The Council's main objective regarding taxi and private hire licensing are: If you are looking for further information about the requirements, please follow the link toWolverhampton City Council Taxi Licensing. endobj The Council also considers whether the complaints against the driver necessitate consideration by the Disclosure and Barring Service for the former driver to be added to the children and/or vulnerable adults barred lists. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, Council's taxi licensing change aims to save money, Taxi drivers 'missing out on Covid payments', Generations of Wolves speedway fans turn out in force to the first meeting since bombshell stadium news, Stourbridge shoppers 'intimidated by aggressive begging' in town centre. The standard of behaviour and level of trust expected should be demonstrated in the conduct of those licensed at all times. Applicants are also required to disclose any previous licensing history. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. ( NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. Safety and health of drivers and the public; High standards of vehicle safety, comfort and access; Prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of consumers; and, Equality and accessibility in service provision. Wolverhampton <>/OutputIntents[<>] /Metadata 371 0 R/ViewerPreferences 372 0 R>> This email has been scanned for all viruses and all reasonable precautions "In terms of my experience working on the front line and from working in some cases, there are some drivers that are predatory. endobj Want to help others get their issues sorted fast or see the latest updates about how Resolver can help you? The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. A total of 170 taxis were inspected by our dedicated Roads Policing Unit, in line with COVID and road safety regulations. Where there are concerns about applicants suspected of involvement in historic child sex exploitation investigations, further vetting is undertaken by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Council's taxi licensing change aims to save money. Number of Private hire taxi operators who have breached their operators licence conditions including name of operator and details of breaches from 2017 -2019, Information request ( 7 0 obj privacy legislation. ( This email contains proprietary confidential information some or all of and a limited company (03277032). JZ(99(J ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((EPEPER(96 Drivers must attend a one-day driver training programme, provided independently by Worcestershire County Council. Governance Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/taxi_complaints_4?unfold=1 on May 02, 2023 00:03. Read about our approach to external linking. Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, the government said it was tightening taxi safety guidelines, increased the number of licences it issues, sign up for local news updates direct to your phone, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Disney faces countersuit in feud with Florida, US rock band Aerosmith announce farewell tour, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month. We also undertake Compliance Operations throughout the year, including Friday and Saturday nights to ensure safety for visitors to the night-time economy. Donate and support our work. mySociety ( Wolverhampton The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The customer had been provided with a business card containing Ayubs personal phone number and she told him she had set up her own business. We provide commercial If their licence is revoked, this decision is recorded on NR3S, in case the driver tries to apply for a licence at another authority. But only a small fraction of the new licence holders are operating in the city, with some drivers working hundreds of miles away in Scotland. Where complaints are made, the Council has a key performance indicator (KPI) for all complaints involving safeguarding concerns to be investigated within one day. Reports of child sexual exploitation are among allegations made against drivers licensed in Wolverhampton, but who also operate across England. Taxi and Private Hire licensing within South Staffordshire is administrated on behalf of the Council by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Licensing team from April 2022. Taxi drivers and council colleagues say farewell to Elaine Moreton (centre) who is retiring at the age of 75 after 39 years' service. P(j _JZm(AI OJ)i(QEZJZ %zQ@-% QI@PIKE %Q@ QKE %Q@Q@IE QE Rw(A((((((((((((EPEPER9(4sKI !PEPIKE %- QE Q@(AEP ( ( ( ( ( J ( QZ((G4 !h % QE @sG4 QKI@4sG=> GKu H( EJ)i(RQ@Q@y KE( ()(C Dear Wolverhampton City Council, Please provide number of complaints received by council in relation to uber taxis from 2015-2019 . Less teenagers have meningitis protection since before pandemic, Coronation uproar as Birmingham residents react to allegiance pledge with everyone saying same thing, A new independent pizza restaurant is coming to Harborne & its giving away free pizzas, More than 20,000 Russians dead in Bakhmut, US says, Rita Ora and Karlie Kloss arrive at the Met Gala, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured. Thank you for your request for information that was received on6 November Taxi drivers protesting in Wolverhampton last year over the city council's controversial licensing system. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr His comments follow reports last year that councillors in the West Midlands had criticised The City of Wolverhampton Council for operating a "more lenient" licensing system for private hire. ( All rights reserved. JFIF ` ` C Complaints . None of the councils for the areas where offences were alleged could confirm whether they had been made aware of the suspect driver operating in their area. Councillor Mike Bird, the leader of Walsall Council, said he favoured a change in legislation as the current system was making a mockery of local authority licensing laws. 30 March 2022. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. We use a state-of-the-art system which uses the same technology as can be found at Border Controls ePassport Gates in UK airports. Well always be on hand with guidance and support to help you get the results youre looking for. [1][Wolverhampton City Council request email] . By providing you with all the tools and contact details needed to raise and manage your complaint, we put you firmly in control of your issue. The topic of taxi safety comes after the case of "black cab rapist" John Worboys, who police believe may have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women he picked up in London between 2002 and 2008. Visible links In response to your request, please see attached our response to your Has the incident been reported to the police. 2. `!DR 2023 Resolver Consumer Online Limited. Prof Rod Thomson, Shropshire Council's director of public health, said the authority was "concerned that public safety is being threatened and environmental aspirations diluted in cases where drivers and vehicle proprietors 'shop around' to be licensed by local authorities that demand lower standards and then exclusively or predominantly work in an area or areas where standards are higher and licences more difficult to obtain". This request has been closed to new correspondence. 8 0 obj View our cookie policy here. ( "At the moment, some drivers can take advantage of a loophole where they can apply to get a licence in an authority that has less stringent assessments and ply their trade in an area which does. Putting things right Complaints process Other options ( (E 4.h i)h(@ E QF( jZ;PEhRCRhZ%4 Members of the council's regulatory committee are set to discuss the matter on Wednesday. (Q@QH((((((((aEP2Sk`(= Email:licensing@sstaffs.gov.ukTelephone: (01902) 696000, Sign up to receive news and updates from South Staffordshire Council. City of Wolverhampton Council said it prioritised local taxi driver applications. Resolver is a totally free service that you can use to complain effectively. C " We willcarry outan assessment The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Please provide as much information as possible to help our Licensing Compliance team investigate your complaint. i90#?WHB CH 7:+ 6YgY]BPU8q-HG-b%+aK`y=DUFB%2)x$T'oSz+! When we receive a complaint, if the problem is something we can put right straight away, we will. Over the same period Wolverhampton Council had 1,018 applications from private hire drivers based in Walsall. Many established taxi drivers say the Deregulation Act 2015 is threatening their livelihoods and claim a change in the application process is "risking customer safety". privacy legislation. We use the DBS Update Service to check drivers DBS certificates every day of the week. The campaign also highlights the risks involved in taking an unlicensed vehicle and how to identify a legitimate taxi or private hire driver. The Council is 100% compliant with this KPI. Customer Engagement Officer 9 0 obj ago Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. Resolver is not affiliated to, linked with or otherwise endorsed by Wolverhampton City Council. This may only be completed by a General Medical Council (GMC) registered practitioner. The customer was charged 15 for a trip to Russells Hall Hospital from her home in Dudley, which is typically priced at 7. ( services through our wholly owned subsidiary If we decide a fee is payable, we will Across the weekend (Friday 18 December and Saturday 19 December), 27 taxi drivers were issued with enforcement action, including defect notices or suspension of licenses. ( The authority said it dealt with complaints robustly, with all safeguarding issues dealt with within a day "regardless of where the driver is in the country". We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. disseminate the information contained within this e-mail. ( Yours faithfully "I was sitting in the back of the taxi and he put his hand on my knee". In Wolverhampton itself, there were four allegations of CSE and four serious sexual allegations. The first is an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which includes a check on the children and vulnerable adults barred list. Resolver can help you send your complaints to Wolverhampton City Council. (Q@QH( Public safety is paramount and we are constantly working to improve our processes to protect people. Established in 2008. Further information about the vehicles and drivers licensed for South Staffordshire are available on ourInformation for Passengers page. which may be legally privileged and/or subject to the provisions of <> 6 0 obj Yours faithfully, Once a statement is provided you may be asked to give evidence in court. endobj Taxi drivers 'missing out on Covid . In May 2017, the chair of Wolverhampton's licensing committee, Alan Bolshaw, wrote to Sajid Javid, who was then Communities and Local Government Secretary, urging him to create a national database of drivers so that adequate background checks could be carried out, even suggesting the council fund it. ( } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br A Freedom of Information request found Wolverhampton Council had handed out 15,000 private hire licences in 2019, bringing in nearly 3.7m in fees. Contact details. Freedom of Information Act 2000 The driver can only undertake work in a vehicle licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council. the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and We take passengers safety and wellbeing seriously. Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. The service has never failed an audit. @RRQE%0(JZ (QE Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? As such, the Council considers those applications and where the applicant is fit and proper, a licence is granted. and if anyexemptionsapplyto some or all ofthe information then we The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Wolverhampton Council <> Wolverhampton registers about a third of England's taxi drivers, according to a report. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Resolver is a completely free complaint-resolution tool that puts the British consumer directly in touch with the customer service providers who can resolve their complaint. Wolverhampton Council currently operates a Get Home Safe campaign which seeks to make sure the public are aware of the differences between hiring hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. ( Governance Enquiries are made with those authorities and any previous complaints considered with the Councils Guidelines. is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) This website uses cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalised ads, and analytics. Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? Reports of child sexual exploitation are among allegations made. Before April 2015, there. has misdirected this e-mail; you must not use, disclose, copy, print or requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details 2000andwe aim to senda response by4 December 2019. It prompted licensing bosses at Wolverhampton Council to streamline its application process and slash the prices of licences leading to a dramatic increase in applications. (05798215). )i( ( 4G Where new information is found, their licence is reviewed. If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error If you hold a current Driver or Vehicle Licence with City of Wolverhampton Council, you will need to register with the "My Licence Portal" to inform of arrests, cautions, charges, convictions and Fixed Penalties as part of your conditions of licence. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? endobj ( A Ministry of Transport (MOT) certificate dated no more than 10 days prior to the application date must also be provided. (QA!EPEPEPES ) QE QE Please note, if you are not willing to provide a witness statement we may be unable to process your complaint fully. To apply/renew your driver or vehicle licence follow the links below. You therefore need a debit or credit card to make the payment.. You must also complete a DBS application (Criminal Records Check) and provide a DVLA three . Wolverhampton City Council Taxi Licensing. This training is only available in English and covers the following: This syllabus is regularly reviewed, including with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and Partnership Strategic Exploitation Co-ordinator. Wolverhampton has registered about a third of England's taxi drivers and is inundated with applications, according to a report. Get started now and lets get this sorted. [1][Wolverhampton City Council request email] However, there remains no official system of ensuring all authorities are aware of suspected criminal activity, although the council "refutes any accusation" of failing to pass on details. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz Placing members of the public at unnecessary risk by taking a booking without valid insurance is unacceptable.. 3 0 obj except where the sender specifically states these to be the views )})( %- RJ- K@ J(i)i( ( (Q@Q@QL(EPE% QKI@-%G4s@ %/4sHhy9 94 ) - QG4 sAE- !()hhJ'zVP(g -%(?i ))QCRPE RQHaEPE%- QI@E)i)hQEQE !BQKE u'49hbm8h! Please notify ( ( It will see eligible drivers receive a one-off payment of. The delegation was agreed by the district authority's cabinet on. Learn more about Resolver Pro and how to claim your business. Thank you for your request for information received on6 November When questioned by council officers, Ayub, of Broadway, in Shirley, Solihull, said the increased cost was a result of coronavirus. ( We are an entirely independent issue-resolution tool that enables the raising and handling of consumer issues, making complaining simpler for everyone. Any breach of this condition would be looked on most unfavourably: 3.9 A private hire licence is a badge of approval, it states the Local Authority feels the holder is fit and proper and suitable in every way. ZLP J;i Pi(KBR :J((ZJ(RRQE QE Q@ )))hEPEPRI@Rs@)ii(z Theres no jargon in our rights guides. Papers found the situation had emerged since the government in 2015 ruled drivers could register anywhere in the country, not just their local area. ( By providing you with all the tools and contact details needed to raise and manage your complaint, we put you firmly in control of your issue. The Council uploaded all its historic computer data to this register and all refusals by the Council are added to this register. "The first thing to say is that the majority of taxi drivers out there are working hard to make a living and are trained to actually help vulnerable people," said Phil Ashford, from the National Working Group (NWG) for tackling child sexual exploitation. to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. ( Write to our Complaints Manager, City of Wolverhampton Council, Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1RL Ask a friend, a relative, advocate or anyone to contact us your behalf Make sure you give us as much information as possible. View as HTML. In the last five years the city council has received applications from 325 miles away in Perth a six-hour drive from the city, and 254 miles away in Truro, Cornwall, which takes almost five hours to get to by car.