A taxi driver in Sheffield has reportedly been physically assaulted by two unknown men in a robbery inside his own vehicle, South Yorkshire Police has revealed.
The Sheffield Star reports that the men are reported to have inflicted injuries to the taxi drivers face, before he fled the scene to seek help from officers.
South Yorkshire Police said the taxi driver stopped his vehicle on Callow Mount, Sheffield at around 3am on February 18, 2023, when two men entered his vehicle.
It is alleged the men then physically assaulted the driver, causing the injuries to his face. After the victim fled, it is reported the two men took cash from the vehicle.
South Yorkshire Police has now released images of two men they would like to identify and speak to in relation to the investigation. It is believed the men could hold vital information able to assist officers’ enquiries into the assault and robbery.
If you can help investigators, you can pass information on via webchat, online portal or by calling 101 and quoting incident number 166 of February 18, 2023.
Alternatively, you can remain anonymous by providing information through Independent Charity Crimestoppers, or by calling 0800 555 111.
Councillors have approved an increase in taxi fares in Warrington.
The Warrington Guardian reports that the taxi and other licensing committee discussed a report on the hackney carriage table of fares at its meeting on Tuesday 21 March.
The report highlighted the details of a seven per cent fare increase across all tariffs – which the committee was recommended to approve. The committee approved the seven per cent increase.
At its meeting in July, the licensing committee agreed to adopt the table of fares if no objections were received to the consultation.
A report to the committee said evidence has been sourced from the Automobile Association, which shows average fuel prices as at February 2023. It states that fuel prices continued to increase during 2022 and currently ‘remain stable’ at February prices.
It added: “Fuel, insurance and vehicle repair costs have steadily increased; impacted by ongoing geo-political events including the continued Ukraine war.
“As of March 2023, the average fare in Warrington (tariff one for a two-mile journey) is £5.70 which, compared to all 350 authorities in the UK in 2022 was ranked at no: 277 but has since dropped back to 320 in the price comparison chart compiled by Private Hire and Taxi Monthly.
“This is mainly owing to the other authorities increasing their fares in 2022.”
Source: https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/23404174.taxi-fares-increase-approved-councillors/
A public consultation on taxi fares in Conwy will go ahead after cabbies complained that the current rate is unsustainable. But one councillor fears taxi fares increasing could hit those on low incomes who can’t afford a car.
According to the Daily Post, a debate on the matter unfolded this week when Conwy’s licensing committee met. There, the committee discussed the maximum rate hackney carriages are allowed to charge.
Lisa Roberts, of Castle Cabs, wrote to Conwy County Council's licensing department, requesting that taxi firms were allowed to increase fares due to inflation.
Speaking via video link, Mrs Roberts said whilst private hire was still profitable, hackney fares were no longer sustainable.
"The cost of running the business at the moment makes the public side, the community side of tourism, not viable," she said. "From private hire perspective, we do a lot of corporate work. We work for the Crown Prosecution Service. We do a lot of local authority work.
“That side of the business, we are able to set our own prices; therefore, we are able to make it viable. We are able to employ a large number of employees in this county, but I think if we don't have a tariff increase, then the other side of the business, at this moment in time, is not viable to serve the community or tourism."
Cllr Thomas Montgomery said he was concerned for people on lower incomes if taxi fares increased. "I'm conscious about the impact on low-income families. There are some families I'm aware of that rely on these types of services because they find it difficult to get a bus or they can't afford their own vehicle,” he said.
"So I'm conscious of those families when we are looking at these charts. But I do also appreciate the impact that inflation is having on the hackney licence holders themselves."
He then asked if the council could look at the possibility of lowering the cost of issuing a licence to hackney drivers. But council officers informed him that new fees for taxi firms had already benefitted from a reduction.
Under the proposed new charges, taxis will charge a maximum of £4 if the distance doesn't exceed one mile, rising from £3.60, and 35p for each additional one-tenth of a mile, rising from 30p.
The charge of 30p for each minute of waiting time will remain, and all other charges will remain the same.
The proposed new fares will now go out to public consultation before they are re-debated.
Source: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/cabbies-complain-taxi-prices-conwy-26531309
Thousands of people are going to be affected as hundreds of ‘angry’ taxi drivers are set to resume strike action against the council.
The App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) has criticised West Northants Council’s (WNC) Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2023, which is currently out for public consultation until April 23.
The council says the new policy focuses on improving driver standards; strengthening the "fit and proper person" test; a more rigorous convictions policy; mandatory safeguarding training; spoken English testing; and driving standards training.
However the ADCU is strongly against the new rules, saying that have not been properly consulted when WNC drafted the 150-page legislation. And, ‘after consulting with all stakeholders’, the ADCU has decided to go on strike from March 22 until the end of the consultation period (April 23).
Here’s how the ADCU will be striking in Northampton for the next month.
Speaking to the Chronicle and Echo, Shafqat Shah, Northampton Chair of ADCU, explained the ADCU’s motives.
He said: “We have decided to go on strike with limited disruption to the services and public to start with and also provide WNC with the opportunity to start serious negotiations during the consultation period.
"They are just paying us lip service [with this consultation]. We have seen this before with consultations where WNC get through what they want anyway. Our action plan is, why wait for this consultation period to finish before going on strike? We are putting pressure on them prior to the end of this period.
"We feel so strongly. We have to do something. We have drivers who are angry and want to strike straight away for 24 hours. But as a responsible union we don’t want to hurt the drivers or the public, we believe it’s better to start with the two hour strikes.
"We want a proper one-to-one with WNC. We don’t want this new legislation coming our way. We have seen the damage of rule changes that have happened in other cities such as Nottingham, Leeds and Wakefield.
"We don’t want this documentation. We want the council to sit with us. If it’s my livelihood then I should be consulted before this documentation is written up.”
If WNC fails to enter ‘serious talks’ with the ADCU, Mr Shah says the union will up the ante.
He said: “We will then be targeting the school runs. There are a lot of school runs. We won’t be taking any children to school.”
When asked if he would like to address the affected public, Mr Shah said: “This documentation has nothing to do with public safety. This is what we want the public to be aware of. It’s about making our lives harder. We want to work with WNC to resolve this.
"We know the public will be affected and we can only apologise for that.”
Cllr David Smith, cabinet member for regulatory services outlined the council’s position.
He said: “WNC has made the decision to extend the consultation on the Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2023 by a further four weeks while further engagement work is undertaken to seek views on the proposals. The consultation will now be open until Sunday 23 April.
“The proposed policy will supersede current policies for the areas of Daventry, Northampton, and South Northants and sets out the driver, vehicle, and operator standards for Hackney Carriages and private hire licensing for current licence holders and all new licence applicants.
“The ADCU have communicated that they will be undertaking two-hour daily strikes regarding the proposals. We are working with representatives to listen and respond to their views and encouraging people to have their say on the proposals through the consultation hub.
“Pre-engagement work has been undertaken with local licenced drivers and operators and we have also been working with the Police as we look to develop a new safeguarding assessment.”
A long-standing Lancaster taxi boss says night-time at his taxi base has become a hotbed for feuds and fighting.
The Lancaster Guardian reports that Kelvin Ellershaw, managing director of 32090 taxis, says the situation outside his Church Street premises is the worst he’s known in his 24 years in the business.
"It’s an awful place at night outside our premises,” he said. "People come down to our offices from different pubs and it’s a free-for-all.
"As early as 9pm, people are fighting outside. We can’t get rid of them quick enough as taxis won’t come out.
"They are saying they don’t need that hassle. I’ve been in that position for 24 years and it’s the worse I’ve ever known.”
Kelvin, who was speaking at a recent Lancaster BID Business Breakfast meeting at the Royal Kings Arms Hotel, said it was costing him thousands of pounds for security, which he could ill afford.
"The amount of taxis we’ve got are struggling to cope," he said. “Sometimes we have two to three doormen on and they can’t control the trouble.
"It’s mainly because people are waiting longer. There is just more and more hassle.
"Drivers don’t want to do Friday and Saturday night because of the grief.
“I find this so frustrating. I don’t know what I can do to solve this problem.”
Kelvin has 70 drivers but only 35 work weekends. The driver shortage is also worse since many cabbies did not return to the job after the pandemic. This left a major shortage across the district, particularly to cope with the night-time trade.
Lancashire police and crime commissioner, Andrew Snowden, said: “During Covid, a lot of people in the taxi trade switched to delivery drivers so there is now a shortage of taxi drivers.
"The prevalence of drugs as well as drink is also a driver in violence. There has been a significant increase in the amount of cocaine that is in use and that drives more violent behaviour.”
Sgt Lindsay Brown said: “Wait times are longer so people get more agitated.
"There has been a 30% drop in anti social behaviour but in this particular issue, everything is concentrated in that small area.
"We’re certainly aware of the issue and we will do what we can to mitigate.”
Police have said they will meet with Kelvin.
A private hire driver was found asleep in his vehicle in the middle of the road, prompting concerns for public safety.
A private hire driver who continued to work despite having his licence suspended, has been prosecuted by Oldham Council.
The Hinckley Area Taxi Association has proposed new tariffs to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which could make the borough's taxis the most expensive in Leicestershire.
Shaun Meenan attacked the teenager, who was a stranger to him, both in his vehicle and then in her home after gaining entry under false pretenses
Hillingdon Council launches consultation on PSPO to prohibit PHVs and taxis from waiting in residential streets around Heathrow Airport.
A taxi driver was left shaken after being robbed and assaulted by a knife-wielding passenger in Gateshead.
The proposed changes,which are set to be discussed at the licensing committee this week, would affect fares during weekdays, evenings,weekends, and festive periods.
A 71-year-old taxi driver has had his license revoked by the Stratford-on-Avon District Council due to public safety concerns.
Wolverhampton taxi drivers are set to be given powers to record audio in their cabs if they feel in danger following a spate of attacks.
Residents of Stirling are being invited to have their say on plans for a new taxi rank in the city center, as the local authority looks to address a growing demand for taxi services.
As of this year, only 278 licensed taxis are in service, significantly lower than the government's goal of 310.
Over 200 children from across England suffering from chronic or life-limiting conditions experienced a dream come true this weekend, thanks to a heartwarming initiative by London's black cab drivers.
Residents are being encouraged to participate in a consultation on proposed new taxi charges.
Taxi drivers at Bristol Parkway railway station are expressing frustration over a subsidised bus service that they believe is cutting into their business.
A year after the removal of a taxi rank due to lack of customers, Ipswich Borough Council is proposing to introduce a new five-place rank on Key Street.
A taxi driver who had his licence revoked following allegations of posting offensive material online has been given the chance to reapply.
The Glasgow Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has shown initial positive results in reducing air pollution, according to a new report.
Colin Aylward, who lives in Chittys Lane, Dagenham, captured the shocking incident on his home security system.
Independent Councilor Dave Patrick warned that the proposed increases would make Fenland one of the most expensive places in the country for taxi travel
Bleed kit charity, RAPAID, has already installed over 5,000 kits in UK cities in a bid to put emergency bandages in permanent circulation so that they are on hand whenever needed.