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| Cabbies with criminal records granted licences by council http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11170 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Cabbies with criminal records granted licences by council |
Cabbies with criminal records granted licences by council Cabbies with a record of dishonesty have been granted licences to drive taxis and minicabs in Warwick district. Five drivers with declared criminal convictions have been given licences in the past year by Warwick district councillors, and only two have been turned down. One driver's application was accepted even though a Criminal Records Bureau check revealed he had four convictions and four cautions on top of those he had declared. The facts came to light after it emerged that councillors will consider four more applications on Monday from drivers with convictions, and one from a driver whose licence was suspended. The Courier was refused permission to see details of the offences. Les Austin is a former chairman of Warwick District Hackney Carriage Drivers' Association and called on those applying the law to be "fair across the board". He said: "There are an awful lot of drivers trying to do the job properly. "If they see people getting away with these things and getting into the industry they are going to lose respect for councillors and officials." The authority's regulatory committee must decide whether the applicants are "fit and proper" to drive taxis or minicabs. Among the cases the Courier learned of were two drivers permitted licences after being turned down by Birmingham City Council. Another received a formal warning after being caught with one tyre worn down to its thread and a broken light, and another was asked to be "mindful over his future conduct" after refusing a medical examination and abusing officials. While most people convicted of an offence need not declare it on job application forms after a set period of time, taxi drivers must declare all previous crimes. Mr Austin said this made sense with serious crimes such as violent or sexual offences but he saw little use in declaring minor traffic offences from 30 years ago. Coun Michael Kinson (Con, Warwick South) is responsible for licensing policy. He said: "The fact that these drivers are appearing before the regulatory committee does illustrate that we are controlling them. "The decision to grant is up to the panel. The applicants can appeal to the magistrates if they feel they have not had a fair hearing and this does happen." The regulatory committee will meet at Leamington town hall on Monday at 3pm. |
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