Taxi Driver Online

Stop trafficking in black cab licences

FURY OVER £65m TRADE IN TAXI PERMITS

16/05/2010

Furious taxi drivers last night called on the Scottish Government to clamp down on a nationwide market in Hackney cab licences.

They want politicians to plug a legal loophole that allows businesses to charge a fortune to use their permits.

We told last week how the trade generates around £26million a year in Glasgow alone.

But today we can reveal the scam also affects other cities in Scotland.

Last night Edinburgh-based taxi driver Jim Taylor, 58, revealed the capital's trade in "black hack" plates is worth a whopping £65m.

The dad of two, above, said: "There are 1,300 licences for Hackney cabs in Edinburgh. But drivers are having to pay up to £50,000 to get one."

Though local authorities limit the number of taxi licences they issue, a small number of businessmen have been able to snap up HUNDREDS.

And although the licences only cost a nominal £166, they are then sold to desperate would-be cabbies for between £40,000 and £60,000.

The back-door system means a small minority of companies cash in - while ordinary drivers, passengers and council tax payers lose out.

Jim fumed: "Drivers are paying £50,000 to use a permit. So they'll be paying £350 a week for as long as it takes to clear that sum."

Jim says Edinburgh City Council's refusal to issue new licences is also putting public safety at risk - by forcing some potential customers to turn to private, unlicensed taxis.

Last month evil Manzoor Hassan, 34, was jailed for five years for raping an Irish tourist in Edinburgh.

Hassan posed as a taxi driver in February 2009 to pick up the young woman in the city centre.

Passing sentence, judge Lady Smith said: "What she needed was a LICENSED taxi to uplift her."

Jim said: "Legitimate taxi drivers are monitored by the police. But many decent guys are being priced out of the market.

"So more and more unlicensed drivers are taking to the streets."

Hackney cab drivers also need to get a personal licence to prove they are "fit and proper" individuals.

These are only issued by councils after they pass a police criminal record check and an exam to show their knowledge of the local area.

In Perth, a taxi driver told us one businessman owns HALF the city's 70 licences - with would-be cabbies having to pay £40,000 for a permit.

In Greenock and Port Glasgow, cabbies also face paying at least £40,000 for a Hackney plate,

One driver told us: "My mate has paid around £40,000 over eight years. It's a SCANDAL."

Last night Scottish Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "The News of the World is to be congratulated for highlighting this problem. The Scottish Government needs to get a grip of this."

Nationalist MSP Sandra White told us she will raise the issue with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Colin Keir, convener of Edinburgh City Council's Regulatory Committee, said they'd probe ANY complaints about abuse of licences.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said "partnership agreements" for licences were legitimate.

But an Inverclyde Council spokesman said it was ILLEGAL for licence plate holders to sell their permits.

He said: "A taxi licence is issued to a particular person or company. It may not be used by anyone else."

A Scottish Government spokesman insisted: "These are serious allegations. We urge anyone with evidence to present it to the local licensing authorities."

Source; newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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When debating on the TDO Forum.

What a load of nonsense

how many people in Edinburgh hold "hundreds" of plates

The unfortunate rape case Taylor happily respiurs for his own aganda, did the poor unfortunate girl actually look for a cab? Or did the beast approach the girl and ask if she wanted a taxi? Had the girl phoned a cab company or phc to pick her up?

Complete non story

I think the key points are:






It will be interesting to see what happens next. It's not like anyone can now claim everything legal and in the public interest. The incorporation loophole will have to be closed or the plug pulled so artificial plate values disappear altogether. One thing for sure, the trade in plates can't continue for much longer. Especially when the C.E.C has the licence appeals going through the courts. [/quote]

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Two thinks are certain here.

First that Gladstone, his alter ego Travis and Torn casualty all coming out from under their stones betrays their fear. They are hurting. They know where this is going.

Second, if the Scottish Government does want to stop the "blackmarket" trade in plates then there is one Rubicon they have to cross to make it happen - de-restriction.

Without this simple measure to remove plate values plate "ownership" and use will simply be driven further underground, the problem would just get worse.

What is encouraging here is that the link between at least two sexual assaults and the council artificially restricting licences, creating the shortage, has been publicly made.

And it is damaging. Next weeks story should be about the victim and her take on why it is difficult to hail a cab.

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

What a sicko you are jim

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

Evidence, what like the website that lists all the Edinburgh plates for sale.

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IDFIMH

I paid for my plate 9 years ago! Since then there has never been a court challenge to say i or the other did any thing wrong Everything is and still is Legal, the real problem is within the phc trade they are the ones who hold HUNDREDS of plates.

Jasbar i'm still waiting for your list of MuLTI plate holders in Edinburgh of which i will be shocked if it goes over 5 % of the total amount of black cab plates, C'MON JASSIE boy

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

Give it a rest springs to mind

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Glasgow's Finest

I'm not suggesting that you have done anything outside of the law, but I'm not so sure that applies to a number of Scottish councils.

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IDFIMH

Not Edinburgh as Jasbar has claimed, 95 % of licences are held by individuals but you are right about other area's, the only problem is multi plate holders of which needs addressed, de-restriction is not the answer

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

When I bought my plate, my solicitor did all the paperwork for me for my Partnership Agreement. Submitted that with my application to the Council and their legal department were happy with it. They were happy, and I was happy. That was seven years ago. Still Jumbo rumbles on with his inane prattlings. The NoTW article was inaccurate to say the least. Well done Jumbo..... you are the laughing stock of the trade.

And everyone now KNOWS who he is Including the WEEGIES

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

To Jim Taylor your a very sad man now having to resort to an English rag to get your pathetic gripe over. As is plainly obvious you must be a bad credit man or just a pure cash numpty who is plainly jealous of all Taxi Operators. We have all paid and bought our 'businesses' as in other trades such as window cleaners, snack bars etc. In my area the Operators who hold loads and lease out plates are the Private Hire racketeers not the real 'Taxi' trade. At the end of the day mate get a life and accept your not meant for the taxi game ya TRUMPET

You didn't buy a business, you paid for a restricted plate premium.

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IDFIMH

Yeah and all these paragons of business only exist because they deny others their rights.

This Act was passed in 1982 - BEFORE the current competition rules and Human Rights. It is no longer sustainable.

Or perhaps these so-called "businessmen" believe it was parliament's intention to reate a taxi sub-class, destined to milked by greedy owners who believe that their licence to operate a taxi came along with a driver to fund it.

And I have to laugh at numbskull Dougie who suggests I am a sicko, yet it is his status quo, his restriction that artificially suppresses supply of taxis, making it harder to hail a cab which encourages vulnerable members of the public to tale extraordinary and dangerous measures just to get home.

Dougie and the other numpties on this thread are happy that others are hurt, just as long as their wee selfish interest is maintained.

Well, the public safety and restriction link has been made in a public arena. MacAskill and company now have their heads on the chopping block. Whatever they do, the NOTW will be ready to fire the bullets to slay them if they don't get it right.

Now hark this. There is no solution to government's problem that doesn't include de-restricion. If they stop incorporation, and there's nothing to suggest that they can legally, it will still take de-restriction to remove the false plate value. It's a done deal.

And on a final positive note boys. Losing £50 grand because you foolishly paid this for something you could never own could be a blessing. In Dublin they lost a hundred grand.

Think of it as the Skull and Taylor saving you 50 grand and say thank youto us boys.

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"