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. Mr Ashford welcomed news of the government's proposals for tougher legislation. 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. Taxi and cab drivers have staged go-slow protests against the current regulations around the country, saying they leave the public at risk. (( ) ( ( L9@sG4s@4sG4s@4sG4s@sKG4( ((((aEP0(QE( ( (`QE PQ[PKE))h4 QEIK@QZJ )h@ E-% - RPQE -PEPEPEPEPEPHih( (( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((JZ@QE QE H9@ %/4sI@ E- QE% QK@ EP0(QE(QE QE %-S ) QE RQFhi)i( (E4hz ?hh 94P JZ(4 i(9(E -'4G4:9CG4 RJ) JB1E RP~( IE(ABQE Write to our Complaints Manager, City of Wolverhampton Council, Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1RL Ask a friend, a relative, advocate or anyone to contact us your behalf Make sure you give us as much information as possible. Wolverhampton council said it stripped licences from suspects immediately. (Q@%- QI@EP'4s@. We provide commercial %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? . Your donations keep this site and others like it running. Where a matching record is found, information is requested from the licensing authority and a licence will not be granted until this information is considered. The BBC has learned there have been seven allegations of child sexual exploitation (CSE) made, and 16 serious sexual allegations against drivers licensed in Wolverhampton. ^PER`QE He added there should be a cap on the number of drivers that can be licensed by one authority as it would lead to a "safer and more robust system". Across 2021 and 2022, 55% of applicants failed this assessment. It is only after these checks have been satisfied that an applicant can become a licensed driver. You are now required to show photoID when voting at a polling station at the elections on May 4th. ( If you need to make a complaint about a driver or a vehicle, . ( If not, we will refer your complaint to the manager responsible for the service you're unhappy with. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Public safety is paramount and we are constantly working to improve our processes to protect people. Wolverhampton Council A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. Applicants are also required to disclose any previous licensing history. the author immediately by replying to this email. We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. 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. Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. )})( %- RJ- K@ J(i)i( ( Consumer guides, newsletters, surveys and more! The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. (ZNh ( (((((((((( (EPEPI-Nh9G4sG4 sG4sG4 S{4 If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error City of Wolverhampton Council takes taxi licensing seriously. We will inform youif this is In response to your request, please see attached our response to your 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. Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. It should be noted that there is no provision in legislation to refuse to consider an application from an individual who lives outside of Wolverhampton. Magistrates dismissed Sahrish Rahat Ayubs appeal against Wolverhampton Councils decision to revoke her private hire driver licence. The application fee for a New Private Hire Driver licence is 64.00 for a 1 year licence or 120.00 for a 3 year licence and must be paid electronically as part of this application process. When questioned by council officers, Ayub, of Broadway, in Shirley, Solihull, said the increased cost was a result of coronavirus. ( ( might not provide that informationto you. Has the incident been reported to the police. Our reference: 1386425, Response all information to be supplied.pdf, 96K Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. This email has been scanned for all viruses and all reasonable precautions We use the DBS Update Service to check drivers DBS certificates every day of the week. Please provide your details so we can keep you informed on the outcome of the complaint you wish to raise. Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender, Resolver can help you send your complaints to Wolverhampton City Council. Please notify Get started now and lets get this sorted. Councillor Alan Bolshaw, the citys licensing chief, said: Councillor Bird seems to have come quite late to the party. Wolverhampton City Council Taxi Licensing. Simple! 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. Resolver is not affiliated to, linked with or otherwise endorsed by Wolverhampton City Council. <> 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. ( Lib Dem campaigner Ian Jenkins, said: The council has turned a vital safety check into a cash cow. Wolverhampton Council has cornered the market, but you have to question whether it is right that a driver can get a licence there but ply their trade hundreds of miles away, he said. On April 29, 2020, council officers received a complaint that Ayub, aged 25, had picked up a passenger who had not pre-booked, which is a requirement of both her private hire licence and car insurance policy. 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. Wolverhampton has registered about a third of England's taxi drivers and is inundated with applications, according to a report. endobj 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. Keep all your correspondence in one place, Go straight to the correct contact point within an organisation, Make use of a series of simple templates to help make raising your complaint as simple and quick as possible, Receive reminders when you get a response from a company or organisation, Get an automatic notification when it's appropriate to escalate your case to the next management level within a company, Package up and send off the whole history of your complaint to an ombudsman or other regulatory body if necessary. 30 March 2022. ( Then like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. She then more than doubled the price for the uninsured journey. disseminate the information contained within this e-mail. ( In the last year, we have covered: These operations are conducted in partnership with officers from the respective licensing authority, as well as the local police force and representatives from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). ?$;@>~T&qM+lT?zgi-]rlR%I*ndshgU / endobj However, if you'd rather complain directly, you can use the above address to contact Wolverhampton City Council. The campaign also highlights the risks involved in taking an unlicensed vehicle and how to identify a legitimate taxi or private hire driver. Taxi drivers to face extra criminal checks, Taxi driver jailed for sex assault in cab, Taxi licence regulation 'must be tougher', Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing report, Taxi Complaints - City of Wolverhampton Council, Generations of Wolves speedway fans turn out in force to the first meeting since bombshell stadium news, Stourbridge shoppers 'intimidated by aggressive begging' in town centre. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. The Council also considers whether the complaints against the driver necessitate consideration by the Disclosure and Barring Service for the former driver to be added to the children and/or vulnerable adults barred lists. This website uses cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalised ads, and analytics. We are working with industry leaders, regulators and government to make your voice heard and improve customer service. u6`QK@E%E%/z( (Q@RPKE QIKHOQL(QKI@J^h 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". ( Theres no jargon in our rights guides. Contact details. ( Learn more about Resolver Pro and how to claim your business. Governance Magistrates dismissed Sahrish Rahat Ayub's appeal against Wolverhampton Council's decision to revoke her private hire driver licence. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Visible links A Freedom of Information request found Wolverhampton Council had handed out 15,000 private hire licences in 2019, bringing in nearly 3.7m in fees. Governance ( Drivers must attend a one-day driver training programme, provided independently by Worcestershire County Council. Navdeep Nijjar SocietyWorks Ltd endobj Your donations keep this site and others like it running. Read about our approach to external linking. Where new information is found, their licence is reviewed. Meanwhile Walsall Council received just 48 new applications for licences last year, when it had a total of 1,129 private hire drivers registered. Contact us if you think it should be reopened. (%-% ii(BsKIh9O/4 GS jJV ( ^j@J(QH((((((( and a limited company (03277032). City of Wolverhampton Council Taxi Licensing Safeguarding Statement, A face-to-face English assessment (followed by a recorded interview where there are any concerns), Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. At the end of the training programme, there is a written assessment. I understand they may feel like they're being unfairly targeted but you know this is about protecting children and protecting drivers' business reputation.". the author immediately by replying to this email. With Resolver you can send your case to key ombudsmen and regulators including: Resolver is not affiliated to, linked with or otherwise endorsed by Wolverhampton City Council. Please note, if you are not willing to provide a witness statement we may be unable to process your complaint fully. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? ofWolverhampton Council . 2023 Resolver Consumer Online Limited. Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/taxi_complaints_4?unfold=1 on May 02, 2023 00:03. Photo: Wolverhampton Council Drivers gathered outside. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings. Established taxi drivers in Wolverhampton have previously protested over what they said was a fall in standards since the Deregulation Act was introduced. privacy legislation. This condition empowers officers in other areas and where drivers are breaking the law then other licensing authorities can and do prosecute them. If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error In the last five years the city council has received applications from 325 miles away in Perth a six-hour drive from the city, and 254 miles away in Truro, Cornwall, which takes almost five hours to get to by car. Further information about the vehicles and drivers licensed for South Staffordshire are available on ourInformation for Passengers page. ( 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. Where there is information on the applicants DBS certificate, this is considered in accordance with the Councils Guidelines. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. "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.". ^hE/4 Ph @EPsG4R(99 (iH=iOjJ@/&R % endobj ( This request has been closed to new correspondence. ( 1 0 obj 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Wolverhampton Council launched The Additional Restriction Grant - Taxi and Private Hire Grant Scheme to help drivers across the city. All rights reserved. "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. 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. 2019. ( Get started. JZ(99(J ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((EPEPER(96 and a limited company (03277032). . In May 2017, the chair of Wolverhampton's licensing committee, Alan Bolshaw, wrote to Sajid Javid, who was then Communities and Local Government Secretary, urging him to create a national database of drivers so that adequate background checks could be carried out, even suggesting the council fund it. Where complaints are made, the Council has a key performance indicator (KPI) for all complaints involving safeguarding concerns to be investigated within one day. mySociety City of Wolverhampton Council takes taxi licensing seriously. 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 We automatically connect you to contacts at thousands of household names, ombudsmen and regulators to find a resolution. It will see eligible drivers receive a one-off payment of. Where there are concerns about applicants suspected of involvement in historic child sex exploitation investigations, further vetting is undertaken by the National Crime Agency (NCA). 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". Wolverhampton Council handed out a record 15,000 private hire licences last year raking in nearly 3.7 million in fees. @RRQE%0(JZ (QE 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. 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.". ( Drivers must have held a UK driving licence for at least one year and this licence is checked as part of the application process. Fears have been raised drivers are "shopping around" to find the easiest way to obtain a licence. The Council uploaded all its historic computer data to this register and all refusals by the Council are added to this register. Wolverhampton %PDF-1.7 endobj the use of this email or attachments. ofWolverhampton Council . DearL Thompson We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. This includes when drivers are operating outside of Wolverhampton, where drivers are expected to co-operate with reasonable requests from compliance staff authorised in other areas. A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. Importantly, our driver conditions dictate that drivers must cooperate with reasonable requests from compliance staff authorised in other areas. Six of the drivers in the CSE reports had their licences taken from them but the seventh complaint was not upheld. The report made furthest from the West Midlands city came from a complainant more than 150 miles away. 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. ( ( (@QE ( } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br Would you be willing to provide a witness statement? In one instance, a council officer drove more than 100 miles to a suspect driver's home and "took his licence away from him on his doorstep". "In terms of my experience working on the front line and from working in some cases, there are some drivers that are predatory. ( hh hh hhQ@%- QK@ EPEPPQE QEQE QE QE0 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. The data was provided in a Freedom of Information request. The guidelines have been benchmarked against the Institute of Licensings Guidance and the Governments Statutory Standards and in both documents cases, the Councils rehabilitation periods are longer. Z( sEPEaZ5 )VJZHiZ)Qj4 va@b Donate and support our work. Established in 2008. . endstream privacy legislation. Drivers must undergo medical certification to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Group 2 Standards. In Wolverhampton itself, there were four allegations of CSE and four serious sexual allegations. ( (/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 ( ( requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details ( Once a statement is provided you may be asked to give evidence in court. have been taken to ensure that no viruses are present. Raheel Shah, chairman of Wolverhampton Private Hire Drivers' Association and a taxi driver himself, said: "We have been protesting for more than three years over this. A new report to Walsalls director of public health has outlined concerns over dwindling application numbers. which may be legally privileged and/or subject to the provisions of Dear Wolverhampton City Council, Please provide number of complaints received by council in relation to uber taxis from 2015-2019 . Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. The city has taken on new staff in a bid to cope with demand, documents say. ( Some drivers may have taken on related work as delivery drivers, the report added. stream Applications from Kilmarnock, Edinburgh, Perth and Kirkcaldy were received by Wolverhampton Council last year, as the authority granted 15,171 licences to extend its dominance over the British private hire market. The driver can only undertake work in a vehicle licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council. 2023 BBC. The Council has never refused a request from a licensing authority for a compliance operation in their area. ( ( Want to help others get their issues sorted fast or see the latest updates about how Resolver can help you? DearL Thompson Public safety is paramount and we are constantly working to improve our processes to protect people. (Q@QH( (h-! (%P P0PH(h@ vZ( (( Resolver is free. of how you may appeal (if appropriate). Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. Navdeep Nijjar except where the sender specifically states these to be the views A total of 170 taxis were inspected by our dedicated Roads Policing Unit, in line with COVID and road safety regulations. please follow the link to Wolverhampton City Council Taxi Licensing. ( L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council . 2000andwe aim to senda response by4 December 2019. 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. Every council in England would be told to carry out checks on all applicants. If their licence is revoked, this decision is recorded on NR3S, in case the driver tries to apply for a licence at another authority. <> i90#?WHB CH 7:+ 6YgY]BPU8q-HG-b%+aK`y=DUFB%2)x$T'oSz+! J)h )(h (%-PHii(cRHR})sG4sE J`(4QH((EPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEP2Q[)R Our reference: 926105, --------------------------------------------------------------------------. ( Wolverhampton Council, request. ( This policy relates to surveillance cameras, also. Slower processing times and higher fees elsewhere had encouraged many drivers to choose Wolverhampton. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council It has granted 35,035 private hire licences since 2017, pumping 8.7m into the authoritys coffers. 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 <> Putting things right Complaints process Other options Let us know what you think has gone wrong and how you think we can correct it. NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. Read about our approach to external linking. Summary of CCTV Requirements 1. u&?JC 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. Concerns have also been raised over passenger safety. 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. <> Weve helped millions of people find a resolution. "Since 2015 I know that there have been more complaints over sexual harassment, accidents in taxis and illegal pick-ups, all different things have been going on. An enquiry is also made to the DBS to determine whether the information is that the driver has been added to a barred list and is prohibited from working with children and/or vulnerable adults. <> 2019aboutTaxi complaints The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Predators can use relaxed rules to become taxi drivers and gain access to vulnerable passengers, a victim's charity said. forza horizon xbox 360 save game 100% complete, cutlass for sale craigslist,
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