Taxi Driver Online

Edinburgh children's Taxi Outing set to be scrapped due to police escort rule change

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... ge-8639735



This year’s Edinburgh Taxi Drivers Outing is set to be cancelled due to a national policy change which will prevent police from escorting the procession.

Organisers of the event, which has been an annual fixture since the 1940s, said they have been informed of a policy change from the National Police Chiefs Council which means that police officers will no longer be able to escort the event which takes place annually in Edinburgh and East Lothian.

The popular event is a staple on the Edinburgh calendar and is funded by Edinburgh taxi drivers who decorate their black cabs and provide a memorable day out for children with additional needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses.

It is understood that Police Scotland had offered to provide “static support” along Princes Street, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Park and Meadowbank. But organisers said that the procession would be stuck in general traffic throughout the rest of the route.

Keith J Bell, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Outing Committee, said: “Given that it takes approximately six minutes for the convoy to pass a static point, it would take about 10 minutes for us all to navigate the first set of lights at Western Corner.

“When we get to Roseburn, the inside lane will be blocked due to parked vehicles and if the first couple of vehicles are waiting to turn right towards Murrayfield Stadium, you might manage three to four vehicles progressing towards Haymarket per green light.”

Mr Bell added that the children for whom the event is put on would “not manage to cope with sitting stationary for who knows how long”.

He said that the committee has therefore “reluctantly decided” to cancel this year’s outing.

He said: “The children participating on the Outing have a variety of needs and some will not manage to cope with sitting stationary for who knows how long waiting for the taxis at the back to catch up so, as our number one priority has been, and always will be the comfort and safety of the children, we have reluctantly decided to cancel this year's Outing.”

The parade was first held in 1947 and has been held annually in the years since - except from in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. It returned to much fanfare in 2022, and has been held ever since.

Taxis draped in balloons drive participating children and their families through the city where passers-by soaked up the festive atmosphere as well as getting literally soaked by water pistols fired from the passing cabs.

Mr Bell said that the Outing has received support from both City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland. He called the move to remove support “the law of unintended consequences”.

He added: “I'm pretty sure that when the National Police Chief's Council were discussing the creation of their policy, they wouldn't have known about the Edinburgh Taxi Outing, as the lead of the organisation is the Chief Constable of Cheshire, but the result of their policy is that an event for children with additional needs that has been in force since 1947 is now no more.

“I will be encouraging anyone who feels so motivated to contact their MPs, MSPs and councillors to see whether they can obtain persuade the NPCC to grant an exemption from their policy for the Outing.”

Chief Inspector Craig Rogerson, of Police Scotland, said: “I have spoken with the event organisers and provided clarity regarding the operational considerations associated with this year’s event. We remain committed to working constructively with the organising committee and other key delivery partners to explore alternative options that would allow the event to proceed safely.”

City of Edinburgh Council and the National Police Chiefs' Council have been contacted for comment.

_________________
IDFIMH

Is it too simple an answer to start the outing on the outskirts of the city?

_________________
IDFIMH

I bet if it had been an anti "right wing" protest convoy they would have provided the escort

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

Lots of stuff in the press about this, and politicians from various parties making political hay out of it all - of course, none of them will want to go against the grain of opposition to the police position on this

And given the head of steam its built up, I suspect the decision will be reversed...

Just two of the latest pieces:



Police Scotland set to meet with Edinburgh Taxi Outing organisers amid cancellation fears

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... ng-8641472

Police Scotland said they will engage with organisers of Edinburgh Taxi Outing after fears the event could be cancelled



Emergency Edinburgh council meeting called over cancelled taxi outing

https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2026 ... xi-outing/

An emergency council meeting has been called over the forced cancellation of the annual Edinburgh Taxi Trades Outing.

Another slew of pieces about this today

A few different angles, but maybe this is interesting because of the accusations of police deflection and 'contested narratives' kind of stuff. Which, of course, is one of my pet themes on here, whether licensing authorities per se, or the wider stuff about policing etc.


Police accused of 'deflecting blame' in Edinburgh sick kids taxi row

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/261 ... -taxi-row/

Police Scotland have been accused of “deflecting blame” in an ongoing row over the Edinburgh sick kids taxi outing.

The force initially told organisers of the much-loved event that they would not be able to provide a motorcycle escort due to national regulations set by the National Police Chiefs' Council.

However, outing committee secretary Keith Bell says the force could have provided an escort after all.

He said: “It is now quite clear that Police Scotland‘s attempt to use the National Police Chief Council‘s policy was designed to deflect the blame for Police Scotland’s choice to no longer provide motorcycle escorts for our event.

“This action has led to the unfair demonisation of the NPCC and Chief Constable Mark Roberts who wrote the original policy.”

Mr Bell said he has spoken with Chief Constable Roberts, of Cheshire Constabulary, about the policy change.

According to Mr Bell, Chief Constable Roberts, who is the national lead for football at the NPCC, was confused by Police Scotland’s decision.

He said that the policy had been written for “footballing matters”, and not for parades like the taxi outing.

Since 1947, dozens of brightly-decorated taxis have ferried children with additional support needs, life-limiting conditions, and terminal illnesses to the East Lothian coast for a fun-filled afternoon.

However, the decision by Police Scotland to scrap its motorcycle escort means the procession will be subject to city centre congestion and traffic conditions, which could affect the “comfort and safety” of participants.

“It’s really disappointing that Police Scotland couldn’t just be honest and open at the start and just say that they were no longer willing to support the event,” Mr Bell added.

“Instead they used the NPCC and Chief Constable Mark Roberts as some kind of scapegoat, and when they were found out, they doubled down and claimed they were in discussions with us to find a solution."

A spokesperson for the NPCC confirmed that forces are independent to apply policies however they wish.

"The NPCC develops national policy on behalf of all forces to provide clarity and consistency across policing,” they said.

"Forces are operationally independent, so it is for an individual force to carefully consider how a policy is applied in any given circumstance."

Asked for comment, Police Scotland said they had nothing to add to a previous statement.

That statement read: “We continue to engage with the event organisers to provide clarity on the operational considerations associated with the event and how we can work with them to facilitate it.

“We are committed to doing what we can to ensure this event goes ahead and working with our key partners, we will look to arrange a further meeting with the organisers.

“Hopefully this meeting will allow us to explore alternative options and agree on a way to move forward with what is a valued community event.”

However, Mr Bell has contested this narrative.

He said on Wednesday morning: “I can confirm that the only ‘discussion’ I’ve had with Police Scotland was at 11 am on Monday 25th May where I was told that Police Scotland would no longer be escorting us with motorcyclists.

“We were merely told that due to the NPCC policy, no motorcyclists would be able to support us going forward but that they were trying to find somewhere officers to control a few junctions in the city centre.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Neil Gray urged organisers and the force to work out a solution so the event could go ahead as planned.

“The annual children’s taxi outing is a valued community event and I know how much everyone involved looks forward to it,” Mr Gray told The Herald.

“While this is an operational matter for Police Scotland, I welcome ongoing discussions between them, organisers and local partners to try to identify a solution so it can go ahead.”

A petition aimed at preventing the cancellation of the event has received more than 700 signatures.

Green light for Edinburgh Taxi Outing after police escort row

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgz74le0jjo



A charity drive led by black cab drivers in Edinburgh looks set to go ahead after police agreed to support the event.

The annual Edinburgh Taxi Outing - which takes children with additional support needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses for a day out - was shelved earlier this week after officers declined to provide a motorbike escort due to a "policy change".

Taxi drivers said that decision meant they could no longer guarantee the "safety and comfort" of the children due to the risk of becoming stuck in traffic.

But, following a meeting, taxi officials and senior officers have now agreed an "outline plan" for the drive which will allow the event to proceed as planned on 9 June.

A final decision is expected to be ratified during a meeting between the police, taxi outing organising committee and City of Edinburgh Council on Thursday.

BBC Scotland News understands that police will provide a partial escort, but measures will be in place to ensure the convoy does not have to stop at red lights.

The taxi outing, which began in the 1940s, sees children taken from Edinburgh Zoo to Archerfield Walled Garden, near North Berwick.

Cabbies traditionally cover their vehicles with balloons and other colourful decorations.

Pupils from local schools often line the route to watch the convoy pass.

Police usually provide a full motorbike escort to ensure the vehicles can safely move through any traffic.

However, a change to the rules around which events police can provide motorbike escorts to meant the parade was no longer eligible.

Keith J Bell, organiser of the outing, previously said he believed Police Scotland had misinterpreted the rules.

But he said a "workable solution" had been found which would allow the event to go ahead following a meeting with the assistant chief constable.

He added: "I'm hopeful we will be able to finalise a plan that allows the event to take place, which will be great news for the children and families involved.

"I would like to thank everyone who contacted the police, their MP, their MSPs and others and the outing committee is deeply humbled by the love and support that has been shown by so many."

'Overjoyed and relieved'

Police Scotland said "constructive discussions" had been held to ensure the outing was able to run on its original route.

Supt Neil Wilson said further discussions would take place to "finalise" the police operation and "ensure the children enjoy their day."

City of Edinburgh Council called an emergency meeting over the initial decision to cancel the event on Tuesday.

Local authority staff may be called on to help facilitate the event.

Council leader Jane Meagher said she was "overjoyed and relieved" that a solution had been found.

She added: "I know how valued and important this event is to families across the city and look forward to seeing the wonderful sight of brightly decorated taxis on our streets once again – in what I'm sure will be another fun-filled and memorable day out."

_________________
IDFIMH

You have got to wonder about the common sense of the Police when they decided to bin off the escort.

Did they really think that the trade and all those that they had planned to take on the outing would simply allow that decision to remain?

If I weren't such a polite person, I would call those who made the original decision as thick as pigs sh**.

_________________
IDFIMH