( hh hh hhQ@%- QK@ EPEPPQE QEQE QE QE0 DBS checks are also carried out on vehicle licence applicants, as well as a check that the vehicle is insured for public and/or private hire. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, the government said it was tightening taxi safety guidelines, increased the number of licences it issues, sign up for local news updates direct to your phone, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Disney faces countersuit in feud with Florida, US rock band Aerosmith announce farewell tour, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month. 4 0 obj NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. Lib Dem campaigner Ian Jenkins, said: The council has turned a vital safety check into a cash cow. (JaIKE9R@J_sMjJ ZJU%0 Placing members of the public at unnecessary risk by taking a booking without valid insurance is unacceptable.. "What is really important is that we make sure we bring the taxi drivers in on this. 2. "In terms of my experience working on the front line and from working in some cases, there are some drivers that are predatory. In Wolverhampton itself, there were four allegations of CSE and four serious sexual allegations. We provide commercial Papers found the situation had emerged since the government in 2015 ruled drivers could register anywhere in the country, not just their local area. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council ( It's quick, easy and (best of all) it's free. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? (05798215). Wolverhampton City Council, Download a zip file of all correspondence, Enforcement of standards in private rented sector, Noise complaints for Premier League stadiums, People banned from council-owned buildings. have been taken to ensure that no viruses are present. Navdeep Nijjar We need to support the private hire trade in the city and not turn ourselves into a taxi version of Gretna Green. Yours faithfully, Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/taxi_complaints_5 on May 02, 2023 00:03. ( This email contains proprietary confidential information some or all of Thank you for your request for information received on6 November Wolverhampton ( stream We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information xUMo0#HMH,mQ-Uki66>X{o<3n|uYK6+m At the end of the training programme, there is a written assessment. Wolverhampton Council, "At the moment, some drivers can take advantage of a loophole where they can apply to get a licence in an authority that has less stringent assessments and ply their trade in an area which does. ZLP J;i Pi(KBR :J((ZJ(RRQE QE Q@ )))hEPEPRI@Rs@)ii(z Freedom of Information Act 2000 (%-% ii(BsKIh9O/4 GS jJV ( ^j@J(QH((((((( Consumer guides, newsletters, surveys and more! Resolver is a totally free service that you can use to complain effectively. 7 0 obj Summary of CCTV Requirements 1. Download endobj (PE QE Q@ EPEPEPEPQGE Q J( ( Please note, if you are not willing to provide a witness statement we may be unable to process your complaint fully. Public safety is paramount and we are constantly working to improve our processes to protect people. The driver can only undertake work in a vehicle licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council. is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) )})( %- RJ- K@ J(i)i( ( Best and worst companies at resolving issues. The vehicle is then checked in person by our trained vehicle inspectors. If not, we will refer your complaint to the manager responsible for the service you're unhappy with. Weve helped millions of people find a resolution. ( 9 0 obj We willcarry outan assessment ( Wolverhampton licensing bosses have insisted they informed relevant authorities when serious reports of crimes were made, but several councils have told the BBC they were unaware of the allegations. Complaints . A Wolverhampton private hire driver who overcharged a customer, while taking her on an uninsured journey that wasn't pre-booked, has had her licence revoked. (Q@Q@QL(EPE% QKI@-%G4s@ %/4sHhy9 94 ) - QG4 sAE- !()hhJ'zVP(g -%(?i ))QCRPE RQHaEPE%- QI@E)i)hQEQE !BQKE u'49hbm8h! Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. As of the middle of last month, there were 2,634 applications in the queue, with 1,924 processed but awaiting more information from the applicant. Council's taxi licensing change aims to save money. If their licence is revoked, this decision is recorded on NR3S, in case the driver tries to apply for a licence at another authority. Dear Wolverhampton City Council, Number of Private hire taxi operators who have breached their operators licence conditions including name of operator and details of breaches from 2017 -2019 . Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. "We would like to see a return of standards so that public safety is not put at risk.". Applicants are also required to disclose any previous licensing history. 2023 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ( Customer Engagement Officer Z( sEPEaZ5 )VJZHiZ)Qj4 va@b Wolverhampton Council has always defended its position, stating that it oversees enforcement operations all over the country, and that any profits it makes from licensing are ploughed back into the scheme. Taxi drivers protesting in Wolverhampton last year over the city council's controversial licensing system. But it added: "We are currently developing a referral mechanism that would inform, in writing, all the relevant safeguarding, policing and licensing authorities in an area when we take action in relation to a driver licensed by us, but operating in their area.". We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. Wolverhampton then made it very easy to get licenced there, issued tens of thousands of licences for a population of 260,000 and therefore made the standards of private hire taxis slip in the whole country malcster_75 8 mo. This week, the government said it was tightening taxi safety guidelines and considering stopping drivers from operating hundreds of miles away from where they were licensed. 'Downloads' section of the Council's Taxi Licences webpage). the use of this email or attachments. ( ( Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. City of Wolverhampton Council licensed Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles are referred to collectively as 'taxis' in this policy. The overall figure for last year was up 25 per cent on 2018, and represented an 18-fold increase on the 833 licences the authority handed out in 2015. Thank you for your request for information that was received on6 November The standard of behaviour and level of trust expected should be demonstrated in the conduct of those licensed at all times. Drivers must attend a one-day driver training programme, provided independently by Worcestershire County Council. mySociety ( UIE( E-#RQE fQGARPE(EZ())ZNhPKE z 5/4> !P EPER ( ) QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QEQE QIP% ((jGIKGz )(J(( _Z)(Z()h)h (((((( ( LEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPE RE ( "There have been several consultations about the private hire trade and he appears to be playing catch up. Before becoming a driver,. We will inform youif this is Less teenagers have meningitis protection since before pandemic, Coronation uproar as Birmingham residents react to allegiance pledge with everyone saying same thing, A new independent pizza restaurant is coming to Harborne & its giving away free pizzas, More than 20,000 Russians dead in Bakhmut, US says, Rita Ora and Karlie Kloss arrive at the Met Gala, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured. (Q@(((ER ( (( );R QG4s@4Q4 3G4PRSi PE%EPG4Q Would you be willing to provide a witness statement? It just seems like the budget line comes first above everything.. Our reference: 926105, --------------------------------------------------------------------------. The Council has never refused a request from a licensing authority for a compliance operation in their area. NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. Any breach of this condition would be looked on most unfavourably: 3.9 A private hire licence is a badge of approval, it states the Local Authority feels the holder is fit and proper and suitable in every way. This policy relates to surveillance cameras, also. As such, the Council considers those applications and where the applicant is fit and proper, a licence is granted. Freedom of Information Act 2000 Well always be on hand with guidance and support to help you get the results youre looking for. <> JFIF ` ` C ( His contribution to the debate is welcomed as much as anybody's.". Before becoming a driver, there are several requirements that must be met. The BBC has been unable to determine whether the drivers accused of offences have faced criminal proceedings. His comments follow reports last year that councillors in the West Midlands had criticised The City of Wolverhampton Council for operating a "more lenient" licensing system for private hire. ofWolverhampton Council . This request has been closed to new correspondence. the use of this email or attachments. However, the authoritys dominance of the market has not gone down well with other councils, some of which have seen their own private hire applications plummet. 2 0 obj (Q@QH((((((((aEP2Sk`(= Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. <> The council report also stated its licensing team prioritised drivers in its own area and had taken on 20 extra staff in the last year to deal with the volume of applications, with plans to appoint more. This email has been scanned for all viruses and all reasonable precautions Six of the drivers in the CSE reports had their licences taken from them but the seventh complaint was not upheld. But only a small fraction of the new licence holders are operating in the city, with some drivers working hundreds of miles away in Scotland. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council . The city has taken on new staff in a bid to cope with demand, documents say. To apply/renew your driver or vehicle licence follow the links below. ( endobj might not provide that informationto you. It showed that in 2019 a total of 11,461 applications to Wolverhampton Council came from drivers based in Birmingham, while there were 2,457 from Manchester, 1,926 from Coventry, 1,279 from Leicester, 1,102 from Nottingham and 432 from Telford. Resolver is free. ( requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. Please provide number of complaints received by council in relation to uber taxis from 2015-2019, Information request J)h )(h (%-PHii(cRHR})sG4sE J`(4QH((EPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEP2Q[)R send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before It is a criminal offence for people on barred lists to apply to work in a regulated activity and offenders are reported to the police. ( Yours faithfully endobj ( Governance Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. Where there is information on the applicants DBS certificate, this is considered in accordance with the Councils Guidelines. However, if you'd rather complain directly, you can use the above address to contact Wolverhampton City Council. ( ( . n)=_} bRqHCD@[WP,=|B2Ho|Sc$+! ago In Wolverhampton they can use older taxis That's the main reason 13 blake-a-mania 8 mo. Download (( ) ( ( L9@sG4s@4sG4s@4sG4s@sKG4( ((((aEP0(QE( ( (`QE Email:licensing@sstaffs.gov.ukTelephone: (01902) 696000, Sign up to receive news and updates from South Staffordshire Council. ( [1][Wolverhampton City Council request email] Across the weekend (Friday 18 December and Saturday 19 December), 27 taxi drivers were issued with enforcement action, including defect notices or suspension of licenses. The authority said it dealt with complaints robustly, with all safeguarding issues dealt with within a day "regardless of where the driver is in the country". <> Once a statement is provided you may be asked to give evidence in court. We automatically connect you to contacts at thousands of household names, ombudsmen and regulators to find a resolution. the author immediately by replying to this email. have been taken to ensure that no viruses are present. `!DR The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The situation has led to a chaotic picture emerging around the country, with authorities unable to control all cabbies working in their area. The campaign also highlights the risks involved in taking an unlicensed vehicle and how to identify a legitimate taxi or private hire driver. We are dealing with yourrequestunder theFreedom of Information Act ( The topic of taxi safety comes after the case of "black cab rapist" John Worboys, who police believe may have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women he picked up in London between 2002 and 2008. Photo: Wolverhampton Council Drivers gathered outside. Mr Ashford welcomed news of the government's proposals for tougher legislation. ( On April 29, 2020, council officers received a. except where the sender specifically states these to be the views This email has been scanned for all viruses and all reasonable precautions Just raise a case and leave feedback after. Finally, the driver must attend our offices in person, where they undergo facial verification against their driving licence and proof of right to work in the UK. <> complaints against drivers, are less likely to occur in an environment . Is climate change killing Australian wine? )(((h(QE It is only after these checks have been satisfied that an applicant can become a licensed driver. Get started. stream ( The vehicle proprietor must be registered with the Information Commissioner's Complaints about taxi drivers. Putting things right Complaints process Other options Wolverhampton Council Prof Rod Thomson, Shropshire Council's director of public health, said the authority was "concerned that public safety is being threatened and environmental aspirations diluted in cases where drivers and vehicle proprietors 'shop around' to be licensed by local authorities that demand lower standards and then exclusively or predominantly work in an area or areas where standards are higher and licences more difficult to obtain". The customer was charged 15 for a trip to Russells Hall Hospital from her home in Dudley, which is typically priced at 7. Members of the council's regulatory committee are set to discuss the matter on Wednesday. 9h *99CKE %@ Z ( AQ@E4 Q9j QF J QJ QT ( ZCKE EP RRQE QI@ERQE Q@RSQE!R (RR}iMHJ^hhsG4sG4 sAz(`QK@ ER ( ) QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE( [JQIJ> h J(QK) )?% -J (KI@Q@- QKI@Q@Q@Q@%- QE EPQKI@Q@Q@Q@Q@Q@Q@Q@Q@Q@Q@Q@ E-% (()9G4QH99hh hhhJZ J)h( (QE(QE Please provide your details so we can keep you informed on the outcome of the complaint you wish to raise. It prompted licensing bosses at Wolverhampton Council to streamline its application process and slash the prices of licences leading to a dramatic increase in applications. ( Wolverhampton Council hands out 15,000 taxi licences in one year to drivers across UK By Peter Madeley Wolverhampton Transport Published: Jan 10, 2020 Comments Wolverhampton Council. Council cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from Your donations keep this site and others like it running. A driver working in Southampton when a serious sexual allegation was made against him in October 2017, A Wolverhampton taxi driver accused of being involved in child sexual exploitation on 16 June 2017 in Bolsover, Derbyshire, A serious sexual allegation recorded as taking place in Mansfield, more than 70 miles away, on 3 October 2016, One allegation of CSE made in Shropshire in January 2018 along with two other serious sexual allegations in 2017, In Telford, where authorities have dealt with. endstream ( 2000andwe aim to senda response by4 December 2019. Many established taxi drivers say the Deregulation Act 2015 is threatening their livelihoods and claim a change in the application process is "risking customer safety". View our cookie policy here. You therefore need a debit or credit card to make the payment.. You must also complete a DBS application (Criminal Records Check) and provide a DVLA three . Where there are motoring convictions, these are also considered against the Councils guidelines. Wolverhampton Council 5 0 obj <> Resolver is a completely free complaint-resolution tool that puts the British consumer directly in touch with the customer service providers who can resolve their complaint. We use the DBS Update Service to check drivers DBS certificates every day of the week. What action has been taken by Wolverhampton council? If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error please follow the link to Wolverhampton City Council Taxi Licensing. Responsible for local and national political stories, opinion, comment and analysis. A new report to Walsalls director of public health has outlined concerns over dwindling application numbers. all of the information you have requested. This training is only available in English and covers the following: This syllabus is regularly reviewed, including with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and Partnership Strategic Exploitation Co-ordinator. Once a driver is granted, we continue to monitor them. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, US rock band Aerosmith announce farewell tour, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool. (/65hQJ1AE% RR)(JZ(AIE R ZC@RPKE% QK@ E- QE QE QK@ EPEPEPIKE %Q@ EPzQE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QI@E% QKE Wolverhampton Public safety is paramount and we are constantly working to improve our processes to protect people. Visible links Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? 2019. The Councils Guidelines are regularly reviewed and as of November 2022 are currently under review pending the anticipated publication of Government Best Practice Guidance. Instead, theyre full of the info you need to get things sorted. The service also undergoes audit each year. These guidelines have been consulted on with the industry, police, courts and all other councils. Please provide as much information as possible to help our Licensing Compliance team investigate your complaint. Customer Engagement Officer "They will know for example, that the children live together in residential care homes and become friendly with them, and quite easily take advantage of a particular vulnerability by being approachable by offering a sense of fulfilment to that child by offering things that are perceived to be quite adult or responsible such as alcohol, drugs and gifts, and begin grooming them that way before abusing them.". Police were informed in all cases, it said. Reports of child sexual exploitation are among allegations made. Magistrates dismissed Sahrish Rahat Ayubs appeal against Wolverhampton Councils decision to revoke her private hire driver licence. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. disseminate the information contained within this e-mail. All rights reserved. If you need to book a wheelchair accessible vehicle this is a list of thecurrent licensed providers. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Dear Wolverhampton City Council, Please provide number of complaints received by council in relation to uber taxis from 2015-2019 . J^h'K~s@sIMJZJ)( The Council is 100% compliant with this KPI. Established in 2008. She then more than doubled the price for the uninsured journey.
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