Taxi Driver Online

This is quite informative in some ways, and contains some stuff that's not normally in similar articles.

Problem is, as far as enforcement is concerned it fails to get to the crux of compliance operations against cross-border cars generally (which is normally the responsibility of the licensing authority) and the plying for hire issue (which would normally be the responsibility of the council in which area the plying for hire takes place).

Most obviously, absolutely nothing to stop Bedford taking action as regards cross-border cars plying for hire, correct me if I'm wrong...??

(Think maybe another recent article from Bedford in another thread, but haven't looked it up...)


Call for council to clamp down on out of town minicab drivers illegally taking trade from Bedford taxis

https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/pol ... is-4665866

Bedford’s hackney drivers are demanding to know why Bedford Borough Council isn’t taking reports of out-of-area drivers flaunting the law when picking up passengers.

The Bedford Action Group (which represents hackney and private hire drivers, including taxis and minicabs) claimed minicab drivers from other areas are dropping off their fares in Bedford – and then illegally touting for fares by parking in taxi ranks when their licence only covers booked passengers.

They say this is taking trade away from local hackney drivers.

But Bedford Borough Council said it has no legal powers to investigate or sanction drivers from other areas.

David Masih, from Bedford Action Group, said: “If Bedford drivers go to other areas, such as Milton Keynes, and illegally pick up passengers, their compliance officers have no hesitation to report the driver to Bedford Borough Council

“Why is our council not the same?

“It just seems that these out of town drivers see Bedford as a soft touch, so they can break the law with no repercussions.”

A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson said: “Private hire vehicles licensed by other local authorities can only operate in the borough when they are booked through a private hire operator licenced by Bedford Borough Council.

“Complaints about a vehicle licenced by another local authority should be reported directly to the local authority that has licenced the vehicle.

“This is because only that authority has legal powers to investigate the complaint and impose any sanctions against the licence holder.

“If the complaint is made to Bedford Borough Council, we will refer it to the authority which licensed the vehicle, who would then need to contact the person submitting the complaint.”

In the Department for Transport’s Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Best Practice Guidance for Licensing Authorities in England (November 2023), it says “licensing authorities should, where the need arises, jointly authorise officers from other authorities so that compliance and enforcement action can be taken against licensees from outside their area”.

The guidance said such an agreement would enable the use of compliance and enforcement powers regardless of which authority within the agreement employs the officer and which issued the licence.

Therefore will mitigate the opportunities for licensees to evade regulation.

As an example of a joint authority agreement, Telford & Wrekin Council has recently prosecuted a Shropshire Council private hire vehicle driver for unlawfully picking up passengers.

Telford & Wrekin Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that it formalised a Local Authority Joint Partnership for taxi licensing earlier this year to work together to “safeguard the public and bring a consistent approach to licensing and enforcement”.

The LDRS asked the council why it didn’t have a similar agreement in place with bordering authorities.

The spokesperson said: “We are currently looking at the number of vehicles operating in our area that are currently licensed by other authorities.

“We will then look to discuss enforcement with the individual councils.”

David Masih said: “Under the Town Police Clauses Act updated 1976, Bedford council could take action against out of town drivers for criminal offences.

“More needs to be done to protect the public and the local trade."

Don't know if the U-word is involved in Bedford but, as they demonstrate elsewhere, the first paragraph is very misleading.

And so is the second paragraph, if it's illegal plying for hire, surely?

clearly that council spokesman needs educating on taxi law but the crux of the matter is that the outdated law relating to taxis means many councillors and some trade members don't understand it.






so will Stuart be on the forum or watching ITV 8pm tonight ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Must be a couple of decades since I've watched a match, so I'll be getting ready to go out about 9pm for a few hours after I've had my tea

On the other hand, you'd think the guys trading in St Andrews as 'Scotland Taxis' and with huge saltires (the Scottish St Andrews cross flag) on the side of their motors won't be on the ranks tonight.

But I'd guess they'll actually be the ones who definitely will be there, and carrying on as if nothing is happening

(The chap who had his car kicked the other night is one of the 'Scotland Taxis' crew )

especially if they've just watched the first half

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Record it then and send that evidence to the council. If it's as rife as it's being made out then there should be no shortage of evidence.

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IDFIMH

Well let's make it up as we go along.

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IDFIMH