Taxi Driver Online

Taxi turmoil?

LEYLAND, Bamber Bridge and Farington are bracing themselves for an influx of eastern European taxi drivers looking for work.

South Ribble Borough Council has received a number of applications from taxi and private hire drivers from Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

An agency specialising in finding work for taxi drivers from new EU member states has approached the council's licensing committee asking if they would issue cab licences to drivers.

The agency insists the drivers would be up-to-date with the UK highway code and would have the medical and criminal record checks required to start work in Britain.

But some cabbies in Leyland fear the criminal checks in their home countries may not be as stringent as British ones and are worried that some job seekers could be tempted to produce fraudulent documents.
Phillip Briggs, manager of Leyland Taxis, said: "There could be an issue with driving standards because I know of some drivers who have been here who have had their licence taken off them because they had five accidents in three weeks.

"We could be walking into a minefield in terms of passenger safety if that was the case. It's the passenger that counts most and if the driving was sub-standard and the criminal record checks were wrong we could end up losing customers.

"If they have taken a UK driving test then that's a different issue. We have had a couple of great guys from European countries who have worked for us. The language barrier was a problem for some of them but they used satellite navigation to find their way around."

Gary Sherlow, owner driver at Silvercabs, said: "I have no qualms in taking on anybody who has their own taxi and I would consider taking on a driver from eastern Europe. But I expect them to go through the same checks as we do over here.

"If they didn't it would put us in danger legally and it could also be dangerous for our customers. It is up to the council to issue the licenses and I have known a driver from Greece and a few others who have worked in Leyland.

"They went through the same checks and they were doing a good job."
Council officials have already indicated that foreign drivers would have to have a British licence for at least a year before they would consider granting a licence.

The matter was due to be discussed last night at South Ribble Council's licensing committee.

A report to members said: "On the face of it there is no reason why such a driver should not be licensed."

The report continued: "The committee may feel that under the circumstances we have little option but to grant a licence to any EU national who applies and fulfils the above criteria."

Paul Brent, north west regional director and vice chairman of the National Taxi Association, says it is an issue being discussed by cabbies all over the country.

He said: "This is a very delicate issue and it's a hot potato for councils up and down the country. The local authorities who issue the licences have got a problem because they don't want to appear to be prejudiced but they also have a duty to protect the public. The issue will be discussed in great detail at our next conference in October."

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

So the National Crime Register in Poland deleting criminal records after 10 years and 5 years for 'minor' offences isnt a reason?

Call me a tad old fashioned, but if people are going to enter the profession, I would like them to be very good and stay in the bleedin profession. I'm personally a little tired of the santa claus ethos we suffer from in being considered a 'stop gap' occupation.

Come here make a quick buck and bugger off back in a year or so?

Hardly the solid foundation for the future of this game of ours is it?

Furthermore, if training companies are selling themselves on the basis of making us more professional, then how can these same training companies encourage this type of practice?

Rant over

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I agree, Herr Kapitan!

thank you

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Captain really interested in your info on crim checks Poland and elswhere could you be so kind as to post it?
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Of course Terry,

heres the links;

http://www.crb.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=289&qid=3043

http://www.crb.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2243

if you click on Poland this is what the CRB say

Content of certificates

Convictions are deleted after 10 years and minor offences are deleted after 5 years, dating from the date when the crime was committed.

Now please tell me we would appear to have a two tier system in respect of criminal records checks in place, one for UK citizens and another for Polish citizens.

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin