by News Desk | Sep 4, 2012 | UK News
Consultations are taking place across the Chichester district with residents and members of the taxi trade on proposed changes to the way hackney carriages are licensed.
Since 1987, licensed London-style cabs, commonly known as hackney carriages in the district have had to conform to the London conditions of fitness.
There are currently 57 hackney carriages operating in the Chichester District.
Chichester District Council is one of only a minority of local authorities which continue to retain this policy.
A Chichester district spokesperson, said: “Government advice, recent legislation and case law required the council to review this policy.
“As a result, a decision was taken by the licensing and enforcement committee to move away from the London conditions of fitness.”
The principal objective for the council was the protection of the general public who used licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicles while still ensuring they are accessible to everyone.
The revised policy outlined a number of new proposals on how the council dealt with licensed drivers, vehicle proprietors and operators.
The new proposals outline that any licensed vehicle must continue to be clearly identifiable as a taxi, with the illuminated sign clearly displayed.
Local residents could provide their views until Tuesday, November 6, and the committee would consider the feedback in November.
Committee vice-chairman Cllr Henry Potter said: “We want to hear from local residents and members of the taxi trade. We will rely on this information to help us make our final decisions.”
The revised document is available to view at www.chichester.gov.uk and comments should be submitted in writing to the Licensing Manager, Health Protection and Environmental Management no later than November 6.
by News Desk | Sep 4, 2012 | London News
A 22-year-old woman was sexually assaulted as she was driven home by a man pretending to be a minicab driver.
Police say the victim was approached by a man next to a group of genuine cab drivers in Tottenham Court Road, central London, at around 5am on Saturday (September 1).
As the man drove the woman to her home in Walthamstow he assaulted her.
Police are investigating the exact location but believe it could have happened close to the end of the journey in Waltham Forest.
Kingsley Michaels, 28, of Hudson Road, Bexleyheath, has been charged with sexual assault in connection with the incident.
He was arrested on Saturday within hours of the assault happening.
A Met spokesman said: “Police are urging everyone to use a booked and licensed minicab, taxi, night bus or the Tube to get home.
“Book your minicab with a licensed minicab operator by phone, email or in a minicab office.
“Make sure the driver can confirm your name and destination before you get in the car, and check the driver’s photo I.D.
“Always sit in the back seat, and carry your mobile phone in case of an emergency.
Source: The Guardian
by News Desk | Aug 19, 2012 | UK News
Southampton City Council has lodged an appeal after it was told taxi drivers must not use CCTV in their cars.
Since 2009, all taxis in the city have been required by the council to record video and audio on cameras.
In July the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ordered the council to halt the use of cameras, saying it breached the Data Protection Act.
The authority says CCTV helps protect the safety of both passengers and drivers.
The council’s deputy leader Jacquie Rayment said: “What has not been acknowledged in the process so far is the lengths we go to to protect the privacy of all drivers and passengers.
“No one sees these videos unless there is an incident that needs investigating and in those cases the footage and audio becomes crucial independent evidence.
“The very fact that the cameras capture everything is a valuable deterrent against attacks, both verbal and physical.”
The appeal is expected to be heard in spring 2013. A council spokesman said: “Until then the status quo will remain, with Southampton’s taxis continuing to be required to use the camera equipment.”
An ICO spokesman said: “We have received notice that Southampton City Council have appealed against the enforcement notice served on the council on 23 July and will consider our response.”
by News Desk | Aug 19, 2012 | London News
A policeman asks a minicab driver, who had apparently arrived following a request he received on a smart phone App, to pick up Julian Assange, to leave after he pulled up outside the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where the Wikileaks founder sought sanctuary from the British authorities.
Supporters of Julian Assange, gathered outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in Knightsbridge.
Mr Assange has been living inside the embassy since June 19 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said they are looking at an obscure law which will allow the police to enter the embassy and arrest Mr Assange.
Although this episode can be seen as no more than a prank, it should open up debate in the legality and safety of electronic street hails.
At present the only vehicle that can accept a casual street hail, is a licensed London Taxi, but smart phone apps are allowing members of the public to hail unbooked minicabs on-street. This is putting the safety of the public at risk.
One Law For Them and A Different Law For Us.
It’s amazing how the government can dig up obscure laws to deal with one alleged rapist claiming political asylum in an embassy and yet TfL/LTPH show no appetite to use existing legislation, to deal with potential predatorial minicabs, illegally plying for-hire outside virtually every night venue.
LTPH’s action (or lack of it) is blatant bias and proof that a licensing authority for a city as large as London, can not function properly having a remit for both Hackney carriage and private hire. It is imperative that LTPH be split in two, to secure the survival of the Licensed Taxi trade.
by News Desk | Aug 19, 2012 | London News
So you think London Taxi drivers are not the best dressed in the world, well we certainly are not the worst.
This story from PerthNow…
A PERTH woman has told how she got into a taxi on the weekend – only to discover her cab driver was not wearing pants.
Jessie Gravett, 21, told PerthNow she caught a taxi from a North Perth address about 12.30am on Sunday morning after a night out and was appalled to look over mid-journey and see the cab driver apparently wearing no pants and no shoes.
She managed to snap a photo of the driver on her mobile phone as she exited the cab after arriving at her Spearwood home and has lodged a formal complaint with Swan Taxis.
“I got picked up by a taxi in North Perth and then I was messaging my boyfriend as I got in the taxi so I just opened the door and got in and sat down, I didn’t even look at the driver because I didn’t expect to see anything,” Ms Gravett said.
When she eventually looked over at the driver, she could not see any clothing on his legs.
“I’m 99 per cent sure he wasn’t wearing shorts because I could see,” Ms Gravett said.
“The only clothing I could see on this guy was his work shirt.
“He just kept driving and I was messaging my friends the whole way letting them know what I had happened.
“I didn’t talk to him and ask him why. He might have had harmless intentions, but if he did have bad intentions I didn’t want to ask a question about it.”
Ms Gravett said she felt “scared and uncomfortable” and the experience had made her think twice about catching a taxi in Perth alone at night.
“It’s made me feel a bit worried about doing it,” she said.
The Department of Transport has told Ms Gravett they are investigating the incident and would interview the driver next week.
Recent Comments