IN THE NEWS


UTTLESFORD COUNCIL WANTS STANSTED AIRPORT ILLEGAL TAXI TOUT CRACKDOWN LIKE HEATHROW


Uttlesford DC has announced its plans to expand a crackdown on illegal taxi touts at Stansted Airport, where PHV drivers solicit customers for business or accept journeys without prior booking. Speaking in a council meeting on July 11, senior licensing and compliance officer, Jamie Liver- more, said the authority “disrupted a number of suspected touts” after a trial procedure earlier this year.


He also said the district council will look to run more of the operations this summer.


Mr Livermore said of the trial: “While we weren’t able to take any formal action, we were able to disrupt a number of suspected touts. We will look to run more of


these operations over the summer months while schools are closed and we are able to commit more time to doing so.” Touting is a criminal offence under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Drivers who are arrested and charged with touting are addition- ally charged with holding no valid insurance for carrying passengers. Mr Livermore told the licensing committee that the authority had shadowed Metropolitan Police officers and TfL officials at Heathrow in March this year.


MANDATORY DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAINING FOR CABBIES UNDER NEW GOVERNMENT PLANS


Taxi and private hire drivers could have


to undergo awareness


training under new proposals aimed at improving the lives of disabled people. Plans would ensure businesses across the country are aware of disabled people’s needs, such as whether they require access for a Guide Dog. Making improvements in the courts system so more disabled people can be on juries, and bringing in a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE are among other measures being considered as part of the Government's Disability Action Plan. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said proposals include encouraging more autism- friendly programmes in the cultural and heritage sectors and promoting assistive technology to


PHTM AUGUST 2023


make sure more disabled people have access.


Plans will also look at legislating for mandatory disability awareness training for taxi and private hire drivers "to unlock greater travel freedom for disabled people". People are being urged to respond to a newly-launched consultation, which opened on 18 July and runs for 12 weeks, and which will be used to inform the plan later this year: https://shorturl.at/fhjl2 It will be open for anyone to comment to ensure it is informed by the experience and views of disabled people, disability organisations and charities. Minister for Disabled People Tom Pursglove said the government “wants disabled people to be at the heart of decision making”. He said: “Our Disability Action Plan will lay out practical measures we


can implement here and now to improve


the lives of disabled


people. "From leading the way globally with assistive technology to improving inclusivity and accessibility across sport,


travel


and culture, the Plan will also be important in setting the stage for longer term change. "We want disabled people to be at the heart of decision making and I would encourage anyone interested to


respond to consultation so the views


this of


disabled people across the country are front and centre of our final Disability Action Plan.”


The Plan builds on the passing of landmark legislation, including the Down Syndrome Act and British Sign Language Act – and a consultation to


support the


introduction of a new BSL GCSE. 45


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