POOL – THIS COUNCIL MEANS BUSINESS
These experienced officers’ eyes were darting all over the place, and it struck me during the course of the evening that so many licence holders in other districts have complained about having no on-street enforcement; that their licensing officers rarely leave their office and don’t know what actually goes on down here in the street.
CAIN BREWERY: GRAFTON STREET
At this point it was raining quite heavily and we were sitting in rather heavy traffic. Stuart advised us that whilst we were going down here relatively early at this time, the traffic is usually as bad if not worse between 4 and 5am. We asked if this happens all night, every night – especially at weekends. Stuart surprised us with his reply: “Liverpool is really a one-night city: you only get this level of activity and traffic on a Saturday night. The rest of the time it’s reasonably quiet.” Even on Friday nights. During the journey to Grafton Street, they were telling us that the late-night licensed premises all pay a levy, literally called the Late- night Licensing Levy, which helps to fund further licensing and enforcement activity. Incidentally, Derek and Stuart also cover licensed premises in their ‘portfolio’ of enforcement res- ponsibilities. They also advised us that Liverpool City Council is bringing in a drug-testing policy which was ratified by full Council on December 10. The plan is to conduct random drug tests amongst existing licence holders, with the potential for new applicants or existing licence holders to be requested to take a test if they have a conviction for drug-related offences in the past three years. A consultation with drivers found that most who responded “overwhelmingly support” the introduction of drug tests in the city.
A black cab driver being moved on by Stuart
OTHER TROUBLESOME TIMES?
We asked if – apart from the festive season which was just starting – there are any other periods of heightened illegal activity amongst the trade, such as the horse racing season (particularly at Aintree and the Grand National) and football matches. They said that their main concern especially connected with football is overcharging: the city mounted a campaign called Operation Topaz (we reported this in PHTM) which aims to stop taxi and PHV drivers ripping off out-of-area visitors, especially at Anfield, who come into the city to attend football matches. Another sharp increase in taxi-using numbers happens during the Freshers’ Week where up to 60,000 students reside in the city. These officers make a point of visiting uni campuses around this time. As they moved on yet another illegally parked PHV, they told us that they feel more endangered by the public than any of the drivers they’ve come across in all their years ‘on the beat’. Naturally that’s because of the level of drink/drugs taken by so many punters. One such man approached me as we were standing outside the Old Cain Brewery and said something unintelligible, like “you should tell those guys (Derek and Stuart) to !!” – the rest was inaudible as he wasn’t speaking ever so clearly.
JANUARY 2020
Licensed by out-of-town authorities: legally right –morally wrong
Derek was adamant that if the legislation changed nationally so that drivers who are licensed in Liverpool would have to start or finish their journey within Liverpool; similarly to limit vehicles from other districts working exclusively in Liverpool. He is convinced this would contribute massively to the city’s finances – and the public’s confidence that their driver would know where they’re going.
May we extend a huge Thank You to Derek Hughes and Stuart Seeley for taking the time and trouble to “show us the ropes” during a very busy Saturday night shift. Again, may we stress that this is just what every councillor on every licensing committee should do across the UK, to get a feel of what really happens on the street. And it wouldn’t hurt if more licensing officers in other districts spent more time doing on-street enforcement as well. Once again Liverpool City Council is to be commended for its pro-active approach to taxi and PHV licensing and enforcement.
51 MORE GOINGS-ON ELSEWHERE
A few minutes later we pulled up opposite a famous landmark in the city centre: a bombed-out church, which had obviously sustained damage during the Second World War and was never restored internally. It’s a shame, as it is a beautiful building. Evidently this is a well-known locality for taxis and PHVs to pick up and drop off passengers – both legally and illegally, so the guys’ eyes were peeled yet again for miscreant drivers.
Liverpool’s famous landmark, the bombed-out church
A Liverpool cabbie legitimately showing his badge to Derek
We asked about driver safety as well, and Derek said that their enforcement activity is also aimed at protecting the legitimate drivers; their mere presence is helpful in this regard, as those who shouldn’t be at a particular place at that time are moved on. When we were going along we passed yet another nightclub, where there must have been over two dozen people – mostly young people – queuing for a taxi. Sitting some ten yards or more behind this area, on the opposite side of the road, was a lone hackney carriage. So why was he sitting there, with all those people queuing for a taxi further along? Our team had a word with him, and he soon pulled up and picked up a passenger. He was cherry-picking fares…
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