Taxi Driver Online

The net is clearly closing in on City of Edinburgh Council.

Cab Inspector Frank Smith was asked what my rights were under the councils investigation and disciplinary process, and all he could answer was "What Rights?" It was, and is, a clear abuse for anyone to be questioned under a civil process by a Police Inspector with criminal investigation powers, when an individual could be, and some have been, coerced into giving up personally damaging information, and that information could then be used against him/her. And the council was aware of what it was doing. It is documented they knew about this at least when they revoked the Skull's licence.

It was only a matter of time before the council was forced to act.

And they have. I have today learned that on Friday CEC took the decision to bring the cab office in house and end the involvement of the Police.

Of course, CEC will claim that it was just another of its normal "reviews" of policy. And CEC will point to other councils where the Police aren't involved.

But CEC's difficulty in telling me what my rights are, is legion here. CEC is dragging its feet with the Information Commissioner who is reviewing their refusal to divulge information about what individuals' rights are, claiming legal privilege. Or show how they administered identification of rights, and how they applied them. If they'd nothing to hide, then why would they? Remember CEC doesn't tell those they drag before their kangaroo court system what their rights are at the outset, or during their process.


And the council is "depending" on the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to help obscure the failure in its administration process to identify rights and apply them.

So, we expected this latest move. The council thinks that by making this change, it can absolve itself for all those whose licences and livelihoods have been removed without properly according them their fundamental right to a fair hearing - enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, and placed directly in UK Law with the Human Rights Act 1998.

But there's a considerable number of former and existing cabbies who were stiffed by CEC's abuse. Who were placed in financial difficulty by a process that abused them, and their families.

Play your usual game CEC. Nothing you can now do is unexpected.

The Langoliers are coming.

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

Yes, Jim, it looks like our legacy is getting rid of the Cab Office. Oh and trust me boys, it was down to us, but I don't expect. We will end up with any of the credit.

Now all we need is the council to answer the question of, how they singularly failed to communicate or to protect our rights, throughout the process of their investigations.

Oh and let's hope the SPSO and the Information Commissioner finally get their finger out and actually do their job, instead of trying to cover for these scumbags.

Only time will tell....

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Skull does that mean you now have grounds for appeal, and could come back into the trade, with a nice settlement sum to help you

Good news, but will they now fill those spots with retire police folk?

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IDFIMH

The problem here is that the politicians have allowed the unelected executive to rule the roost. And since Inch retired, the council hasn't had anyone capable of directing the script.

Restructuring licensing into Services for Communities (isn't that a laugh?), refusing to answer reasonable questions, hiding behind legal privilege, CCTV in taxis, taking Police involvement in a civil process out of the mix - doesn't it all speak volumes?

And all while restricting taxis, restricting the freedom of drivers to determine their own futures, while allowing Private Hire, substantially owned and managed by questionable interests, to thrive, grow, and cut the feet out of the taxi trade.

We must be reaching the point where questions should be asked about motives. Why would any reasonable council be doing all of this? What does it have to hide? Who in the council is benefitting from such clearly vested interest shenanigans?

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

Not for an appeal but once we have the information we are looking for there might be grounds for compensation. To be honest, I don't know how it will play out, we'll have to get it in front of a lawyer to see what our options are, given that the council has been acting illegally.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

What price a class action. What chance that those who have been abused will sniff the reward of compo and put their head above the parapet. Nothing to be lost, compo to be gained.

They get cash. Edinburgh's council taxpayers pay the piper.

Would that be enough for folks to start holding arrogant criminal councillors to account?

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

Do you think they have changed the police bit due to the new police set up?

Maybe Police Scotland have better things to prioritise rather than taxi stuff.

_________________
IDFIMH

The "Police bit" has been illegal for at least the last 13 years, but no one ever challenged the process.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

From what I've been reading the taxi examinations will take place at the council repo on Russell road, this part is been taking in house, and all the current testers moving with it as part of the council, the role of the cab inspector and his two assistants is staying in place although its not clear if he is dealing with any discipline, according to the papers, the council considered three options 're the testing of vehicles, and decided to move it in house as it would have otherwise been put to tender and police Scotland said they would not make a bid, so to maintain standards they brought in house and bolted on the cab inspector if you like

So from what I can make out not much will change except the venue and headed paper

According to all sources this is a procurement exercise more than a knee jerk reaction to any pressure from disgruntled cabbies ie Garry and Jim, now don't shoot the messenger

Watch this space, Inspector Smith is on his way out, and the Police will not be investigating complaints of a civil nature on behalf of the council. Oh and you will be informed of your rights and not just your obligations when faced with an investigation.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

If your right about the discipline procedure it can only benefit cabbies, it does say that a cab inspector will be maintained to do the necessary background checks and to stop and infiltration by criminal elements, tho as you put it it may not be inspector Smith,

All very wooly.

But a recent FOI request will tell us what role Frankie will have in the disciplinary process.

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"