One could almost claim that Labour has been nobbled by guess who.... So, this is now down to the likes of Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester who stated in early 2024: “Out of area taxi working would be banned under Labour if elected” to de-nobble the Labour Government… but don’t hold your breath.
MEANWHILE.. BACK IN BRIGHTON
At the September Trade Forum Meeting, where this time I behaved myself (I shoot straight from the hip and make no apologies) we had Inspector Dan Eagle join the forum as the new Sussex Police rep. I have to say that I am very envious of such a great name… almost Marvel like…. brilliant! I always fancied myself as a Marvel-like hero but never thought I would look good in a cape and wearing my underpants outside of my tights… not that I wear them.
Dan came to introduce himself and speak about a new initiative called ‘Restore DiverCity’, where victims of hate crime may not want to fully engage in the criminal justice system for fear of further victimisation and don’t want to go to court and the offender has taken responsibility for their action. A police officer, under the rank of a Sergeant, can authorise a restorative justice approach as part of the community resolution, in which case the offender then has a condition to participate in ‘Restore DiverCity.’
Bear with me….the initiative then mentions working with the taxi/private hire trade utilising our (mandatory) CCTV. It then goes on to VAWG, which is Violence Against Women and Girls, although when it is considered that I could identify as an eighteen-year- old blonde…
It mentions taxi drivers can play a key element in keeping women and girls safe, especially in the night- time economy and where the trade can help in being alert. We should ask questions such as: “Are you OK?” and not presume someone is drunk but to consider that a drink may have been spiked, along with engagement, especially with lone females leaving venues.
Effectively the trade is expected to be the eyes and ears for safety in the city, so this adds to the CSE (Blue Lamp) course that we all have to take every three years. However, all in all it is good to be able to work with the police, providing of course that full respect
PHTM NOVEMBER 2024
is given to us as well. It did end with Dan making it clear that police vehicles are not allowed to casually park on taxi ranks which has been an ongoing issue here and aggravates the hackneys trying to work, which is not helped by private cars consistently using ranks for free parking. Although it is fully accepted that in emergency situations police vehicles using ranks is acceptable.
You can read the document that was provided by Dan here:
www.tinyurl.com/spdivercity
So, why have I wasted precious minutes of your time? Well, I love irony because in September this year our local rag had he headline: “SUSSEX POLICE OFFICER DENIES SEXUAL ASSAULT OF WOMEN”
Sussex Police has previously said that Willis had been charged with the three offences against two women who were known to him”. See:
tinyurl.com/lee-willis
Keep in mind that until this goes to court the officer has yet to be found guilty. However, this is the same officer who never had any concern about parking his police vehicle on a rank, using two spaces, to go and get his burger. See:
www.tinyurl.com/ship-rank1
So, you see the irony here with the presentation made by Dan and an example of police casually using ranks, and the serious charge (as yet to be proved). I was tempted to bring this up during the presentation, but on the basis that the Inspector was new to the Trade Forum I thought that I would let the matter go, because we all know there are bad apples in every profession and I was on my best behaviour.
UBER DRIVERS: STRIKE CALLS CONTINUE
There is quite a national snowball of Uber drivers calling for strikes over the lousy rate of fares that Uber expects them to accept. As I have stated several times before, strikes are being called for all the time here in Brighton, mostly by the Oot’s (out-of-towners) and recently a grand total of five turned up to a protest meeting while the rest carried on working. This caused in-house accusations being thrown around on their Whatsapp group of drivers being ‘donkeys’.
No doubt we will be reading more from Uber drivers calling for strikes whilst there are hundreds more eagerly waiting to join up.
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