Councillors have decided to force taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to install CCTV systems in their cars to deter and prevent crime.
According to The News, Fareham Borough Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs committee met on 4 September and approved to mandate taxi drivers to install CCTV systems in their vehicles.
In July of this year, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, lobbied licensing authorities to mandate CCTV in taxis following the conviction of a driver in Southampton for sexually assaulting a passenger.
The council’s head of environmental health, Ian Rickman, told committee members that the CCTV in the taxi ‘played quite a big part in that conviction and prevented the victim from reliving the ordeal in court’.
Councillor Pamela Bryant, chair of the committee, said members have a duty not only to protect the public but also taxi drivers ‘because it does work both ways’.
In a poll of 77 people in the licensed trade last year, 68 per cent objected to the idea of having to install CCTV, mostly because of the cost.
Among taxi drivers, 48 per cent said they’ve faced threats while working, and 41 per cent already have CCTV in their vehicles.
In another survey of 95 members of the public, four people said they experienced a crime while in a taxi. Notably, 74 per cent of respondents said they’d feel safer in taxis with CCTV, and 61 per cent supported making it mandatory.
Cllr Sue Walker added: “When you look at the statistics you see that 37 have already been threatened while at work.
“I personally would like to see that date brought forward from April 2025, we’ve moved on from Covid.
“Maybe we should be going back to the PCC and saying, look this is a good idea but are you going to put any funding towards helping the taxi drivers to do this that haven’t already done it.
“Even if it’s a 50/50 split or some sort of grant that’s available.”
Committee members agreed the date for existing drivers to install CCTV should be brought forward to 31 December 2024.
In response to the decision Donna Jones said she is ‘delighted’ that the council responded to her call to mandate CCTV in taxis.
She added: “Keeping residents safe is my number one priority, and now another council has followed suit in showing its commitment.”
A spokesperson added that the PCC believes the scheme should be funded using the same model as Portsmouth, Southampton and Gosport.
Changes to the approach to taxis and PHVs in Reading could see petrol and diesel cars used by drivers phased out in the next five years.
According to The Reading Chronicle, changes to how taxis and PHVs operate could be coming as Reading Borough Council is devising a strategy for how they could be used for 2023-28.
A main aim of the council is to phase out the use of petrol and diesel only cars and vehicles in an effort to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
A key action for the council for taxis and PHVs is to require all vehicles used to be either electric or hybrid by 2028.
This would mean that the 225 taxis, 392 private hire vehicles and 118 executive private hire vehicles would all have to be electric or diesel by that year.
Changes to taxi operations moving forward could see more app-based taxi services introduced in the future.
The strategy states: “The adoption of new technology by the sector and most significantly by the public, has resulted in a much-changed sector.
"The biggest change is the ease with which passengers can engage services using an app on a mobile phone.
“The council is supportive of technological developments which both improve the customer experience and ensure safety measures are adhered to.
"App-based companies are licensed in the borough and are subject to the same conditions and requirements as other operators.
“The council will consider new applications which are in line with this strategy and comply with legal requirements.”
While an attempt by Uber to get a licence to operate in Reading was rejected in 2016, a similar company Ola Cabs won permission to operate in 2019.
The strategy also addresses private hire driver hopes to get access to bus lanes.
Currently, bus lanes can be used for buses, black cabs licensed in Reading and cabs licensed elsewhere that are wheelchair accessible.
Last year, the Reading Private Hire Association was set up to advocate for these drivers and also push for access to bus lanes, such as the outbound lane in Kings Road.
The strategy states: “The council will continue to monitor the use of bus lanes and consider if any further traffic orders could be trialled or introduced.
“The council considers that any changes to access must not undermine bus services and reliability and, if made, should primarily support Reading licensed vehicles.”
It was added that the council may consider restricting taxi access to bus lanes for less polluting vehicles only.
The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Strategy 2023-28 is currently under consultation.
You can take part in the consultation by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk.
The deadline for responses closes on Monday, September 18.
Source: https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23769807.petrol-diesel-reading-taxis-may-gone-2028/
Police have found 26 bags of cocaine in a man's underwear after a vehicle stop in Epsom.
On June 16, Surrey Police stopped a white Prius on East Street.
GetSurrey reports that it had been displaying taxi symbols in the windows; however, there was only one passenger sitting in the front of the vehicle and, on checking the vehicle details, it was not insured as a taxi.
Officers suspected that the driver was purporting to be a taxi driver as a cover for supplying drugs.
Ermal Metalia, 26, of no fixed abode, was detained for a drugs search and subsequently arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, fraud, and driving without insurance.
Following a further search in police custody, officers discovered that he had hidden 26 bags of cocaine in his underwear.
Metalia was charged with using a motor vehicle on a road without third-party insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance, for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and possession and control of ID documents with intent.
On August 18, Metalia was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for possession with intent to supply Class A at Guildford Crown Court.
He was also given six points on his driving licence for driving without insurance and driving other than in accordance with his licence.
Source: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-drug-dealer-posing-taxi-27654214
Feedback on an electric taxi scheme running in Blaenau Gwent has not been “particularly positive” a senior council officer has said.
The South Wales Argus reports that at a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s Place scrutiny committee on Tuesday, September 5, councillors asked for details of the take-up of a “green taxi” scheme which offered the use of two electric vehicles to taxi drivers on a trial basis.
Since November 2021 as part of the Cardiff City Region Deal and Welsh Government Green Taxi – try before you buy initiative, Blaenau Gwent taxi drivers have been given the chance of hiring a fully electric wheelchair accessible taxi, free of charge for 30 days.
In total 44 of these electric vehicle taxis were available for hire in the Cardiff City Region Deal area, with two allocated to Blaenau Gwent. The trial includes free charging, insurance, and breakdown cover.
Deputy leader of the Independent group Cllr Wayne Hodgins said: “Has anyone taken up the offer of the two electric chargers?
“I just wondered as I haven’t seen any about.”
Trading standards and licensing team manager, Steve Osborne said: “Uptake of the scheme has been low, we’re talking about a handful that have been trialled.
“Feedback from the drivers hasn’t been particularly positive. We have shared that with the scheme organisers.
“There’s been issues with the location of the charging points and the vehicles not being able to hold a charge for long enough to do contract runs for some drivers.
“One driver returned the car after two days. He could have kept it for 30 and said that he didn’t feel the vehicle was fit for purpose.”
The electric taxis are purpose-built Nissan Dynamos and cost around £45,000 brand new.
The two-year trial will continue until the end of November 2023, with the total funding for the scheme being £3.4 million.
EV charging points were installed at the taxi ranks in Ebbw Vale, Brynmawr, Tredegar and Abertillery and a question to be answered at the end of November is whether the public will be able to use them to charge their vehicles.
It’s also possible that the cars will be sold off at the end of the trial.
Councillors in Wakefield are expected to agree to increase the age limit of the district’s taxis and private hire vehicles.
The Wakefield Express reports that the move comes weeks after the local authority was accused of putting cabbies’ “livelihoods at risk” during a town hall protest.
The council’s licensing committee is being asked to agree to a recommendation to a temporary increase in the age limit to 12 years for saloon vehicles and 15 years for multi-seater vehicles.
Under the current policy, most private hire and hackney vehicles will not be licensed when they reach ten years of age.
Councillors are also being asked to agree to a public consultation on the issue.
A report to committee members states: “The council has been requested to consider an extension to the upper age limit for licensed vehicles, citing the unprecedented challenges and hardship experienced by the trade in recent years.
“The council has previously responded quickly to support the trade through the global pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis by relaxing and postponing certain requirements of its vehicle standards policy and providing one-off grants to drivers.
“It is proposed that an immediate temporary extension to age limits is considered on this occasion pending a full review.”
Wakefield currently has a fleet of 1,054 licensed taxis.
In July, drivers staged an angry demonstration outside County Hall ahead of a full council meeting.
Members of Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) called for the local authority to ease a number restrictions similar to neighbouring local authorities.
Yaser Ahmed, president of WDA, said: “The main issue is the vehicle age limit in Wakefield. If a car reaches ten years old it has to be replaced.
“In a cost of living crisis we think it unfair for drivers to have to replace a vehicle. Kirklees, Bradford and Leeds have all increased it to 15 or 16 years.
“All we are saying is at least give us some relief.”
Clive Tennant, chair of the licensing committee, said: “We have met with members of the Wakefield Drivers Association and are now considering their request for changes to our existing licensing rules.
“Our priority is, and always will be, passenger safety and their health and well-being.”
The committee will consider the report at a meeting on Wednesday, September 6.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was amongst the thousands who enjoyed the Battle Proms at Highclere Castle on 3 August.
Swindon residents could be facing a hike in taxi fares from October after councillors gave the green light to a £1 increase in the standard fare minimum charge.
Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
Chinese automotive giant Geely has deepened its commitment to the UK electric vehicle market with a £120m cash injection into London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC).
North Tyneside Council is facing a backlash over plans to increase taxi fares by 6.3%.
Nazim Asmal preyed on his victims after nights out in Preston and Darwen, driving them to secluded spots before carrying out horrific sexual assaults.
Newcastle is set to see a surge in pink taxis driven by women as part of a new initiative aimed at improving passenger safety.
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.