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Londoners' Safety At Risk, Says TFL http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17231	Page 1 of 1

Author:	captain cab [ Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Londoners' Safety At Risk, Says TFL
Change In Rules Regulating Taxi Drivers Is Putting Londoners' Safety At Risk, Says Transport For London The safety of Londoners is being put at risk because of proposed changes to the rules regulating taxi drivers, industry bodies have said. Transport for London and black cab drivers are outraged at government plans to relax criminal checks on minicab and taxi drivers in the capital. A TfL spokesperson told the Huffington Post UK that the Home Office's decision could "compromise the safety" of Londoners. "The safety of passengers remains our number one priority. Every applicant for a taxi or private hire driver license in London is subject to an enhanced CRB check, which is repeated every three years upon renewal. It is vital that when making a licensing decision we have access to all relevant information. "We are greatly concerned that the restrictions proposed by the CRB and the Home Office will compromise the safety of the travelling public." The government is proposing to stop enhanced criminal record (CRB) checks - meaning taxi and mini cab drivers will only be prevented from getting a licence if they have a relevant conviction. General information about their criminal records will not be provided. The changes are likely to worry those who travel alone. A number of women told the Huffington Post UK that the new laws would not protect them. Lorna, a 39-year-old from Highgate said it was "nonsense" and could lead to more "dodgy" taxi drivers. "If you ask a taxi driver about their worst customers, they say it's the drunk girls. They have to follow specific rules. If you don't exercise the right caution about their background you're going to get more dodgy taxi drivers," she said. She said one friend had been locked in a cab in Covent Garden after the taxi driver started arguing with her. "This seems like a way to save money not make people safe," she said. Samantha, 24, from Stockwell said the decision was a "disgrace". Her colleague Claudia, 44 from Acton agreed saying taxi drivers should be "fully vetted" to help protect the public. The move has also provoked outrage from pressure group London TravelWatch who wrote to home office minister Lynne Featherstone over the decision. Their chair Sharon Grant said enhanced CRB checks help ensure drivers are "suitable". "It's unthinkable that important information held by the police should be denied to the licensing authorities during the vetting process." Black cab driver Charlie, 30, said the decision could ruin the reputation of his trade. "The London Black Cab trade in particular prides itself on the monitoring of its drivers, and the highly secure environments which we provide. "We take pride in offering a safe, secure service. "When a passenger hails a cab on the street, they are putting great trust in us; they are entering a vehicle with a complete stranger and putting themselves in that driver's control." But a Home Office spokeswoman said taxi drivers did not always need to go through enhanced checks: "The law has not changed. All taxi drivers are still required to undergo a standard criminal record check which will reveal details of any convictions, cautions and warnings held by police." http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/

Author:	jimbo [ Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:58 pm ]
Post subject:
And John Warboys, ex London Black cab driver, did he have a Standard or Enhanced CRB? AS the Home Office spokeswoman states, the Law has not changed. TfL, along with every Licencing Authority in England and Wales, (and probably Scotland) can only LEGALLY request a STANDARD CRB check on Taxi drivers. An ENHANCED check can only be sought where the driver is working with children or vulnerable adults within the meaning of the relevant acts (Police Act 1997 / Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) Check out the March 2011 Newsletter sent out by the CRB. "The Police Act 1997 sets out a list of employments and positions which are entitled to an Enhanced CRB check. As it currently stands, the issuing of a licence in respect of either a Taxi driver or Private Hire Vehicle driver is not listed. This Means that it would be ILLEGAL to request an Enhanced CRB check for the sole purpose of issuing a licence to a Taxi or PHV. driver." Do note the word "ILLEGAL" in the above. So whether TfL or your Local Council, or even you disagree is not relevant. They cannot break the law of the land. (can they?)

Author:	Sussex [ Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:17 am ]
Post subject:
jimbo wrote: Do note the word "ILLEGAL" in the above. So whether TfL or your Local Council, or even you disagree is not relevant. They cannot break the law of the land. (can they?) Exactly. I was told by senior CRB folks a few years ago that should a council refuse to license someone based on evidence from an Enhanced CRB, the council would have no legal defence if challenged in court. So by insisting on Enhanced tests, in fact councils are opening the gates to the bad guys. Which is why the law needs to be re-written.

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