COUNCILS’ DRUGS TESTING DRIVE WOLVERHAMPTON:
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING WELCOMED
The boss of Wolver- hampton’s PH & Taxi Association has given his backing to the requirement for drivers to undergo random drug and alcohol testing, as a way to improve safety measures for passengers. Mr Raheel Shah, the association’s chair- man and founder, said that too many drivers were not up the strict standards of the job, and endorsed the legis- lation from the council’s licensing chiefs. In recent months, the council has been in consultation with the local trade group
over proposed alter- ations to the way companies conduct business in terms of base, driver and vehicle procedures. A spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council’s Licensing Services said: “The onset of technology and also the intrica- cy of cross-border hiring means that several changes are necessary. “Base operators will now need to provide drivers with cus- tomers’ contact de- tails to enable them to have immediate access to satellite offices and systems, as well as being able to use IVR.”
Mmmm… Well, where to start…! First off, will these random drug and alcohol checks be carried out on the thousands of Wolverhampton licensed PH drivers who work hundreds of miles away? Then it’s interesting to see that the council has been in consultation with the local PH trade group. A bit of a stable door/horse has bolted job, isn’t it? The “intricacy of cross-border hiring” means that change is necessary, all right… With over 13,000 licences having been issued in the previ- ous 12 months, they’ll be a bit busy… Ed.
LIVERPOOL: RANDOM DRUG TESTS APPROVED
Taxi and private hire drivers in Liverpool will face random drug tests after councillors backed the new plans on 10 December. Members of the council’s licensing committee gave final approval to the plans, which will also see “intelli- gence-led” testing used on drivers sus- pected of being under the influence of drugs while driv- ing. It comes amid rising concern about dri- vers carrying pas- sengers while under the influence of either cocaine or cannabis - or both. A consultation with drivers had found
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that most who res- ponded “overwhelm- ingly support” the introduction of drug tests in the city. The policy states: “This policy aims to establish procedures to allow for random and intelligence-led drugs testing of licensed drivers, with the intention of both detecting drivers who use illegal drugs and deterring such persons from con- tinuing to use drugs.” The council could request a driver take a test if there are ‘credible reasons’ to suspect they may use illegal drugs. Liverpool’s move will see randomised testing of current
taxi drivers - and the potential for new applicants, or taxi drivers renewing their licence, to be requested to take a test if they have a conviction or cau- tion for drug-related offences in the past three years. Councillors
say
other local authori- ties in the region will need to follow suit to tackle the issue effectively. Drivers requested to take the tests due to previous drug of- fences will have to pay for the test, but for those chosen at random or due to intelligence-led test- ing the cost will be covered by the city council.
Drivers have been warned about driv- ing under the in- fluence of drugs – as police reveal they are carrying out stop checks. Northumbria Police revealed they have received funding from Newcastle City Council and Gates- head Council to pur-
chase hundreds of new portable drug testing kits. The equipment enables them to test drivers on the roadside and get immediate res- ults telling them whether or not the driver is under the influence. Traffic officers have been utilising the
REDDITCH: DRIVERS COULD FACE SPOT DRUG TESTS
Redditch licence holders could face more rigorous checks under the council’s proposals to tighten its licensing regula- tions as the way taxi drivers are tested is being putting out to public consultation. Currently taxi drivers are required to pass a medical fitness examination, includ-
ing a drug test, by a medical practitioner approved by Red- ditch BC. This test is repeated every five years and annually for over 65s. New options on how the tests could be done are now out to consultation. They include whether the tests could be done by any registered
GP or the appli- cant’s own, whether they should only be required every five years for those over 45, and whether the drug test should be replaced with spot checks with no or short notice. To take part before February 14 go to
www.redditchbc.gov. uk/consultations.
WEST LOTHIAN: DRIVERS COULD HAVE RANDOM DRUG TESTS
West Lothian’s licence holders may soon have to prove they are drug-free. According to Edin- burghLive a wide- ranging report was ordered by West Lothian Council late last year. In a recent report licensing offi- cers and councillors revealed concerns about drug use by drivers. The report said: “Over the last few months the licens- ing team have re- ceived a number of
complaints from members of the public and others within the hire car trade alleging that drivers are using drugs.” It added: “Licensing committee mem- bers have raised the issue in the context of their considera- tion of applications from potential hire car drivers who have convictions for drug related offences. “Members have ex- pressed a wish to be able to send some
applicants for drug testing to confirm that the applicant is not using illegal drugs.” The council intro- duced a random drug testing policy for its own staff in driving jobs two months ago. The new report sug- gests a policy dec- ision needs to be taken to investigate allegations, and there needs to be a policy of referring drivers for testing when there is reason to suspect drug use.
JANUARY 2020
NEWCASTLE/GATESHEAD: COUNCILS FUND POLICE DRUG TESTS
equipment since the new drug driving laws were intro- duced. But now Special Constables will be testing taxi drivers operating in the city to ensure they aren’t putting innocent lives at risk by driving while high on drugs under Operation Beacon.
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