MOBILITY MATTERS
EDINBURGH FIRM SAYS: “WE WERE WRONG TO SAY YOU PONG”
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A taxi firm said sorry last month to a dis- abled woman for being too smelly. The devastated pas- senger was left in tears after the cab operators told her she had “hygiene problems”. The asthma sufferer - who often struggles to walk - has used the Edinburgh-based firm for five years to get to her regular hospital and GP appointments. But she was left stranded when the firm refused to collect her. She told the Scottish Sun: “I had been driv- en there by one of their drivers without any problem. And nothing
was said when I called in to make a booking to go home.
“But when I phoned to ask why they were tak- ing so long, they said they couldn’t take me because of my hygiene. I was so upset. I was in tears the whole day.” She called the firm to protest the ban - only to discover her num- ber had been barred. She said: “It makes me feel like a criminal but I’ve done nothing wrong. Disabled peo- ple should not be treated like this.” She lives in Craig- mount, Edinburgh. with her partner. He said: “I’m raging about
the way she has been treated.”
The taxi firm issued an apology blaming human error for the sit- uation.
The company’s direc- tor revealed that only one driver had an “issue” with her over hygiene.
He said: “The situation was handled incorrect- ly. We apologise unreservedly for any embarrassment and discomfort we might have caused. “We have been pick- ing her up for a number of years, so we’ve offered her some vouchers as compensation.”
FINE FOR MIDDLESBROUGH CABBIE WHO REFUSED TO TAKE A DISABLED WOMAN
A Teesside taxi driver has been fined after he refused to take a 24- year-old woman in a wheelchair home - even though his vehi- cle was wheelchair accessible. Rafiq Latif, from Mid- dlesbrough, was working in his hack- ney carriage when a woman in a wheel- chair went up to his taxi and asked to be taken home. However, he refused saying his ramps were broken. He told the woman the only way he would take her home is if she could get out of the wheelchair.
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The passenger was left shocked and upset by the refusal and report- ed the matter to Middlesbrough Coun- cil’s licensing section after taking his number. A full investigation was made by the council and legal proceedings were brought against Latif for refusing to
carry a passenger without a reasonable excuse.
He appeared before Teesside magistrates and pleaded not guilty to the offence. Howev- er after a trial he was found guilty and con- victed.
He was fined £250, ordered to pay £250 costs to the council and had to pay a £15 victim surcharge. Cllr Julia Rostron, Mid- dlesbrough Council’s Executive member for community protection, told the Teesside Evening Gazette: “The refusal to carry the passenger in this case was disgraceful and reprehensible.”
She added: “This prosecution should serve as a warning that such conduct will not be tolerated.” Pat Davies, of the Mid- dlesbrough Physical Disabilities Reference Group, said: “This is wonderful news. Dis-
abled people often have problems with the service we receive on transport and this is a positive way for- ward. “Well done to Middles- brough Council for pursuing the matter and let’s hope it sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate this form of discrimination.” A spokesman for the Middlesbrough Hack- ney Carriage Asso- ciation said: “Firstly we would like to apol- ogise on behalf of the taxi trade to the lady in question.
“Conduct like this gives the trade a bad name. The vast majority of our members pride them- selves on assisting all passengers and many drivers have regular customers who are wheelchair users because of the high standard of service they provide. Thankful- ly incidents like this are rare.”
PHTM NOVEMBER 2010
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