Taxi Driver Online

It's that issue again, but don't think this article explains it properly - in particular why it's regarded as discriminatory.

It's a long enough piece, but doesn't get to the heart of the matter, in my opinion.


Bracknell taxi drivers raise 'discrimination' concerns over DBS checks

https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/24 ... bs-checks/

Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) is looking at how practical it would be to obtain DBS checks from foreign authorities for taxi drivers in the borough.

A DBS check is a way for employers check criminal records as well as whether a person is suitable to work with children or vulnerable adults.

In November 2023 BFC approved new rules which meant that any driver that has spent more than three months outside of the UK since the age of 10 must obtain a ‘certificate of good conduct’ from the foreign authority.

Since this announcement, the BF Hackney Taxi Drivers association said it was concerned about the 'potential discrimination' caused by the policy change.

This rule applied not only to new applicants, but current drivers who had already completed a full DBS check under old rules, looking to renew their licence. Existing drivers must renew their DBS check every three years.

The DBS service they use is only able check the criminal history of an applicant within the United Kingdom.

Following this, speaking to PHTM news publication, chairman of BF hackney association Manoj Lacximicanta said that Bracknell members were ‘unhappy’ with the new rules.

He told the news outlet in June: “Many Hackney drivers, belonging to ethnic minorities have raised concerns of potential discrimination with this policy and are worried about meeting renewal deadlines.”

The group's chariman urged the council to rethink the rule change, saying it was ‘illogical’, with ‘inevitable delays’ in obtaining the certificates.

His group, representing taxi drivers in Bracknell, told the council’s licensing and safety committee in January that they were concerned about the cost of the DBS checks.

In the same meeting, council officials said that drivers would be able to sign up to a national scheme which would reduce the initial cost.

Since, Bracknell Forest Council has told the News: “We are working with trade and individual drivers on the practicalities of implementation and the matter will be subject to further dialogue at the forthcoming trade/council liaison group.”

The council defended the requirements of a Certificate of Good Conduct as ‘both proportionate and necessary’.

Mr Lacximicanta said: “After exchanging a few emails with Bracknell Forest Council taxi licensing officers to discuss changes to the recent policy, they are reviewing the situation again.

“Now, we are waiting for BFC's response, especially after receiving opinions from the drivers of our taxi association.”

In response, BFC said: “Bracknell Forest Council remains committed to promoting public safety via proportionate, necessary and balanced checks to keep the travelling public safe.”

The next licensing and safety committee has the provisional date of October 14.

So someone who fled oppression at the age of 10 and a half, with his family, will require a 'certificate of good conduct' from the people they were fleeing from.

That makes so much sense.

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IDFIMH

Our Council have introduce the same rule even though the Government stated from the age of 18. When I questioned the council about getting the certificate under the circumstances that you mention I was told thet they would be exempt.
Also One driver here who spends about 4 months in Thailand each winter was told that to get one from the Thai embassy would cost over £200 and the person at the Council requesting that this be provided must accompany the applicant to the embassy. like that is going to happen.

With all the 'rape gang' stuff kicking off, I doubt they'll make much progress getting stuff like this changed.

All very complicated though, as anyone who's ever tried to read any of the official stuff on this kind of thing will be aware

Thankfully, for the near-30 years I've been in the trade, never lived much more than 30 or so miles from where I was born


Bracknell Taxi drivers fight certificate of good conduct

Bracknell councillors have blocked an appeal from taxi drivers to change rules around background checks after the trade said it could 'discriminate' against foreign nationals.

Bracknell Forest Council approved new rules in November 2023 which meant that any driver that has spent more than three months outside of the UK since the age of 10 must obtain a 'certificate of good conduct' from the relevant embassy.

But Manoj Laximicanta, chair of Bracknell's Hackney Taxi Drivers Association, said when applying for a certificate from the Mozambique embassy, he was told they didn't have the documentation to provide one.

Licensing officer Vikki Rigden confirmed at a Licensing and Safety Committee meeting last night (January 30) that the embassy 'did not have the records at all'.

But Mr Laximicanta was able to provide a certificate from another country he resided in before coming to the UK, Ms Rigden said.

It comes as the trade proposed changes to the rules - the main one being to increase the age requirement for the certificate from ten years to 18 years old.

The trade - comprised of around 95 per cent foreign nationals - previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it could lead to 'potential discrimination' against ethnic minorities with 'inevitable delays' in renewing a licence.

It is also not in line with neighbouring West Berkshire's policy, which asks for a certificate from the age of 18.

But the council's licensing team has 'strongly advised against' the increase in age as it would 'put a UK citizen at a disadvantage'. This is because UK citizens must disclose all of their convictions before they were 18 years old as part of DBS checks.

Speaking at last night's meeting, Mr Laximicanta urged the rule change to 'prevent further strain on our already struggling trade'.

Councillor Nazar Zahurrudin asked licensing officers how many applicants had been able to provide an accurate certificate of good conduct.

"There's lots of countries which got freedom around the 1970s or got bifurcated, and geographical changes happened," he explained.

Licensing officer Vikki Rigden said that around ten to 20 had been supplied per year, explaining: "It's fairly regular that we ask for a certificate of good conduct and we receive it straight away."

An amendment was agreed to exclude the birth country of asylum seekers from the policy, but they would have to provide a certificate for countries they resided in for more than three months before reaching the UK.

Following the meeting, Mr Laximicanta accepted the rules should be in line with UK nationals, but said drivers he represented were 'not one hundred per cent happy, or even fifty per cent happy.

That seems odd, at least in terms of what I understand as 'foreign nationals'. Which off the top of my head I'd assume means someone born overseas who isn't a British citizen...

I would get 95 per cent being 'overseas heritage', or whatever (ie could be born here and always been a British citizen), but not 95 per cent 'foreign nationals'. Of course, I could be totally wrong...

Couldn't help notice the sign in the photo either - never seen one like this before. And it's presumably an official sign rather than one stuck up by the trade...



And you'd hope only 'local taxis' are using the rank anyway

lazy journalism perhaps ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector