FACT NOT FICTION... FACT NO FACT vs FICTION: IT’S BEEN A MEDIA FIELD DAY!
But more importantly, the headline is totally incorrect – and extremely judgmental of our drivers. This is the kind of sensationalism that causes confusion and panic, not to mention giving the trade a dreadful name.
As PHTM readers will know by now, the issue of CCTV in licensed vehicles is one of several subjects which are dis- cussed in the Government’s draft Statutory Guidance document – which is currently out to consultation. More on that later. CCTV has NOT been mandated in all licensed vehicles; it is being considered on a local authority basis, and there are many factors that must be examined before any local authority would consider mandating the equip- ment.
Continuing with PHTM’s latest campaign we started at the beginning of this year, we feel bound to point out that the past few weeks have really excelled themselves in the amount of misinformation that has been published and/or broadcast about this industry.
To use the term “fake news” is somewhat harsh, as quite honestly the misinformation has been distributed not with deliberate malice but rather through ignorance of the facts and lack of understanding of the subject matter. Nonethe- less, such misinformation creates unfounded rumours, and in some cases outright panic, amongst members of the trade – understandably so.
For example, on 12 February the long-anticipated Govern- ment response to the Task and Finish report on taxi licensing was released in the public domain. However, even before the response was to have been published, we were regaled with headlines such as:-
“TAXI DRIVERS ORDERED TO INSTALL CCTV CAMERAS TO STOP SEX ASSAULTS IN CARS”
The article that followed this headline was full of further inaccuracies. Firstly, where did this source get the content of the Government response whilst it was still embargoed?
At the same time as the above story “broke”, there were several versions of other media reports, all of which carried the same sort of headline:-
“TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS TO FACE ENHANCED CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS”
This really caused a level of confusion beyond belief. Large numbers of licence holders contacted us and said, “What’s this all about? We’ve had to have enhanced criminal record checks for nearly two decades… Has something changed?”
Again, such stories displayed a lack of knowledge and understanding of the subject matter; they should not have been given space on their website(s). PHTM readers will know from reading this edition – and hopefully both the Government response and the draft Statutory Guidance - that the entire DBS record check procedure is being reviewed, including the mandatory check on the barred list, the compulsory use of the electronic DBS update system, and other aspects of criminal background reporting. But to say “taxi and PHV drivers to face enhanced criminal record checks” displays a complete lack of comprehension of the subject matter, and should either be more thoroughly researched – or don’t publish the article at all.
PROUD OF OUR TRADE 44 MARCH 2019
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