East Riding taxi drivers to face stricter criminal record checks
STRICTER criminal record checks are to be introduced for people applying for new taxi and hackney carriage licences in the East Riding.
Councillors say the move is aimed at improving passenger safety.
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LEGISLATION: Taxi drivers could be subject to stricter checks in an effort to improve safety.
It will bring the East Riding into line with existing policies in Hull and reflect recent changes in national licensing legislation.
The move is expected to be endorsed at the next full council meeting after being backed by the authority's cabinet.
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It follows a two-month consultation with drivers and operators over a series of proposed changes to the council's current licensing policy.
It means all new applicants, as well as licensed drivers seeking licence renewals, will be subject to enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks.
The checks identify information held by the police on people in addition to details on previous convictions.
Councillor Richard Harrap, portfolio holder for adult and carer services, said: "Although we can never eliminate 100 per cent some of the unfortunate incidents we sometimes hear about involving taxi drivers and their passengers, this is one way of making sure we do our best to prevent them.
"It is vital that we do as much as we can to make people safe.
"A lot of old and vulnerable people rely on taxis to get around and this will help them."
A number of other changes in the East Riding's policies covering taxi and hackney carriage drivers were also backed by cabinet councillors this week.
Under the changes, annual licences are to be re-introduced.
Council officials say this will ensure that any offences committed by drivers will be picked up more quickly in the licensing process.
In addition, a new maximum age for vehicles first being licensed is to be set at no more than six years-old.
The current ten-year age limit for vehicles being used as taxis and black cabs is being increased by a year.
The new-look policy will also require annual vehicle testing until the car is more than four years old.
Beyond that point, testing will switch to every six months.
A report submitted to the cabinet meeting said: "Changes have been built in to the policy to reflect the views of the 54 licensed drivers and operators who attended two briefing sessions held during the consultation period."
Comments
by buornfree
Thursday, November 08 2012, 6:21AM
“They should do it to ALL taxi and private hire drivers plus THEY should be made to dress smart at all times and checks on the cars more often the smell like an ash trays some times I have family doing it so I no what they are like”
by Thedark1
Sunday, November 04 2012, 10:59AM
“dont get any taxis there crooks and rip offs especially the immigrants in town outside the hotel”
by bewildered1
Saturday, November 03 2012, 8:29PM
“glen1954
"No proof of a clean criminal record? = no license ."
A criminal record does not preclude an applicant from being granted a licence. Even if a licence is refused the applicant can appeal to the magistrates court. The magistrate would probably use the rehabilitation of offenders act as a guide to his decision.”
by blackcab_jim
Saturday, November 03 2012, 10:04AM
“Sorry this is another HDM non story
Iam a East Riding hackney carraige driver for over six year's, And when applying for my driver's badge had a drivers test with the DSA and a full enhanced CRB.
I make these comment,s as the way i read the acticle these check's are not in place!
The only changes apply to vehicle age and lcence badge renewel ever year
A further note these condition still cannot stop a driver being issued with a taxi licence and found to have in excess of ten differant aliases after being stopped for drink driving
No doubt he had a letter from his embassy to say he was a nice chap.”
by manic-myrtle
Friday, November 02 2012, 11:18PM
“CRB checks don't mean anything! All they can mean is someone hasn't been caught!!!”
by BevRoadNorth
Friday, November 02 2012, 8:19PM
“And it only took several rapes and sexual assaults for the penny to drop...its about time the particularly unreliable vetted asylum-getters were checked properly, or more prefereably denied any position with the potential for abuse. And I use the term asylum-getters as it seemed there didnt have to be much seeking in the asylum process under Blair-welcome one, and welcome all!”
by Red_ken
Friday, November 02 2012, 8:11PM
“It doesn't matter how many checks are carried out on British or Foreign nationals some will still get through the net,this also states only on new licenses,due to the nature of the occupation and positon of trust a twice yearly check should be conducted even on drivers that have been in the bussiness for years.You don't suddenly wake up and decide to be a sex pest it is stored away just waiting for an oppurtunity to present itself.I know not all driver would fit this catorgary but if you make it almost impossible to let anyone slip through the net then taxi-ing will get a cleaner image.on the subject of prices charged for a while now it has depended upon which driver collects you,all taxi's should have signage clearly displaying price per mile plus any initial charge, along with this a clear indicator of miles travelled so a visual check could be made by the passenger to verify ammount of fare been requested by driver.Lastly most drivers I have used have been of good quality,it is not down to foreign natioanls been poor workmen but sometimes the britsh nationals who drive don't really give you a high level of service.”
by JayOnly
Friday, November 02 2012, 4:34PM
“How are you gonna check the criminal history of some guy from any other place in the world? Taxiing is the easiest way of any 'foreigners' getting into work in the UK and very often people from other countries will get their own nationals to work with them, because they can rip em off easier; rent 'em cars and make 'em work all hours, etc
Besides, job centres should make the English fellers take any vacancy; even if it means teaching them the knowledge.
As far as i know, a prospective taxi driver has to have held a full licence for two years minimum. Does that apply to 'new comers' from abroad?”
by glen1954
Friday, November 02 2012, 11:10AM
“No proof of a clean criminal record? = no license .”
by currensy
Friday, November 02 2012, 10:27AM
“I thought taxi drivers had to pass a test on knowledge of where streets are every foreign taxi driver i have had i have had to direct them all the way to my home. Most of them never even heard of the estates never mind street names.”