Taxi Driver Online

Saw this stuff on Twitter over the weekend.

A lot of this is pretty formulaic - and the usual boilerplate response from Wolves - but here there's the added angle that CCTV is compulsory in Portsmouth.

It's presumably a local operator's driver rather than Uber, though


Portsmouth leaders slam dangerous Wolverhampton taxi licence loophole after passenger's harassment claims

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/polit ... ms-5213326

Portsmouth councillors are demanding urgent action to stop out-of-town taxis operating in the city after a woman was allegedly sexually harassed by a driver licensed in Wolverhampton.

Members of Portsmouth City Council have expressed outrage following the incident, in which the driver reportedly made sexual advances toward a passenger while taking her home from hospital.

The vehicle was licensed by The City of Wolverhampton Council, which is known for a quicker, cheaper application process and does not require CCTV in licensed vehicles.

A 44-year-old woman from Baffins told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday, 2 July, after visiting her mother in hospital.

She contacted the private hire firm, which told her to call back in the morning, but eventually took a report. When management later phoned her, she said they “talked over” her, making her feel unheard. She then reported the incident to police.

Councillor Emily Strudwick, chair of the licensing committee, defended Portsmouth’s stricter standards, citing CCTV, newer vehicles and local vetting.

“All of that is being undermined by vehicles licensed in places like Wolverhampton, where standards are far lower,” she said.

“We’re seeing dozens of these cars every month in Portsmouth. We have no enforcement power over them, and it puts the public at risk. The Government must act to restore control to local authorities and close the loopholes that are putting lives in danger.”

Councillor George Madgwick, leader of the Portsmouth Independents Party, urged residents to avoid Wolverhampton-plated taxis, calling the lack of CCTV a serious failure in “deterrent, protection, and accountability”.

A police spokesperson said: “A 32-year-old man from Portsmouth has been arrested on suspicion of attempting sexual assault on a female and using threatening or abusive words to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. He remains in custody at this time.”

A council spokesperson said Portsmouth City Council can direct residents wishing to complain about out-of-area drivers to the relevant licensing authority.

Councillor Lee Hunt, cabinet member for community safety, leisure and sport, said: “PCC prioritises public safety and enforces strict taxi licensing standards, including CCTV, enhanced DBS checks, and local knowledge tests.

“However, current national legislation allows taxis licensed elsewhere, such as Wolverhampton, to operate in Portsmouth if booked through a licensed operator. This frustrates our ability to apply local safety standards.

“We strongly support changes to national rules that would give our council the power to ensure all taxis operating in our city meet the high standards we set to protect our residents.

“I urge anyone assaulted or aggrieved in any way to contact the city licensing department and police. I know local taxi and private hire drivers will be horrified by any allegations of misconduct.”

Between April 2023 and March 2024, Wolverhampton Council issued over 20,000 licences to drivers living outside its area.

In April, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called for more powers to manage the trade after a third of taxi drivers in the city were found to be registered in Wolverhampton.

A City of Wolverhampton Council spokesperson said: “It is illegal for the council to refuse applicants a taxi licence on the basis of where they live. Under the current law, applicants are able to apply to any licensing authority for a licence.

“It is also illegal for licensing authorities to impose a limit on the number of private hire licences they issue.

“The council does not gain financially from taxi licensing, as the fees are legally ringfenced for spend only on related activities.”

They added that safeguarding is their “number one priority” and highlighted investment in “innovative technology” to lead nationally. Wolverhampton is the only council running daily DBS checks and the first to introduce smartphone licence verification.

“We take enforcement responsibilities seriously and our officers are out across the country, every Friday and Saturday night, working to protect the public.

“The council has three teams of compliance officers, one based in Wolverhampton, another in the East Midlands and another in the North of England.

“CCTV was previously consulted on and was not considered proportionate for Wolverhampton due to drivers being able to turn it off.

“Panic-switch activated audio recording CCTV systems, which can be activated by the passenger, are permitted.”

The taxi firm was approached for comment.

And, of course, the CCTV angle mentioned by Wolves in addition to their usual stuff is because of the compulsory CCTV in Portsmouth.

But the bit about permitting "panic-switch activated audio recording CCTV systems, which can be activated by the passenger", is pure PR and deflection. I mean, if a driver is a wrong 'un, he's not going to fit a voluntary system like that, surely?

Anyway, the independent councillor quoted above has been making a bit of noise about all this online. And below is the open letter he sent to transport secretary Heidi Alexander MP.

Which is all very compelling and articulate and all that. But read it closely and he's prejudged guilt regarding the whole incident. Which, as a member of the licensing committee and a law graduate (the LLB after his name), he should maybe know better about

Of course, that may sound a bit nitpicking, and obviously the driver wouldn't be considered by Portsmouth's licensing committee.

But, on a grander scale, that's the sort of reason I've never trusted the whole process since c. 1996

If anyone wants to actually read the letter, maybe better to click on the links to the higher-res versions below the two graphics displayed here...





https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GvFi4ioXEAA ... name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GvFi4inWoAA ... name=large

Kind of thought I might come across something like this with a basic Google search...wonder if he thinks the same about taxi drivers accused of overcharging, say? Been there, done that, lived to tell the tale blah, blah


Portsmouth councillor: “Little scroats” who brazenly stole £500 worth of vapes should be “willing to take a beating”

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/crime ... ng-4477683

A city councillor has said “little scroats” who brazenly helped themselves to £500 worth of vapes from a Portsmouth shop should be “willing to take a beating” for their audacious actions.

As reported, a group of children, thought to be aged in their early teens, were caught on CCTV entering Vape N’ Beans in Commercial Road around 7.30pm on Friday before taking boxes of the most expensive vapes they could get their hands on. The gang had waltzed into the newly opened shop with a female at the front of the group dancing while saying, “let’s, let’s go”.

The pack then casually select which vapes they want and even engage with a member of staff before strolling out the store in high spirits. The owner of the business, who does not want to be named, said other similar raids have been carried out on other stores in Commercial Road by youths and told The News: “This needs to be stopped or they will just carry on.”

A social media post on the incident attracted numerous responses with councillor George Madgwick, group leader of the Portsmouth Independents Party, among them. The Paulsgrove councillor wrote: “Should have smashed two bells of **** into the little scroats. Defend your business and deal with consequences after. If people are willing to steal from you they have to be willing to take a beating.”

Cllr Madgwick’s post saw 56 people “like” or respond with a heart emoji in solidarity with the councillor’s view. People responding to the post gave their opinion to the remark. One person said: “Well said George bud.”

Another wrote: “Not sure that's the best advice George. You can't do that without getting arrested and in trouble.” A third disagreed and posted: “Exactly the moto we have in my shop.”

A fourth person then fumed at the councillor’s remark. They said: “Extremely shocked to see an elected councillor condoning violence. It is one thing wanting to protect a business but to suggest taking justice into your own hands? That is the police's job, going against the rule of law can be really dangerous. Really not great leadership or integrity from someone who has been elected.”

But a fifth person, responding to the ”shocked” person, said: “I didn’t even realise he was a councillor. But I think it's brilliant.”


Image: Portsmouth News

Cllr Madgwick, who runs Drayton restaurant Valletta, then added: “Don't be shocked. I might be an elected councillor. But I'm not and never have been a ‘politician’. I'm a Pompey boy and raised to protect my own. The police do a good job with the rubbish resources they are given. So something like theft in a shop will never be dealt correctly and shop keepers will never be compensated.

“What your view of good leadership I guarantee is different to most in our community. I'm a Grover (Paulsgrove) and in our community we deal with issues in-hand and integrity would be defined as protecting yourself, your family and your community against criminals.”

The more local politicians write to the ministers the better.

I still believe it's the pen pushers at the DfT who are resisting change, but the government needs to stand up and sort out the cross-border mess, and they need to do it soon.

It's really not that hard a thing to do, especially given that Scotland has no issues and their law isn't really a million miles from ours.

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IDFIMH