City of Wolverhampton Council takes taxi licensing seriously. The customer had been provided with a business card containing Ayubs personal phone number and she told him she had set up her own business. She then more than doubled the price for the uninsured journey. Email:licensing@sstaffs.gov.ukTelephone: (01902) 696000, Sign up to receive news and updates from South Staffordshire Council. The standard of behaviour and level of trust expected should be demonstrated in the conduct of those licensed at all times. 13 Birmingham pubs named after royalty - but are they celebrating the Kings Coronation Weekend? "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. 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. ( disseminate the information contained within this e-mail. 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. We provide commercial Wolverhampton Council, In response to your request, please see attached our response to your In Birmingham, where there have been four serious sexual allegations against drivers licensed in Wolverhampton, the council said it was concerned the Deregulation Act had "resulted in a situation where there are many vehicles and drivers in the city over whom the council has no enforcement powers". The driver can only undertake work in a vehicle licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council. [1][Wolverhampton City Council request email] 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. Private hire drivers have been accused of sex crimes over 150 miles away from where they are licensed, Taxi drivers have held protests around the country over cross-border hiring, Taxi drivers in Wolverhampton say they have been protesting about the issue for years. WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. Across 2021 and 2022, 55% of applicants failed this assessment. Where new information is found, their licence is reviewed. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. These guidelines have been consulted on with the industry, police, courts and all other councils. The report noted there had been a decline in the number of private hire drivers nationally since 2020, possibly, it said, because drivers had left the industry after seeing a loss of trade during the Covid-19 pandemic. @RRQE%0(JZ (QE Established in 2008. 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. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. Customer Engagement Officer Six of the drivers in the CSE reports had their licences taken from them but the seventh complaint was not upheld. ofWolverhampton Council . have been taken to ensure that no viruses are present. Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. This policy relates to surveillance cameras, also. Please provide as much information as possible to help our Licensing Compliance team investigate your complaint. Political Editor for the Express & Star. The applicant is also checked against the National Anti-Fraud Networks (NAFN) National Register of Refusals, Revocations and Suspensions (NR3S). SocietyWorks Ltd Wolverhampton City Council Taxi Licensing. 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. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz We willcarry outan assessment endobj In the last financial year, the city registered an extra 7,428 drivers, taking the total with a Wolverhampton licence to 26,745. Some drivers may have taken on related work as delivery drivers, the report added. Get started now and lets get this sorted. ( 1. mailto:[Wolverhampton City Council request email], 92K Public safety is paramount and we are constantly working to improve our processes to protect people. 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. ( Read about our approach to external linking. ^hibQE( ZJ(EPEPER ( ( ( ( ( ( (QE( E6) E:hwAKKAIKI@Q@IE QE R(4 J )hi( (i( Contact details. We use a state-of-the-art system which uses the same technology as can be found at Border Controls ePassport Gates in UK airports. Best and worst companies at resolving issues. Please check with your phone provider if you are unsure about how much a call will cost. ( ( is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) Members of the council's regulatory committee are set to discuss the matter on Wednesday. ( Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. It's quick, easy and (best of all) it's free. Once a statement is provided you may be asked to give evidence in court. Dear Wolverhampton City Council, Please could you provide a list by (name / address / contact details /) . In 2018-19 Birmingham Council issued 1,768 private hire licences, down 11 per cent on the previous year. Donate and support our work. 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". Importantly, our driver conditions dictate that drivers must cooperate with reasonable requests from compliance staff authorised in other areas. 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 currently operates a Get Home Safe campaign which seeks to make sure the public are aware of the differences between hiring hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. 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. He backed plans for a government review into licensing, saying it should "bring it up-to-date and to create a regime that is fit for the 21st Century". Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? City of Wolverhampton Council said it prioritised local taxi driver applications. Wolverhampton Council P(j _JZm(AI OJ)i(QEZJZ %zQ@-% QI@PIKE %Q@ QKE %Q@Q@IE QE Rw(A((((((((((((EPEPER9(4sKI !PEPIKE %- QE Q@(AEP ( ( ( ( ( J ( QZ((G4 !h % QE @sG4 QKI@4sG=> GKu H( EJ)i(RQ@Q@y KE( ()(C The campaign also highlights the risks involved in taking an unlicensed vehicle and how to identify a legitimate taxi or private hire driver. ( Freedom of Information Act 2000 stream It will see eligible drivers receive a one-off payment of. ZLP J;i Pi(KBR :J((ZJ(RRQE QE Q@ )))hEPEPRI@Rs@)ii(z the author immediately by replying to this email. Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender, We automatically connect you to contacts at thousands of household names, ombudsmen and regulators to find a resolution. Drivers must undergo medical certification to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Group 2 Standards. which may be legally privileged and/or subject to the provisions of His contribution to the debate is welcomed as much as anybody's.". A total of 927 drivers were said to be waiting for a hearing to determine their application. However, if you'd rather complain directly, you can use the above address to contact Wolverhampton City Council. 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. A new report to Walsalls director of public health has outlined concerns over dwindling application numbers. ]k w79`Yu-i%r!H106 43@QX-Wq/ 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. Taxi complaints. Download 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. Drivers must attend a one-day driver training programme, provided independently by Worcestershire County Council. City of Wolverhampton Council Private Hire & Hackney Carriage Complaint Procedure Please provide your details so we can keep you informed on the outcome of the complaint you wish to raise.. Before becoming a driver, there are several requirements that must be met. Please notify "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. When questioned by council officers, Ayub, of Broadway, in Shirley, Solihull, said the increased cost was a result of coronavirus. 5 0 obj If you have a complaint about a driver, vehicle proprietor or operator, you can provide information at Taxi Complaints or call our dedicated complaints line 01902 55 TAXI. Complaints about taxi drivers. Wolverhampton City Council, Download a zip file of all correspondence, Children and adults removed by social services due to poor housing conditions, Correspondence between UBER BRITANNIA LIMITED and Wolverhampton City Council. Please provide number of complaints received by council in relation to uber taxis from 2015-2019, Information request Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? Once a driver is granted, we continue to monitor them. Wolverhampton Council 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 2023 BBC. 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, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'Fighter jets are roaring over my home in Sudan'. 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. Fears have been raised drivers are "shopping around" to find the easiest way to obtain a licence. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. ( and a limited company (03277032). 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. Putting things right Complaints process Other options The report made furthest from the West Midlands city came from a complainant more than 150 miles away. Read about our approach to external linking. 2019aboutTaxi complaints Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. ( 30 March 2022. Then like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. )((((QE( ( ( ( ( ( ))h9G4:9 4wE/4 sIJ ( Mr Ashford welcomed news of the government's proposals for tougher legislation. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council All rights reserved. Wolverhampton Council, might not provide that informationto you. 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 Resolver is free. Wolverhampton council said it stripped licences from suspects immediately. Your donations keep this site and others like it running. The delegation was agreed by the district authority's cabinet on. NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. ?$;@>~T&qM+lT?zgi-]rlR%I*ndshgU / The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Lib Dem campaigner Ian Jenkins, said: The council has turned a vital safety check into a cash cow. <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 594.96 842.04] /Contents 4 0 R/StructParents 0>> Further information about the vehicles and drivers licensed for South Staffordshire are available on ourInformation for Passengers page. If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error Police were informed in all cases, it said. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, Council's taxi licensing change aims to save money, Taxi drivers 'missing out on Covid payments', 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. ^hE/4 Ph @EPsG4R(99 (iH=iOjJ@/&R % Wolverhampton registers about a third of England's taxi drivers, according to a report. Taxi and Private Hire licensing within South Staffordshire is administrated on behalf of the Council by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Licensing team from April 2022. . Contact us if you think it should be reopened. 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. 7 0 obj ( endobj 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. ( (QA!EPEPEPES ) QE QE 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. to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. ( Visible links 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". Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. (Q@QH( None of the councils for the areas where offences were alleged could confirm whether they had been made aware of the suspect driver operating in their area. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council We need to support the private hire trade in the city and not turn ourselves into a taxi version of Gretna Green. Council's taxi licensing change aims to save money. (Q@Q@QL(EPE% QKI@-%G4s@ %/4sHhy9 94 ) - QG4 sAE- !()hhJ'zVP(g -%(?i ))QCRPE RQHaEPE%- QI@E)i)hQEQE !BQKE u'49hbm8h! )})( %- RJ- K@ J(i)i( ( The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. We also undertake Compliance Operations throughout the year, including Friday and Saturday nights to ensure safety for visitors to the night-time economy. 1 0 obj Placing members of the public at unnecessary risk by taking a booking without valid insurance is unacceptable.. Governance ( The Councils Guidelines are regularly reviewed and as of November 2022 are currently under review pending the anticipated publication of Government Best Practice Guidance. "What is really important is that we make sure we bring the taxi drivers in on this. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. ( ( . Yours faithfully, By providing you with all the tools and contact details needed to raise and manage your complaint, we put you firmly in control of your issue. South Staffordshire Council is handing over taxi and private hire licensing functions to Wolverhampton Council (CWC). 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. except where the sender specifically states these to be the views <> 6 0 obj Resolver can help you send your complaints to Wolverhampton City Council. (E 4.h i)h(@ E QF( jZ;PEhRCRhZ%4 A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. 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). i90#?WHB CH 7:+ 6YgY]BPU8q-HG-b%+aK`y=DUFB%2)x$T'oSz+! Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/taxi_complaints_4?unfold=1 on May 02, 2023 00:03. Thank you for your request for information received on6 November We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information Where there are motoring convictions, these are also considered against the Councils guidelines. Before becoming a driver,. Safety and health of drivers and the public; High standards of vehicle safety, comfort and access; Prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of consumers; and, Equality and accessibility in service provision. ( ( The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Dear Wolverhampton City Council, Please provide number of complaints received by council in relation to uber taxis from 2015-2019 . 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. Please notify ( Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. ( Taxi drivers protesting in Wolverhampton last year over the city council's controversial licensing system. ( 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. Every council in England would be told to carry out checks on all applicants. It licences drivers from around the UK including Scotland, Manchester and Nottingham. Council cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from Complaints . Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender, Download JFIF ` ` C Council cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from endobj endobj . It currently has 4,461 drivers licensed. 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. ( If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error Instead, theyre full of the info you need to get things sorted. Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. 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". City of Wolverhampton Council licensed Hackney Carriages and Private Hire . Magistrates dismissed Sahrish Rahat Ayubs appeal against Wolverhampton Councils decision to revoke her private hire driver licence. ( has misdirected this e-mail; you must not use, disclose, copy, print or To pay your Parking and Bus Lane Penalty Charge Notices online you will need: your Parking and Bus Lane Penalty Charge Notices reference number your debit or credit card details Account details. 2 0 obj endobj This may only be completed by a General Medical Council (GMC) registered practitioner. It is intended solely for the addressee. all of the information you have requested. Taxi and cab drivers have staged go-slow protests against the current regulations around the country, saying they leave the public at risk. xUMo0#HMH,mQ-Uki66>X{o<3n|uYK6+m Slower processing times and higher fees elsewhere had encouraged many drivers to choose Wolverhampton. 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 service has never failed an audit. Has the incident been reported to the police. 2. 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. and a limited company (03277032). 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. Concerns have also been raised over passenger safety. 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. of how you may appeal (if appropriate). Customer Engagement Officer It just seems like the budget line comes first above everything.. When we receive a complaint, if the problem is something we can put right straight away, we will. Want to help others get their issues sorted fast or see the latest updates about how Resolver can help you? requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. "In terms of my experience working on the front line and from working in some cases, there are some drivers that are predatory. the use of this email or attachments. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr Just raise a case and leave feedback after. A total of 170 taxis were inspected by our dedicated Roads Policing Unit, in line with COVID and road safety regulations. Wolverhampton Council launched The Additional Restriction Grant - Taxi and Private Hire Grant Scheme to help drivers across the city. 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. Before April 2015, there. <> (05798215). Our reference: 926105, --------------------------------------------------------------------------. stream The city has taken on new staff in a bid to cope with demand, documents say. 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 Its quick, easy and totally free. Whilst people apply to Wolverhampton from all over the country, we conduct compliance operations all over the country. However, there remains no official system of ensuring all authorities are aware of suspected criminal activity, although the council "refutes any accusation" of failing to pass on details. In that year a change in the law allowed private hire drivers to operate in a different area from where they obtained a licence. 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. privacy legislation. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Councillor Philip Page, chairman of the councils regulatory committee, said: We take public safety very seriously at Wolverhampton.
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