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On the 18th January 2012, the Home Office announced that licens- ing authorities will be able to apply for enhanced checks from the Criminal Records Bureau for all their taxi and PHV drivers under new government pro- posals to ensure the safety of vulnerable people. The proposed changes - part of plans to simplify and reform the system of criminal
record
checks - will give reas- surance to women travelling alone and other vulnerable cus- tomers who use taxis and PHVs. Under
the current
regime only drivers who regularly pick up children or vulnerable adults have been legal- ly eligible for enhanced checks. However, it has become commonplace for many licensing authorities to apply for enhanced
checks SEE
PAGES 24-25
regardless of the role their drivers have. The proposed changes will standardise this prac- tice and legalise the system. Following the proposals for reform of work place checks in the Protection of Freedoms Bill, and representations from all major industry stake- holders as well as the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, ministers have announced their intention to: •Make all taxi and PHV drivers eligible for enhanced criminal records checks; cur- rent drivers will be required to have the additional
checks
when they apply to renew their licence. •Enable
licensing
authorities to check whether any applicant for a taxi licence is barred from work with children or vulnerable adults, as detailed by the Independent Safe-
guarding Authority’s barred list.
•Changes will be made by secondary legisla- tion as soon as practicable.
Lynne Featherstone, Criminal
Information
Minister, said: “We are determined to ensure the criminal records scheme is balanced to respect civil liberties and protect the public. “Taxi drivers provide a valuable service trans- porting children to school
and lone
women home after a night out so it is only right that the public should have confi- dence proper checks have been carried out. “These proposals will ensure that licensing authorities have all the information they need to make informed deci- sions before granting licences to drivers.” The changes are part of a radical overhaul of the vetting and barring and
criminal records regime intended to scale it back to common sense lev- els, while still ensuring adequate protections are in place where they are needed most. Linda Craig, director of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: “Suzy Lam- plugh Trust welcomes this announcement and believes that all licens- ing authorities should ask for enhanced checks in making deci- sions about granting licences. The public are encouraged to use licensed minicabs and taxis so these licences must deliver the safety the public expects.” Local Transport Minis- ter Norman Baker said: “When you get into a taxi, particularly late at night, you want to have confidence that you are in safe hands. I there- fore welcome this announcement which will make people feel more secure.”
ENHANCED CRB CHECKS FOR LICENSED DRIVERS: INDUSTRY LOBBYING PAYS OFF
01582 466800
www.auriga.co.uk
issue 233 issue 233 by Trapeze
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Swinton Taxi Division is a division of Swinton Group Limited, registered in England number 756681, which is connected for the purposes of the Insurance Companies Regulations 1994 to MMA Insurance plc, Gateway Insurance Company Limited and Provident Insurance plc. Registered offi ce: Swinton House, 6 Great Marlborough Street, Manchester M1 5SW. Calls may be recorded and monitored. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
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