Taxi Driver Online

A leading Dundee taxi driver today said the public should have the right to know what offences have been committed by taxi drivers

Speaking in the wake of revelations that 76 of the city’s taxi drivers have offences recorded against them, Graeme Stephen, chairman of the Dundee Taxi Association, wants names and offences published.
He was particularly concerned about taxi drivers with convictions for the misuse of drugs.

He said potential passengers should have the information that lets them choose whether to walk away or step in to a taxi.

Mr Stephen called for Dundee City Council, the licensing authority, to publish these details on their website.

Discussions about offences and whether to suspend or continue a taxi driver’s licence are usually held in private.

He said he was aware of a taxi driver who had a “drug-related issue” and, despite objections from the police, the council issued a licence for six months with the understanding he could keep it if he “stayed out of trouble”.

“I know of one case but there could be more because sometimes they take these decisions behind closed doors and we don’t get to know,” said Mr Stephen.

“I don’t think that’s very fair.

“If a taxi driver commits an offence and gets suspended, I feel the public has a right to know who this person is, what he has done and what punishment has been given out.

“I think that information should be in the public domain or, at the very least, should be on the council website.”

Mr Stephen said he had been driving for 25 years and had a clean driving licence but, were that not the case, potential passengers should have the option of giving his taxi a swerve.

“I am not saying the public have the right to know all the ins and outs of offences, and that is why cases are sometimes heard in private, but I think the public should know a driver’s name and what he has actually done.”

He said the public should know if a driver has a record for taking drugs, or speeding, or going through a red light as they may not wish to get in the taxi if that was the case.

While championing the right of the public to get more information, Mr Stephen pointed out only a small proportion of Dundee taxi drivers had committed offences.

A Freedom of Information request revealed around 5% of the city’s 1385 taxi drivers had offences recorded against them, something Mr Stephen believed would be fairly representative of society as a whole.

“If you go in to any company you would find employees with speeding and other driving offences,” he said.

“The offences that give me serious concerns are the drug related stuff. These people are taking members of the public around in taxis.”

Maybe it would have been easier if they didn't grant the badges in the first place then the public wouldn't have to worry, but a certain company seems to spring to my mind when thinking has spoken on behalf of most of the drivers in question!!

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat

I think that the information is flawed cause there is no mention of the driver who has an offence for armed robbery.

Where is this man coming from ??? certainly not from the body of his association with this drivel...It's hard enough gettimg backsides on seats just now, and he brings up this tosh !! It's been dealt with you dolt !!!!
Disclosure Scotland..!!!.As to whether wee jessie that goes up the hillltown should Know if her driver has run a red light in his chequered past...who cares ??? ....

didn,t mr stephen ask the council to remove the names and adresses of new license holders from their website once the meeting was concluded?something to do with privacy,the armed robber story is interesting(if its the same one)a man robs a club with a shotgun gets caught and jailed, the manager who was confronted puts a condition on any future taxi contracts,when a taxi picks up staff the driver must drive up on to the pavement and park under a camera, the door will not be opened otherwise,the robber now released is now a taxi driver himself,i wont name the company who got him his badge that would be cruel,i wonder what the managers face will be like when he faces the driver face to face again,ps my neighbour was refused his taxi badge 9 years ago (pre 203020)for a speeding offence

Dundee wav that is the same man.Also Mr stephens point i think was in relation to drivers who are up in front of the council for offences that the public and the trade should know about.Also it is also said that the police have objected to a number of drivers getting their badges and the council granting them most if not all have been 203020 applicants.Some applicants that were refused their badges went to 203020 and after Mr young speaking up for them were granted there badges.

I read the story in the evening Telegraph on the 18th and and just finished reading the follow up reply from Mr letford regards naming and shaming taxi drivers. The point I would like answered which no one seems to have raised is why did the licensing board for Dundee city Council which Mr Letford is the chairman grant the said licences to applicants who’s shady past was objected to by Tayside police?

Surely if the police have objections regards applicants then you would think their objections would be adhered to and would out way in most cases to refuse. I do understand that each case is heard on its own merits but when you here of some of the colourful character the licensing board have granted licenses to it beggar’s belief.

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat