66 PRIVATE HIRE AND TAXI MONTHLY
IN THE NEWS
LEAMINGTON CABBIES WITH CRIMINAL RECORD GRANTED LICENCES BY COUNCIL
Cabbies with a record of dishonesty have been granted licences to drive taxis and PHVs in Warwick district. The Leamington Spa Courier reports that five drivers with declared criminal have
been
convictions given
licences in the past year by Warwick district councillors, and only two have been turned down. One driver’s applica- tion was accepted even though a Criminal Records Bureau check revealed he had four convictions and four cautions on top of those he had declared. The facts came to light after it emerged that councillors were to con- sider
four more
applications from driv- ers with convictions,
and one from a driver whose licence was sus- pended. Les Austin is a former chairman of Warwick District Hackney Car- riage
Drivers’
Association and called on those applying the law to be “fair across the board”. He said: “There are an awful lot of drivers try- ing to do the job properly. If they see people getting away with these things and getting into the industry they are going to lose respect for councillors and officials.” Among the cases the Courier learned of were two drivers permitted licences after being turned down by Birm- ingham City Council. Another received a for-
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mal warning after being caught with one tyre worn down to its thread and a broken light, and another was asked to be “mindful over his future conduct” after refusing a medical examination and abus- ing officials. Mr Austin said this made sense with seri- ous crimes such as violent or
sexual
offences but saw little use in declaring minor traffic offences from 30 years ago. Cllr Michael Kinson (Con, Warwick South) is responsible for licensing policy. He said: “The fact that these drivers
are
appearing before the regulatory committee does illustrate that we are controlling them.”
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A bogus cab driver sex- ually
assaulted a
20-year-old man who was on his way home from a night out in War- wickshire. According to the Coven- try Telegraph the assault took place at about 2.30am on Monday 6 April in a lay-by on the A444, near Nuneaton. Police
have released details. Offi-
cers say the victim had got in to the car, a dark blue or black Rover 25 hatchback which he believed to be a mini- cab,
outside the just
Barracuda in Nuneaton town centre. The car was not dis- playing a minicab or taxi livery on the out- side, although it did have a meter inside. The driver set off but
pulled into the lay-by near the Griff shortly afterwards, claiming there was a problem with the car. Police say he then placed a reflector across the frontwindscreen and sexually assaulted his passenger. Theoffender isdescribed as being white, aged 35 to 45 and stocky, with long dark hair.
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A terrified woman was abducted by a bogus taxi driver in Reigate town centre and taken on a 15-mile trip before escaping. Police
have now
warned women in the area to be on their guard and look out for unlicensed cab drivers. The 25-year-old woman became
separated
from friends on Reigate High Street at 2am before a car pulled up beside her. The driver of the light coloured silver or beige saloon asked the woman if she wanted a
cab. After getting inside, the driver said he would go around the town’s one- way system to pick up her friends. Fears grew as the driv- er headed in the direction of Dorking and didn’t stop. He continued to the village of Leigh, just over two miles down the road. After the woman’s con- tinued appeals,
the
driver agreed to take the woman to a friend’s house in Caterham, a further 12 miles. The woman was not injured. Police are hunting for
the bogus driver after the incident on Sunday, March 22. The driver was in his late 20s or early 30s, of Greek or
Turkish
appearance with a goat- ee beard, who spoke with a London accent. Investigating officer, detective constable Tracy Maclean, said: “I have reviewed CCTV from around Reigate town centre; however,
I don’t
believe this man to be a genuine taxi driver and I am making enquiries with the taxi licensing officer.”
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