HOW ABOUT #theneglectedindustry? dindustry! #theunprotectedindustry!
that had been in receipt of reports for a long time before any preventative action was taken.
“That’s why we’re looking to licensing authorities to enforce these rigorous new standards – ensuring drivers are fit to transport passengers safely and to stop those who aren’t. I would be offended as a licensing authority at that one. This has been the main goal and principle of all licensing authorities since before Mr Shapps was born; in fact it was the underlying principle of the introduction of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Mis- cellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
“We expect all licensing authorities to implement the stan- dards and won’t hesitate to introduce legislation if they don’t fulfil their responsibilities to keep the public safe.” Well, how about jump in your TARDIS and go back to before 1976 and get involved in the very legislation that set this in motion 44 years ago! Talk about telling a red traffic light to turn red!!!
Following extensive consultation across government as well as with industry and regulators, the strengthened measures will mean all drivers applying for a licence should now be required to disclose if they hold or have previously held a licence in another area. Local authorities will also now have to have robust reporting systems in place to make sure passengers feel comfortable reporting incidents and or suspicious behaviour. This follows the Casey Report which found there was inadequate investiga- tion of some complaints in Rotherham. Actually, following extensive consultation across govern- ment, as well as with industry and regulators, which was indeed carried out in 2010 by the Law Commission, and again with the Task and Finish group, and again with the Government response to the Task and Finish recommen- dations, which led to another set of consultation to consult on the results of the
consultation.....you decided to ignore it all and do absolutely nothing. What a surprise!!!
Just as a heads-up, Mr Shapps, next time you ask for something to be added to an application form disclosing if drivers are or have been licensed elsewhere, do us all a favour: try reading an application form first!!! You would find that question has been on the application forms for many years in almost all local authorities. Licensing authorities will be expected to fully implement these measures as soon as possible. The Department will closely monitor progress, work with authorities not meet- ing their responsibilities, and look to introduce legislation
AUGUST 2020
if licensing authorities fail to adopt the standards and update their operations. Well that’s a big ask,
people.....there is absolutely NOTHING for you to do, you already have the “Are you currently licensed by any other local authority? Have you had a license refused by any other local authority?” on your appli- cation forms -.and most of you are already on the DBS update service.
Both boxes well and truly ticked.
GOVERNMENT, GET REAL! GRANT SHAPPS, WAKE UP!! Your timing is appalling!!! Your approach to our industry is disgusting!!! Your whole attitude to our trade is uncaring!!! YOU have failed in your duty of care to protect!!!
Our drivers are out there every day, as they have been since before, during and after the lockdown:
• risking their lives to ensure NHS and key workers get to the front line;
• making journey after journey either free of charge or heavily discounted for NHS staff;
• volunteering to deliver medication to self-isolating and elderly people;
• fund raising and making food deliveries to those in need; • having to de-commission their taxi/PHV licence as they had to self-isolate themselves, or simply because they could not afford to pay the rental fees due to YOUR lack of support!
• The industry is on its knees. Drivers are dying of Covid by the dozen.
And yet all this Government can do – having done NOTHING in respect of support, recognition, guidance or financial assistance for this industry – is to bring out Statu- tory Standards to protect passengers from the implied horrible, nasty drivers (as made out by Government). This is nothing short of disgusting, slanderous and outright offensive!!
Grant Shapps clearly threatened “to introduce legislation if licensing authorities fail to adopt the standards and update their operations”. In fact he said “WE WILL NOT HESITATE” What about legislation to eradicate the nightmare of remote cross-border operations? What about the other recommen- dations approved by Government in the Task and Finish report, all of which were to protect the public, including drivers, and to improve the industry, all of which have been specifically ignored in last month’s exercise.
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