Taxi Driver Online :: View topic - Nerves are a dangling in Edinburgh

"So anyone is perfectly entitled to apply for as many licences as they want."

Unlike black cabs, there are no restrictions on the prices private hire operators can charge. The existing operators are worried their west-coast rivals will start a price war with a view to driving them out of business.

Bill McIntosh, secretary of the Scottish Taxi Federation, said: "Some members have concerns about the situation in Edinburgh and we hope to raise these with the minister. "You have to remember there are no restrictions on private hire licences as long as they meet the police checks. "So anyone is perfectly entitled to apply for as many licences as they want."

Councillor Colin Keir, convener of the city council's regulatory committee, said he welcomed the Justice Secretary's meeting with the taxi and private hire trade. He said: "Because private hire is de-regulated, much of the movement within the trade is just down to commercial decisions taken by the individual organisations, which we don't have any bearing over."

Two weeks ago, police told of their fears that some of Glasgow's most notorious gangsters were attempting to expand their crime empire into the Capital - among them associates of millionaire gangland boss, Tam McGraw, known as "The Licensee".

McGraw, 55, is rumoured to be worth more than £20 million, having earned his nickname after establishing himself in Glasgow's pub trade.

Tam McGraw died today of a heart attack, according to BBC Scotland.

Author:	Sussex [ Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Nerves are a dangling in Edinburgh
MacAskill meets cabbies amid fears over Glasgow gangsters JUSTICE Secretary Kenny MacAskill is to meet with Edinburgh's taxi and private hire drivers to discuss fears about Glasgow-based rivals trying to buy into the Capital. There are fears some Glasgow businessmen looking to move into the city's private hire trade may have links with criminal gangs. Several Edinburgh private hire operators say they have had lucrative offers to sell up their businesses in recent months. One senior figure in the Edinburgh taxi trade said: "We are concerned about our business but people should be worried about the drugs, violence and money laundering that comes with some of the people looking to come here." Police raised fears last month that west coast gangsters want to infiltrate the Capital's private hire car firms, tanning salons, security businesses and the sex industry as "fronts" for drug dealing and money laundering. Mr MacAskill, the MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, will meet representatives of the Scottish Taxi Federation and the city's taxi and private hire firms to discuss their concerns. Unlike black cabs, there are no restrictions on the prices private hire operators can charge. The existing operators are worried their west-coast rivals will start a price war with a view to driving them out of business. Bill McIntosh, secretary of the Scottish Taxi Federation, said: "Some members have concerns about the situation in Edinburgh and we hope to raise these with the minister. "You have to remember there are no restrictions on private hire licences as long as they meet the police checks. "So anyone is perfectly entitled to apply for as many licences as they want." Councillor Colin Keir, convener of the city council's regulatory committee, said he welcomed the Justice Secretary's meeting with the taxi and private hire trade. He said: "Because private hire is de-regulated, much of the movement within the trade is just down to commercial decisions taken by the individual organisations, which we don't have any bearing over." Two weeks ago, police told of their fears that some of Glasgow's most notorious gangsters were attempting to expand their crime empire into the Capital - among them associates of millionaire gangland boss, Tam McGraw, known as "The Licensee". Officers fear organised criminals could use the taxi trade to help mask illegal activities, including drug dealing, in the Capital. Mr MacAskill is understood to have discussed the issue with Lothian and Borders chief constable David Strang and Graeme Pearson, head of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency. McGraw, 55, is rumoured to be worth more than £20 million, having earned his nickname after establishing himself in Glasgow's pub trade.

Author:	Sussex [ Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Nerves are a dangling in Edinburgh
Sussex wrote: "So anyone is perfectly entitled to apply for as many licences as they want." Remind me how that differs from the taxi trade?

Author:	TDO [ Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Nerves are a dangling in Edinburgh
Sussex wrote: Unlike black cabs, there are no restrictions on the prices private hire operators can charge. The existing operators are worried their west-coast rivals will start a price war with a view to driving them out of business. Well there's no limit to what PH can charge up the way, but if he's talking about lower fares, then his point is irrelevant. Indeed, there's plenty of discussion on Fastblacks about a price war between the black cabs if I'm reading it correctly. Quote: Bill McIntosh, secretary of the Scottish Taxi Federation, said: "Some members have concerns about the situation in Edinburgh and we hope to raise these with the minister. "You have to remember there are no restrictions on private hire licences as long as they meet the police checks. "So anyone is perfectly entitled to apply for as many licences as they want." So if there's a problem the vetting process must be pretty inadequate. Thus I can't really see the point about being able to apply for as many licences as they want - indeed, they can buy as many taxi licences as they want, and presumably there wouldn't be a problem if the price was right. Indeed, the grey market in plates would be a good avenue to launder money, surely? Quote: Councillor Colin Keir, convener of the city council's regulatory committee, said he welcomed the Justice Secretary's meeting with the taxi and private hire trade. He said: "Because private hire is de-regulated, much of the movement within the trade is just down to commercial decisions taken by the individual organisations, which we don't have any bearing over." So don't they vet PH drivers and vehicles, as in the taxi trade? I understand that the problem is with the booking offices, which aren't licensed, so the problems are potentially the same as in the taxi sector in both Scotland and England. This wouldn't be more to do with scaremongering vis-a-vis Jim Taylor's actions, would it, since the references to restricted numbers don't seem to hold much water. Shame on them

Author:	jasbar [ Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:
Of course Cllr keir knows so much about our taxi trade he thinks PH are de-regulated. They're not of course. They're just de-limited.

Author:	Fae Fife [ Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Nerves are a dangling in Edinburgh
Sussex wrote: Two weeks ago, police told of their fears that some of Glasgow's most notorious gangsters were attempting to expand their crime empire into the Capital - among them associates of millionaire gangland boss, Tam McGraw, known as "The Licensee". McGraw, 55, is rumoured to be worth more than £20 million, having earned his nickname after establishing himself in Glasgow's pub trade. Tam McGraw died today of a heart attack, according to BBC Scotland. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/gla ... 923023.stm

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Author:	GBC [ Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:22 pm ]
Post subject:
Well that sorts that one then.

Author:	gusmac [ Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Nerves are a dangling in Edinburgh
Fae Fife wrote: Tam McGraw died today of a heart attack, according to BBC Scotland. I'm sure there will be no shortage of people waiting to take over his 'interests'.

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