Taxi Driver Online

Black Cabby John Kennedy Calls for Reform at the PCO Following a Controversial Recent Directive

5th August 2008

Recently all London taxi-cab drivers received a letter from the Public Carriage Office which has caused great offence; many have found it insulting to say the least. The letter informed both taxi-cab and private hire drivers (mini-cab) that if they were found guilty of the offence of touting in a court of law transport for London via the Public Carriage Office would revoke their licence.

Now this may seem a reasonable thing for a licensing authority to do except the vast majority of touting cases within London just happen to be committed by licensed and unlicensed private hire drivers, therefore shouldn't the letter have been weighted correctly? Recently Mayor Johnson was out in London with Grant Davis Chairman of the London Cab Drivers Club and witnessed first hand the problem on the street's of the capital and I am sure he came to same the same conclusion that I have come to, touting by taxi-cab drivers is very rare and the capital's taxi-cab drivers are not the problem here the touts are!

But how can we solve this problem, well I am minded to believe that taxi-cabs in London are unique and have been managed by the PCO for many years, now the private hire trade is governed by very different laws and they do a very different job e.g. pre booked work only. If private hire drivers wish to "ply for hire" come and do the knowledge and join our ranks, you will be more than welcome, but because the two trades work differently, have different laws that govern them surely it makes a lot of sense to split the PCO in two and create a Private hire office to govern that trade under its relevant acts of parliament.

I think it's time for change within transport for London and the Public Carriage Office and maybe it's time for Mayor Boris Johnson to engage with the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, Unite/TGWU and the London Cab Drivers Club.

So before I put pen to paper and write my letter to City Hall maybe it's time for all parties to sit down and talk?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
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Touting is applicable to both licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers as well as anyone who isn't licensed. For the sake of fairness those who sent the letter probably had no other option than to word it the way they did.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

What is this fool on about?

If taxis don't tout then no-one from the black cab trade will lose their license.

Or would he rather Boris didn't have a 'one tout and you're out' policy?

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IDFIMH

When PHV's were first Licensed in London, although it has been proved time and time again that the 2 tiered system doesn't work ( i.e. in the provinces), we were told that both services were unique and give different services.
That said, they should never have lumped as all together under one LA the PCO. This is a Taxi War waiting to happen!

In My Opinion:

Some one should tell the PHV drivers that they are not taxis.
• The PCO should be just for Taxi's
• The PHV trade should be regulated and enforced by a separate authority say the PHVCO.
• There should be inspectors that travel round London to keep an eye on what these PHV drivers are doing as it is getting out of hand.
• The inspectors should be able there and then to put stops on unroadworthy cars and also to revoke PHV licenses for drivers found touting or illegally ranking.
Why do the PHV drivers on this site think that the taxi trade in London fear this new Law, we have been calling for this for years now and if a couple of black cab drivers get caught touting then its there own fault.

Be Luky

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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SF5ep04izcQ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2KDLd4gJ ... re=related

PCO Respond to Black Cabbies Criticism

6th August 2008

The London Daily News was issued a statement by the Public Carriage Office in relation to the recent leading article on the apparent controversy relating to touting and other policies that have infuriated the black cab community.

A TfL spokesperson speaking to the London Daily News stated:

"The PCO categorically rejects any suggestion that it is working against the Mayor. Certain elements within the taxi trade made the same accusations against the PCO under the previous Mayor - such accusations were, and still are, completely unfounded. Transport for London employees are public servants whose job is to deliver the policies set by the Mayor of London."

"Potential fare increase:

As for the 'serious snub', we did in fact consult with the main black cab groups (including those listed in your article - the LTDA, LCDC and Unite) as well as passenger groups. The consultation letter was sent out to the following groups:

a) London TravelWatch
b) London Chamber of Commerce & Industry
c) London First
d) Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association
e) London Cab Drivers' Club Ltd
f) Unite the Union (London cab trade section)
g) Heathrow Airport Licensed Taxis Ltd
h) London Suburban Taxi-drivers' Coalition
i) Computer Cab plc
j) Radio Taxis Group
k) Dial-a-Cab
l) London's Taxi Network
m) London Taxi Board "



AND ALSO;



Black Cab War with Boris; London to be Brought to Stand-still in Protests

6th August 2008

Not afraid to mix their words London's 24,000 black cab drivers are preparing for battle with Boris over a series of snubs and rebukes, Ken learnt to his peril that alienating the black cab fraternity carries a high price.

The influential black cab community of London are in the process of drawing the battle lines with City Hall following a series of significant snubs and developments all triggered by the Public Carriage Office. A recent directive sent to all the black cab trade from the Public Carriage Office warning against touting was according to one black cab driver "out of order for grouping us with private hire". Another serious snub was the announcement that fares on black cabs would increase if diesel exceeded 154p a litre, TfL did not consult the main black cab groups.

Boris Johnson pre-election was supported by the majority of the black cab community, but according to sources within the black cab trade "calls are not being returned by City Hall and we are not in the loop". The touting issue is a particularly sensitive issue for the black cab trade with Boris on 12 June participating in a fact finding mission with Grant Davis Chairman of the London Cab Drivers Club and said:
“There are taxi touts on the streets of the capital every night. They circle the hot spots of London to hunt their prey - innocent Londoners enjoying a good night out who may not be aware that these vehicles are not properly insured and pose a real danger to anyone tempted to use them."

"I am determined to ensure that every man and woman in this city can feel safe when they travel around London. From the moment they leave their home to the moment they return they should be able to travel in confidence. Removing touts from our streets will be another step in the right direction."

Following this a letter was sent to all private hire and black cab drivers in London warning against touting, something which infuriated the black cab drivers of the capital, London Daily News contacted the Public Carriage Office who categorically stated the directive against touting was meant to focus on the illegal mini-cab drivers and the "very small percentage of black cab drivers" who illegally tout for work. "Most touts are unlicensed drivers; among licensed drivers, the Public Carriage Office (PCO) accepts that touting is largely a problem within the private hire trade.

However there have been occurrences of touting by licensed taxi drivers, for example at Liverpool Street Station and at Heathrow Airport. In the interests of fairness to all drivers, and to prevent legal challenge to TfL, we must take a consistent approach to touting by both private hire and taxi drivers."

According to sources within the black cab community "if within one month we do not have a meeting with representatives of the mayor we will mobilise seven to eight thousand black cabs around City Hall and Tower Bridge and block London off".

The black cab community is increasingly calling for a division to take place within the PCO so that there is no amalgamation of the private hire or black cab driving fraternity. Grant Davis the Chairman of the London Cab Drivers club speaking to the London Daily News "it is about time the PCO setup two separate entities for the private hire and black cab drivers".

The growing trend within West End clubs and bars of setting up satellite offices and doorman organising a rank of private hire discriminates against black cab drivers. This is clearly a "touting movement by private hire" at prime locations in London and there is no enforcement of the law".

Moreover Boris should act promptly to avoid an early clash with the black cab drivers by engaging in meaningful dialogue with the LTDA, Unite/TGWU and the LCDC and not the radio circuits who do not represent the trade.

Another senior source within the black cab community warned against a protest and said:

"I am actively trying to prevent a protest against Boris. This is not Boris's doing but a malicious streak at the PCO a legacy of Ken that needs to be eradicated".

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

What a bunch of pillocks.

Just because they get a letter stating what the law is and what action the PCO will take if the law is broken.

If they are whiter than white, then it will never happen.

Perhaps the reason elements of the black cab trade have got the hump is they are not whiter than white.

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IDFIMH

We are not a bunch of pillocks, you have obviously missed the main point of the grievance.
WE do not want to by put in the same basket as Private hire.
We are not the same trade.
We do not do the same job.
This is were the trouble is being caused by PHV drivers who now think they are Taxi drivers.
This letter was just the straw that broke the camels back. Because it assumes we are ther same!
No one in our trade is sticking up for the handful of Licensed Taxi drivers who tout at the Liver and the one or two that tout at LAP, that's their own look out and no one will miss them when they get caught.
But the position in London is at boiling point with the amount of unlawful touting that is going on every night of the week. You can not appreciate the situation working in Brighton, you do not see the lines of cars outside the every venue, every night, ilegally takeing our work, with no one doing anything tyo stop them.
We saw this happen in Luton a few years ago. We warned it could break out in London but the PCO and TFL just snubbed their noises at us.
Well now its time to stop talking and start the action.

_________________
http://www.fleetway.ca/samples/cab.swf

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SF5ep04izcQ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2KDLd4gJ ... re=related

You are being put into the same bucket as everyone else is, the law applies to hackneys as much as it does for PH.

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IDFIMH

Other than legally plying and being able to be flagged down what isn't the same?

Both take folks from A to B for payment, and even the radio firms share work with the PH.

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IDFIMH

That applies to the vast amount of licensed PH, and every spokes-person for the PH trade that I've ever come across.

Surely the trade, both PH and HC should be thanking Boris from the bottom of their hearts for his one tout and you're out policy.

The mere fact that the PCO sent out one letter instead of two is irrelevant, and to have a pop is farcical.

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IDFIMH

What because one letter was sent out instead of two? FFS.

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IDFIMH

How can a black cab be done for touting??? IE picking up a flag or even if they are stopped and someone wants taking, even if the driver asks a punter if they want a cab

even if the driver asks a punter if they want a cab

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Can I just say Grant Davis and the OAP's that go under the banner of the London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC) represent less than 1000 out of over 25'000 drivers.

They're views and constant need to demonstrate are the reason 98% of Taxi drivers in London have nothing to do with them, nor ever will.
If they recruit a new member, that's the headline on their newspaper that month.

This is their latest 'weapon' of attack, to flood every taxi forum with some of their members in a feeble attempt to make themselves appear bigger and more powerful than they are.

In an act of pure stupidity, they sacked their most powerful weapon, Alan Fleming, only to replace him with the young pretender.

The PCO once described them as troublemakers, I could'nt agree more.

No we're not.

The LCDC's pensioner brigade are.

All 900 of them.












This is the sort of crap Andersonshelter and his 6 cronies come out with, after all they are the only ones who would believe it.

What a joke.