New Rules Target Dodgy Taxi Firms
Aug 31 2009
Tough new rules which aim to put the brakes on taxi and private hire firms that are involved in illegal money laundering and drug offences will be introduced.
From November, all taxi and private hire companies in Renfrewshire will have to register for a licence under the new government mandatory licensing scheme.
They will also have to keep records of every booking they take, the registration number of the vehicle sent to each hire and the name of the driver involved.
Police and other authorities have pressed the government to introduce the new legislation amid concerns over illegal activities such as money laundering and drug-related crimes at some cab companies in Scotland.
The new legislation has been welcomed by Renfrewshire Cab Company – which is the largest private hire taxi firm in the Paisley area.
Spokesman Peter Kelso stressed that only those firms which are operating outside of the law have anything to fear.
He told the Paisley Daily Express: “There are some companies out there around the country which aren’t being run properly.
“Anyone who comes to our premises can see how well we are operated. We don’t have anything to worry about.
“We have been speaking to the local authority about this and know what we have to do.”
Mr Kelso revealed that Renfrewshire Cab Company already takes comprehensive records of bookings and these were put to good use during the investigation into the terror attack at Glasgow Airport in June 2007.
He said: “The police came to us after the airport incident and we were able to show them very quickly that we had been picking up the two doctors they suspected had been involved.
“We could show the police where we’d been taking them and picking them up from, the dates and times of hires and their mobile phone numbers.
“We’ve got a good system here which works well.”
A report to Renfrewshire Council’s Regulatory Functions Board told councillors that the Scottish Government has recognised concerns over the lack of regulation for taxi and private hire booking offices.
It added: “There is some evidence which suggests that some booking offices may be using unlicensed drivers and vehicles to fulfil hires and that other illegal activity may also be taking place.
“The new scheme seeks to address these issues.”
From November 16, any taxi or private hire firm which has not applied for the new licence and continues to operate a booking office will be committing an offence.
Renfrewshire Council has set the fee for a grant of a licence at £250 and the fee for renewal has been set at £500.
Licences will be issued for one year in the first instance and then two years on renewal.
Source; PaisleyDailyExpress.co.uk
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