one hundred) a drop off?

Oh yes take a bow 'Andys Licensed minicabs' of Hammersmith.

Tossers.

No license until you satisfy them your competant at the Knowledge (complete the course of appearances), pass the DSA Taxi / Wheelchair test, and lastly await the CRB checks.

Then, and only then will you be licensed.

Not the best in the world for nothing you know Dusty.

Yes, but I wasn't talking about that 'regard'

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Seems like a reasonable place to post this story.

I'm sure the story will come as no great news for the readers of this site.

'Happy to be legit'


Commuters Cry Foul Over Minicab Fare
IRATE commuters who faced serious delays after Tube trains were cancelled during the rush hour last Tuesday have complained they were overcharged by a South Woodford mini-cab firm.

Clarks Mini Cars, based in Station Approach, George Lane, charged a standard fee of £3 to £4 per head to take commuters from South Woodford station to the main-line station at Wood Street in Walthamstow.

And one group of four commuters were outraged when they found themselves paying £16 for the 15 minutes journey.

A P Nicols, of Beechcroft Road, South Woodford, in a letter to the Guardian, said: "Thrown into turmoil, we headed for the nearest source of transport -- the mini cab office.

"At £2 a mile, mini-cabs are making a good profit in the light of city commuters' distress.

"Can anyone explain to me why mini-cabs are justified to charge per person and not per journey?"

But the mini-cab firm hit back claiming its small fleet of five cars was swamped by angry Tube users desperate to get to the city.

Jim Brown, who is a dispatcher at Clarks Mini Cars, said: "At least three people threatened violence because we would not take them to Liverpool Street.

"We cannot replace the Central Line and we were losing our regular customers.

"Any passengers would have been made aware of the charges before getting into the taxi. We would not normally make such a charge."

I doubt anyone was forced into those motors, and maybe if the black cab trade met the demand then customers needn't use LPH.

As for charging per person, well when you have different people going to different places, it's by far the easiest way. Else we all know what happens i.e. the last bloke get a free ride home.

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IDFIMH

Another good argument for regulating PH fares.

But didn't the London black cab trade object to that

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Nasty abusive customers? No thanks, we've got to leave some trade for Ollie and his friends.

I don't know, did we?

All I ever seem to hear from the likes of the LTDA is that their isn't any SUD.

It appears that there is now, nasty SUD.

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IDFIMH