A Quickie Knowledge, Or A Two a Tiered Knowledge System?....by Jim Thomas.

Over the last few months, while the trade has again been decided over the intended CC mandate, transaction charges and siting of the machine, TfL seem to have used the oppotunity to slip in the frame a new form of Knowledge of London. 

It's recently been reported all over social media, new drivers at Heathrow have been asking for post codes of well established points around central London, such as the Ritz Hotel, Kings Cross and Euston stations. 

There have always been allegations that certain suburban drivers have been sharing friends or relations badges and bills to work the airport. 

Most of these claims were felt by the majority of the trade to be exaggerated. 

But when TfL compliance recently made checks out west, there was a noticed absence of so called 'new drivers' from the feeder park. 

However, drivers sharing documents such as badge and bill, is not the only problem that's currently surfaced out west. Many drives are refusing what they feel are unprofitable journeys by refusing to take card payments, or asking for exorbitant cash fares.

At a recent meeting between trade reps, HAL and TfL compliance, it's been revealed that knowledge students are no longer going out on the bike -a system proved over many years to be the most effective way of learning the Knowledge. 

TfL told the meeting that learning the knowledge from a computer screen in a classroom is now quite acceptable. 

HADTU have released a statement saying that in their opinion, this is not just a quickie knowledge, but a two tiered knowledge system. 

They say they will now be consulting with other trade groups regarding this issue. 

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The ongoing credit card saga...Letters from Tom Scullion and Dads Defending Daughters

Tfl in its infinite wisdom made a very hasty decision to make it compulsory to have fixed terminals in the back of London Taxis without consultation with the working Taxi drivers. 

Many of us have highlighted the dangers and the risk to helpful Cab drivers being lured into the back of our Taxis when the customer cannot process a card payment. 

Whilst we all agree that every Taxi should have means to take cards and the majority of us have a handheld devices, why would Tfl think that we should go to the expense of installing fixed units which are prone to 'Bugs" and system failures and if the unit doesn't work the driver is off the road until the equipment is functioning again.

Here are some other reasons why drivers should use hand held units:

In order to process an Amex card for example the driver is prompted to check the customers signature against the card, pretty difficult to do as the customers will process the transaction themselves in the back of the Cab, if the customer contacts their card company and say that's not my signature and request a refund the driver will loose the money.

Cards being left in the machines in the back of Cabs when the next passenger gets in and nicks the card they will have a field day with contactless transactions with purchases, goods or services below the £30 ceiling and guess who will get the blame for stealing the cards ? 

You guessed it the Cab driver.

Did you know you can use a stolen card for up to 5 months on contactless transactions even if the card has been reported as lost or stolen.

When a driver is trained on how to use their machine or device they are asked to check the name on the card so imagine the scenario, a Lady presents you with a card you check the name and its MR G Smith if the driver takes the payment and ignores this again there will be a charge back and once again the driver will be out of pocket and or accused of deliberately processing payments without the customer being present or taking fraudulent payments.

All of the above can not happen if the driver processes the payment with the customers card in the front of the Cab.

Be Lucky 

Tom Scullion

Comment From Dads Defending Daughters.

When Helen Chapman said there is no evidence of attacks on cabbies helping with CC machines, I answered that there isn't that many machines in the back of cabs yet, and half of them are not used (socks and bags covering them).

I pointed to the fire escape and said, no child has ever fallen from that fire escape, but would you allow a four year old out there unsupervised to play on it?
Not the greatest analogy, but it was off the cuff.
Do we have to wait for a rape or murder, before TfL deem it unsafe to get into the back of the cab with a stranger?

Uber waited until murder hit the headlines before they stopped Uberpool (although you can still put yourself in danger, if you're jumping in with strangers from the airport).
Khan said "One is one too many." when referring to TfL's PH rape record.
Obviously one is quite acceptable when it's Taxi drivers.
I have to get into the back with an unchecked stranger - sound familiar?

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A Request, To All Orgs From Lee Ward-ALPHA.

I am formally requesting that a committee of Associations be set up from across the country.

This committee will be a steering group for the whole industry, therefore representatives from both tiers are to be included.

This committee will not be for kudos or anything along the lines of 'we did this' 'we got that' it will be purely and simply a group of knowledgeable people who already run Associations, I am sorry but Unions need not apply, you are as bad as the politicians for kudos and no results.

This group will be from across the land, with no borders involved, its purely for the benefit of the trade and the recognition that it requires with the hierarchy.

Together, as a combined and knowledgeable unit we can work to put to bed the growing and desecrating industry issues that are before and upon us.

Please email me at ward.lee1969@gmail.com to show your interest in joining forces nation wide.

Time is now to unify and act, time tomorrow to reflect on what could have been achieved.

Thank you

Lee Ward

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Greenbadge John's View On The Eventuality Of CC Charges

TFL cannot prevent business owners (Taxi Drivers) from using equipment they already own so the equipment they are forcing into vehicles will eventually become redundant.

All the suppliers of this equipment know this very well, and it will be seen as a duplication of process and go down the same route as the mandated issues of emission abatement fittings and receipt printers..... straight into the dustbin of TFL ineptitude.

The costly route of 'free' fitting this equipment is bound to be clawed back eventually by the complicit companies creating a monthly levy charge which will be introduced as soon large enough numbers have been fitted and as projected profit costing and failings becomes patently clear to them and this will allow the drivers the complete opportunity to bring this un-welcomed TFL intervention to an unceremonious end.

If your Card processing company issues minimum "low usage fees" which may be linked to their own projected monthly fees AFTER you sign for free fitting and non usage quota linked usage basis you will undoubtedly have an immediate cost free contractual exit and cancellation due to a serious financial material fact alteration, so read your contract carefully before signing or ask what will happen if they suddenly introduce monthly fees to cover low usage cost because it will happen.

What will that mean to the TFL mandate who will try to coerce you to pay up by threatening to remove your plate because you no longer have rear card processing usage facilities?

TFL could never win that argument legally without examining the suppliers contract so the mandate would die just as the previous ones have.


Be Lucky

greenbadgejohn (on twitter) 


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Carry On, Follow That Camel ! ... By Im Spartacus.

So folks in another travel bulletin, here's how the cab trade works in Dubai.

ALL cabs are owned by the Dubai version of TfL, they maintain the fleet, insure, put the fuel in etc etc bit like the old London General.

Drivers just drive, they sign up as a double team for 7x12 shifts and keep 25% of the clock which is GPS monitored and they all accept cards.

Dubai seemed a safe, clean and law abiding place.

Cabs are usually newish Toyotas or Mitsubishi and the occasional FX4R (joking!) one I rode in had 600,000km on the clock but was clean and well maintained. Fares are about par with ours, drivers pleasant but not that great with any knowledge of Dubai.

Any signs of the U mob you ask? not likely as I say cabs are owned by the transportation authority, why would they give anyone a look in?

The only comparison with U is some of the driving, car drivers will think nothing of reversing a mile or more down the hard shoulder if they miss a motorway turnoff, very relaxing!

The cab drivers respect and regard us as the standard by which all others are judged, they are amazed (as we are) that the authorities in London even allowed PH let alone the bin end Umob!

Interesting place and well worth a visit and by the way I never saw a camel which has given me the right 'ump.

Next reports from Bratislava and Prague soon.

I'm Spartacus 


Sent from my iPhone

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#SaveTaxi Wheelchair fundraiser success for Canonbury cycle crash victim.

Cycle crash victim Alex Doodle will no longer have to “crawl” to and from the taxis they rely on get to hospital appointments after a #SaveTaxi crowdfunder hit its target of £3,000 within a week.

As reported in the Islington Gazette last week, Alex, who is gender neutral, was put on a lengthy waiting list for a wheelchair earlier this year.

The architecture graduate has relied on black cabs to get around since a crash in Essex Road seven years ago and was “lost for words” when told the news.

“I’m still in shock and so grateful,” she said. “Black cab drivers continue to be my lifeline while government policies and funding cuts hinder my ability to live independently and have my basic needs met. A group of people in a trade also threatened took the time and effort to help me. 

“They have given me more than a wheelchair – they have given me independence.”

Alex, who says she has been living off full fat milk because she spends all her money on cabs and mental health services, is looking forward to getting out and about again.

“I will be able to go to a hospital appointment, look around the shops or even go to an art gallery,” she said. “It’s been over seven years.”

The next target is wheelchair-accessible accommodation. Alex is currently in a first-floor flat in Englefield Road, Canonbury, waiting for an adapted home to become available – but just 28 have been let in the last two years. The council says it is doing all it can.

Alex, 44, continued: “When I eventually move, I will live with more dignity and feel less degraded as one of my conditions makes it look like I’m having a stroke so I’m basically on the floor for hours or days or trying to drag myself on one side to the bathroom.”

Cabbie Terry Vaus started the fundraiser. He said: “It’s fantastic news. I never thought when it started it would go so well.”

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Update from the ITA : THE BELLY IS A RASCAL..... ITA HAVE POSTPONED MONDAY'S DEMO.

The UTG Done Deal Credit Card Mandate Omni Shambles Rolls On....by Jim Thomas.

Last Thursday night, CMT's complete system shut down and driver's could not sign in, or clear a payment for hours.

In just over four weeks time, under the proposed Unite Taxi group(UTG) done deal regulations, this would mean many thousands of Taxi drivers having to stop work and go home... until the system's restored back up and running properly. 

Currently many CMT machines have a software bug, which appears to stop the PEDs logging on for long periods of time. This could also result in many drivers having an early bath. I personally contacted CMT UK on their Twitter feed one evening when I couldn't sign in, hoping for a help line phone number and was given an email address -not quite what I was hoping for.

But CMT are not the only equipment with problems.

The iZettle Muria MO10 units are currently printing out receipts containing the drivers full name, home address and telephone number. Many drivers are giving these receipts to customers, completely unaware their personal details are emblazoned on them.  

To be fair, this whole issue has been a complete shambles from the start. Badly planned, badly thought out, with almost no import sort from drivers, or driver's groups.

The start date for the Card Mandate has been put back by 4 weeks, while the requirement for rear fitting has had to be been postponed till 1st January. 

Speaking to a compliance officers over the weekend, they informed me that interdepartmental memos are flying around like confetti. Apparently the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing (their words not mine).

Driver Safety:

Driver safety issues with the rear fitment of Card readers still haven't been addressed by LTPH. General Manager Helen Chapman said at the LCDC AGM, 'we have no data to show this may be a problem'. 

As yet, the main body of trade drivers....the 80% not on social media, haven't received a word of notification from TfLTPH so far.

What's your experience of problems concerning these new rear PEDs?

Use the comments section below to air your fears about issues relating to the CC equipment. 

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TfL's Ministry Of Misinformation...Keep Calm And Tell Them Nothing...by Jim Thomas.

Over the last few years, TfL have continued to drag their feet when asked to publish the Private Hire related serious sexual assault and rape statistics. 

Their webpage- where these figures should be found -has been cleansed of actual numbers and replaced by manipulated percentages, giving a false perception to the travelling public, that the attacks are on the wain. 

This is not the case seen in statistics released by the Met Police, acquired by freedom of information requests. 

Their webpage announces that TfL publish the official Met Police statistics for sexual offences on an annual basis...BUT WHERE?

Their webpage has been systematically cleansed of actual numbers. 

After an official FOI request, TfL stated they would release the figures for 2015-2016 by the 20th of September. That deadline has come and gone. 

After multiple requests from multiple drivers on social media, TfL say they are still finalising the figures. 

Taxi Leaks made 65 requests on Twitter before we got this non answer. 

After more requests from drivers over the last week, TfLTPH have posted this announcement. 

But going to the page on the TfL website shows no figures have been released. In fact, they haven't released the statistics for 2014-15. 

Below, is the actual wording in respect of the rape statistics, on the webpage where this link sends you. 

Sexual offences 

We publish the official Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) figure of the total number of confirmed taxi and private hire related sexual offences on an annual basis. The MPS is unable to provide a definitive breakdown by type of vehicle for reporting purposes. It is not always possible to determine whether these offences were committed by unlicensed or licensed taxi and private hire drivers or any details of how the victims were approached. The specific details regarding the offender's characteristic in each case are often not clarified until the investigation of each allegation is complete, and in a significant number of offences, the profile of the suspect is never confirmed and remains unknown.

The following are official crime figures from the MPS:

2012/13 - Taxi and private hire related sexual offences were over 30% lower than in 2002/03. The number of rape offences almost halved over the same period.

WHERE ARE THE NUMBERS ?

2013/14 - Taxi and private hire related sexual offences fell by 15% compared to 2012/13, with rape offences down 30%.

AGAIN WHERE ARE THE NUMBERS ?

2014/15 - This data will be available later this year.

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New York's Yellow Cabs Have A New Weapon In Their War Against Uber: Gadgets

One Set Of Regulations For Us....And No Regulations For A Chosen Few.

Just when you thought you'd seen it all before...

Just when you thought they couldn't get any more biased...

A driver complains to TfL that a car, shown on the TfL licence checker page as a PHV, is working with no roundels. 

Unbelievably, TfLTPH replied, they had given this vehicle special dispensation to work without roundels. 

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Lee Ward Comments On The Deregulation By Stealth Article.

How many more times are we going to see reports like this that show exactly how the old laws and the Deregulation Act are flawed in this new age ?

To not have a knowledge test because we have the use of Sat Nav's is plain stupid, would they let me go and repair their central heating boiler because I have the information on YouTube ? 

Like hell they would... 

So why allow a driver to drive them or their family around while concentrating on a Sat Nav instead of on the road ?

I believe that a steering committee should be made to attack this issues "Nation Wide" and get the MP's to sit up and listen to this trade, the usual Unions only dilute the issue while attempting to get the kudos for what they try to achieve.

Editorial Comment. 

There are many trade unions in the UK. What do they do when face with problems that could wipe them out....they go to the TUC, The Trade Union Congress.

That's exactly what we need now, a Nation Trade Congress.

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Deregulation by stealth : Nearly half of Derby's private hire drivers are registered elsewhere

How far has your private hire driver gone to get their licence?

Shocking statistics reveal almost half of the 2,800 private hire taxi drivers operating in Derby have not been cleared to work by Derby City Council.

Figures obtained from other authorities show more than 1,300 cabbies have gained licences elsewhere, meaning they have not passed Derby City Council's knowledge test. The council is powerless to check drivers or vehicles in the area if they have qualified with other authorities.

The Derby Telegraph revealed last week that 254 licensed drivers had travelled as far as Rossendale in Lancashire, which has no such test, to gain their qualification but further investigation showed this was just part of the problem.

Gedling Borough Council, in Nottinghamshire, showed a total of 765 drivers with a Derby home address had obtained licences from the authority.

About 1,500 private hire drivers in the city have taken and passed the Derby test.

Derby councillor Baggy Shanker, who responsible for taxi licensing in Derby, said this was "worrying". He said: "It gives us a lack of control to assess these guys who are licensed elsewhere. We can't, by law, stop and inspect them. We simply do not know who is getting a licence to work in Derby."

A loophole in the law allows drivers with a hackney carriage licence, who can pick up fares on the street, to operate as private hire drivers anywhere in the country. Private hire drivers are only permitted to pick up passenger who have made a prior booking.

Drivers have registered as far away as Rossendale in Lancashire.

The Derby Telegraph asked a number of councils how many licences they had handed out since the start of 2013 to drivers from Derby.

Gedling said a total of 765 had been issued since 2013 - 154 were handed out in 2013, 323 in 2014, 171 in 2015 and 117 so far in 2016.

A Gedling council spokesman said: "In May 2014, the council introduced the knowledge test as part of the fit and proper test, with the aim of improving and driving up the standards of the drivers driving Gedling licensed vehicles. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests the introduction of the knowledge test may have reduced the number of hackney carriage licences issued to people outside the Nottingham area."

---

The spokesman said the Gedling knowledge quiz included 25 questions on directions and local landmarks, five on conditions of licences and legislation, five on mental arithmetic and five based on knowledge of the Highway Code. Applicants must answer 75% of the questions correctly to pass.

Erewash Borough Council revealed it had issued 299 licences to Derby drivers in that time – 68 of those in 2013, 72 in 2014, 86 in 2015 and 73 so far this year. A spokeswoman for the authority said: "Local knowledge was removed from the knowledge test in 2007/08 when it was considered an unnecessary requirement with the increased use of sat navs. However, with the increase in inquiries from persons living outside the borough and those having plans not to work in Erewash, the council reintroduced local knowledge and also disability and safeguarding elements to the existing knowledge test in June 2016."

Erewash said its knowledge test addressed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle laws, disability and safeguarding issues, area knowledge and the Highway Code.

Mark Keenan, of Western Cars, which only uses drivers with Derby City Council badges.

East Staffordshire Borough Council said it currently had five people licensed with a Derby address and Derbyshire Dales District Council said it had four.

Mr Shanker said the law needed to be changed nationally to put a stop to the problem. He said: "If you are a Derby driver and a Derby resident then you should qualify in Derby. I think you should be licensed by the local authority in the area you are working in, it's as simple as that."

---

Mark Keenan, managing director of Derby-based taxi firm Western Cars, said the numbers were "remarkable". He said: "It makes me wonder why these drivers are going there, what have they got to hide? Is there something in their personal or driving records that would prevent them from passing in Derby or can they not pass the Derby test?"

Mr Keenan said his policy was to only hire drivers with Derby City Council badges.

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#SaveTaxi's wheelchair fundraiser for Canonbury cycle crash victim who is ‘forced to crawl.

Black cabbies are raising money to buy an electric wheelchair for a disabled customer who currently has to “crawl” to and from their taxis.

Alex Doodle, 44, has been on the lengthy waiting list for three months. The architecture graduate, who is gender neutral, has relied on black cabs to get around since losing the ability to walk in a cycling collision in Essex Road seven years ago.

But the costs, coupled with their mental healthcare bill, means they have had to survive on full fat milk since November.

And after sharing their story with driver Terry Vaus, who watched them “crawl” from his cab last month, the cabbie called on the close-knit community to raise £3,000 for a chair.

“I feel like a prisoner in my own home,” Alex told the Gazette. “To have the freedom to go out when I want would be life-changing.”

To make matters worse, Alex lives in a first floor flat in Englefield Road, Canonbury, because wheelchair-accessible homes are so scarce (they made up just 28 of the 2,000 council properties let in the last two years). The two Alex was offered by housing association Family Mosaic were turned down on medical advice.

The council helped Alex get crutches and undergo physiotherapy to use them, but they still have to stumble up and down the stairs, causing up to 15 falls a week. “My neighbour has found me unconscious a number of times,” Alex added.

“I spend all my money on taxis and mental health services so I haven’t been able to eat since November, but drivers have been bringing me baby food. I get full from just half a jar – I’ve been living off full fat milk.”

Terry said: “I’ve picked up Alex a couple of times and we got chatting about their life.

“When I dropped them off I offered to help but they didn’t want me to. I watched them crawling along the wall. They’ve been pushed from pillar to post. So I posted about it on our Save Our Black Taxis Facebook group and it went from there.”

Islington’s health boss Cllr Janet Burgess said she was sorry to hear of Alex’s situation and was doing what she could to help, including offering in-home adaptations and mental healthcare.

She said: “I would urge Alex to engage with our services so we can ensure they have all the support they need.

“While we are building new homes for disabled tenants, demand for properties vastly outweighs supply.”

Donate to Alex’s appeal > here. <

Comment From # SaveTaxi 's Shelly Hartnett

It is a great honour to have been asked to help support a very special #SaveTaxi member and trade supporter! 

Together, let's get him the wheelchair he so desperately needs and with it, a new lease of life.

Thank you to everybody that has already shown support.

Please donate whatever you can and share share share.

Thank you! 

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Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 15th September 2016.

Jo StevensShadow Minister (Justice), Shadow Solicitor General 12:00 am, 15th September 2016 

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing legislation for the taxi and private hire vehicle industries. 

Louise Haigh Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the provisions of the Deregulation Act 2015 relating to taxi licensing on the ability of licensing authorities to regulate taxi trade. 

Andrew JonesParliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Local councils have the powers to provide effective licensing arrangements in their area, but legislation is in the House to strengthen the current framework. We will consult on new statutory guidance for local licensing authorities once the parliamentary process is complete.

Jo StevensShadow Minister (Justice), Shadow Solicitor General

I thank the Minister for his reply. Internet and smartphone use has revolutionised private hirevehicle services. Does he believe that current legislation, which is now several decades old, is adequately regulating this technology?

Andrew JonesParliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The legislation that governs this sector goes back many, many more decades, to the age of the horse and carriage. That is why the Government asked the Law Commission to take a comprehensive review of taxi and private hireregulation in England and Wales. Obviously, it is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We will be responding to the Law Commission’s report in due course.

Louise Haigh Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)

Sheffield City Council believes that its tough policy on child sexual exploitation is basically useless because other taxi operators can license themselves outside Sheffield and then operate in Sheffield. Will the Minister meet me and other colleagues from Sheffield city region to discuss taxi licensing in relation to CSE?

Andrew JonesParliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I will be happy to meet the hon. Lady. I just point out that whatever licensing area a company is operating in, it has to ensure that a fit and proper person test is carried out, but I will be very happy to meet her.

Daniel Zeichner Shadow Minister (Transport)

May I also welcome the Secretary of State. He knows my city of Cambridge very well. We look forward to him coming to open the new railway station, which is long overdue. He also knows that Cambridge is full of people who think that prisoners should read books and that Britain should be in the European Union. I suggest that he brings a very hard hat with him when he comes.

We heard in an Adjournment debate raised by my hon. Friend Andrew Gwynne about the problems in the taxi trade and the procrastination and inaction over two years since the Law Commissionreport. Some months ago, the Minister told us that he was about to act, and yet in a written question to me a few days ago, he said that the Government have no plans to bring forward legislation in the current Session. How much longer will we have to wait?

Andrew JonesParliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

That is a complex matter and we are working on it and through it, but we are already taking action on the key issue of child sexual exploitation in the taxi and private car sector by putting the guidance onto a statutory basis. We hope to be consulting on that as soon as the Policing and Crime Bill has reached Royal Assent.

Daniel Zeichner Shadow Minister (Transport)

What a striking contrast with the new Mayor of London, who has done more in a few weeks than his predecessor did in eight years, and more than that lot have done in six years. Does the Ministerrecognise the problem with cross-border licensing? As we have heard, there are councils in this country handing out licences like confetti. These vehicles are clogging up the streets of London and adding to congestion. How much longer will we have to wait until he takes the problem seriously?

Andrew JonesParliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government are clearly taking the issue seriously. I am aware of the actions taken by the new Mayor of London, but it is worth making sure that one gets those actions right; I understand that one of the operators has already won the right to a judicial review.

John BercowSpeaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Order. We started late because of the preliminary announcements, so we can run on slightly, but we must have much shorter questions from now on. To be honest, questions today have been simply far too long.

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Former Minicab Driver Jailed For Rape Of West End Clubber

A former mini-cab driver has been jailed for 14 years after raping a woman at knifepoint near a West End club more than two decades ago.

Haci Ibramahain Koc, 53, was caught following a cold case review by the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.

The breakthrough came when detectives made a DNA match with Koc, who had provided a smaple for an unrelated matter in February.

Koc, now living in Devon, attacked the 28-year-old woman when she got into his minicab on May 17 1994, at 2.30am.

During the journey, he stopped the car and dropped the passenger seat backwards.

He then pulled out a knife, held it to her face and cut off a lock of her hair before forcing himself on her.

The terrified woman was eventually able to get out of the car and flee for safety.

Yesterday, at Isleworth Crown Court, Koc was finally convicted of rape and jailed for 14 years.

Detective Inspector Keith Braithwaite, of the Serious and Complex Case Team, said: "Despite the overwhelming forensic evidence against Koc, he still denied the charge against him and went to trial putting his victim in the witness box forcing her to relive her ordeal 20 years on.

"Koc has shown little if any remorse for this horrific crime. I hope the verdict and sentence gives some closure to the victim and would like to thank her for her courage and dignity throughout.”

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I'm Spartacus Tells TfL, "Be You Ever So High...The Law Is Above You"

I am getting RSI, blogging, tweeting, speaking and writing to M.P.'s GLA members, Mayors etc etc, about the need for an enquiry into TfL over this and many years.

I see Margaret Hodge is looking into the Garden Bridge, well that's good but it's small beer compare to what's gone on at TfL : Cable Car, CSH, Bow Roundabout, Oxford Street's empty buses, Ubergate, Badgegate, Cash for renewals gate, engagement policygate, war criminals driving PH gate and Dear Jo'gate, etc etc

It's a big list of gates and I am thinking that's the "TfL master plan" plan....If there so much on the 'matters arising' on TfL no one will come near.

Be sure we ain't giving up taking them gates off the hinges, Windsor House!

     'Be you ever so high, the law is above you'

So there we are up at TfL for awarding of the world famous Green Badge, well done all, on the way out people given a 'goodie' bag.....from the LTDA.

Why are they the only organisation given access?

Why don't the UTG camp followers of the LCDC or UNITE say anything?

What's going on here, anyone know?

Does this special treatment come at a price of not questioning TfL, especially now since the 'Dear Jo' Sunday morning emails came to light?

I'm Spartacus.

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Is the tail wagging the dog? A Message From The UCG To Helen Chapman.

Taxi Leaks Editorial Comment :

Strong words from UCG vice chairman Trevor Merralls.

This is exactly what the drivers want to hear.

But we also want to hear this from all our representative orgs who take our hard earned money in subscriptions.

All this crap we've had about Credit Cards and where to site the PED reader, is not for anyone's benefit, it's been hyped up to keep us divided and fighting amongst ourselves, while Uber's Licence is renewed with as little fuss early next year. 

And it's working extremely well...

The trade can no longer afford to sit back and wait, the trade needs to fight. 

We want our orgs united in this fight....and to fight for us the drivers. 

No longer fighting each other for a place at the engagement table or a seat on TfL's board. This tribal mentality has bought us to the jaws of defeat, and it needs to stop before we are wiped out completely.

We want a public inquiry, and we want it now. 

An inquiry into Uber's cozy relationship with certain TfL officials. Plus, let's not forget the damage that was done by the ones who have moved on.

We want these people bought to justice and yes, we want this NOW. 

#StrongerTogether

Jim Thomas.

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Did TfL Relax Regulation On Landline To Assist Uber's Modus Operandi And Get Daniels Off The Hook ?... By Jim Thomas

In the light of the plethora of evidence published in trade journals about the collusion between certain TfLTPH officials allegedly bending over backwards, to help Uber circumnavigate the requirements laid down by the Private Hire Act 1998, you would have thought there would be no more skeletons in their closet. But you'd be wrong!

It's now crystal clear that LTPH have been secretly amending said legislation. 

Below is an email sent to one of our readers by TfL after he repeatedly asked about Uber's Original licence application. He says TfL only replied when he copied in his MP.

Part 1....

Part 2....

Apparently, TfL have a new interpretation of the requirement for a PH operator to have in lace a landline for taking bookings. 

They are now claiming it's no longer a regulatory requirement for an operator to maintain a landline once they are licensed an operational....REALLY ?

If that's the case, then this interpretation makes the initial PHV act laughable. It's like saying when you have your vehicle licensed, you must wear a red tie. But after the vehicle is plated, you can then discard that item. 

Many Taxi drivers are now concerned that this part of the act has been massaged by TfL to facility Uber's continuance as a PH operator, operating independently of statutory legislation. 

The old interpretation seemed to be firmly in place, until Leon Daniels was found to have lied to the GLA transport committee. Daniels presented the GLA with what he said was Uber's public landline. Turned out the number was Uber CEO Jo Bertram's private line.

Now it would seem, the requirement has been reinterpreted.

Again, drivers are concerned that this was done to get Daniels off the hook, and to keep Uber compliant.

The uncovered information was also past on to the LTDA back in June. Not only have they said nothing about this, they didn't even reply to the driver who copied them into the emails. 

Personally, I can confirm that this issue was not bought up by the LTDA at the all trade representative meeting at Taxi House, which I attended on the 3rd of August.

Minutes of this meeting will be posted later this week.

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Mayfair Mob : Doing What They Do Best, Getting The Job Done... By Jim Thomas

Marshals on Taxi ranks, that have no power to keep the rank clear of touts and parked cars....unless they are going to do the job properly, what's the point ?

It's no good just standing there drinking coffee and chatting.

Over the last few weekends, the LTDA have been placing marshals at popular Taxi ranks. Looking at the @TheLTDA Twitter feed, they now put out little else.

Occasionally supported by the AddVan, they  tweet every few minutes in what appears to be a massive PR exercise. 

But the problem is, with little to no training, no power, no official support, the whole exercise has become some what embarrassing for them.

Saturday night saw Hakkasan's Taxi rank in Bruton Street, completely lost to touts while LTDA Marshals stood in attendance, not knowing what to do next. Same thing happened when they decided to moved round to Nobu's rank in Berkeley Street.

Last night, the Mayfair Mob showed the trade how it can be done properly. 

Just before midnight, a general tweet exclaimed that Hakkasan's  rank had been over run. 

I was the first cab to arrive and parked opposite. Camera in hand, I approached the cars with roundels and explained TfL had told me to ask them to move, but if they refused, to photograph their vehicles and send details to the @TfLTPH Twitter account which (they claim) is monitored over night by compliance. 

Others Taxis from the Mayfair Mob soon followed, to provided back up.

Most of the PHVs moved immediately, claiming they had only stopped there as the signage is confusing and the rank has no road markings. 

Obviously the odd car, having nothing to fear from LTPH, refused to move. But by making a 101 call in the presence of the driver saying, the old bill are on their way, they don't normally hang about too long.

 

It took less than 10 minutes to clear the rank and for the rest of the evening Taxis were able to service.

This is what the Mayfair Mob do, not just for photo opportunities, but every night! .... and for free. 

  

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Uber Cashing In On Bomb Explosion, Charging Double To Take Terrified New Yorkers Home

Cocked a deaf un!.... That's how our fathers would have called TFL's recent reply.!

The Political arm of TFL is the Mayor, so while he delves into religious politics in the US...and additionally says London is open for business ..its not a real surprise to see his appointee addressing our concerns regarding the steam roller issue of isolated card readers in the rear of our vehicles with an undeserved and flippant attitude particularly from a non front line member who is securely protected member of TFL staff answering the mayors enquiries

They have hit on the technique of basing demonstrative points to balance actionable decisions so bearing that important point in mind:

Why can't TFL demonstrate a few examples of legal statistics themselves under the UK law of the land on this precise matter such as:

 1. Please Can TFL show anywhere in the whole of the UK (excepting TFL) wherby a licensing authority has forcibly imposed a mandatory card processing requirement and where failure to comply that mandate would directly result in a suspension or revoking your current license entirely on that basis ?

 2. Please Can TFL also provide any legal English statutes of law which enforces the acceptance of any card payment against a merchant ( taxi driver) other wise punishable in UK courts?, and separately what basis is a card payment accredited and recognised under UK consumer law in terms of legal tender ?


THESE ARE STATISTICS TFL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DISCLOSE! (and as they have enough highly paid in-house lawyers to able them to provide this information it could be provided easily)

A simple point of asking the Taxi trade to provide statistics proving taxi drivers are daily being attacked by drunken passengers is a cunning attempt by TFL to "normalise" drunken dissent or violent behaviour as a risk of our job and will therefore be unlikely increase with card processors as being extra risk within the business we do...its a pathetic ploy so im not at all surprised it was asked by TFL in the first place

If TFL does want true statistics about drunken violence against taxi drivers all they have to do is google it,,,, or ask the metropolitan police, so stop wasting our time with this time wasting question and abolish the whole ill dreamt up idea, and concentrate on looking after the licencees who pay their licences to fund their own Licensing authority to act in their interests particularly where safety is concerned, and not for political ideology of the crazy kind.

All drivers must keep the pressure on their MP's Unions and GLA members as any card processors you already have and use should be perfectly acceptable to do your job efficiently and safely particularly as it is fully in your control so not be scrapped for anything else....period!

Be Lucky

greenbadgejohn 

The Metropolitan Police estimate only 10% of sexual attacks in PHVs are actually reported.

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Have You Been Attacked By Drunk Or Awkward Passengers? Apparently TfLTPH Have No Data On This.

Letter from Alan Fisher, editor of Dial a Cab's Call Sign

Finally got a reply from the Mayor's office regarding the placing of credit card readers in the passenger compartment. Unsurprisingly, it came from someone writing "on behalf of the Mayor" and shows how little these people know about the best taxi service in the world. In response to drivers not wanting to leave their safety in the front to have to get into the rear at 2am, it says:

Dear Mr Fisher

Under no circumstances would we expect a driver to leave their cab should a problem with the payment machine arise. First of all, the driver should ask the passenger to try again. If the fault persists, they should contact the payment device supplier for support and see whether they can fix the fault or take an over-the-phone transaction. Once a fault has been acknowledged, the vehicle should be taken out of service until it's fixed.

If the card is declined or faulty then a common sense approach should be taken and an alternative means of payment agreed upon. If a passenger refuses to pay and an amicable agreement cannot be found, this should be treated like any other instance whereby a passenger refuses to pay a fare.

>>>

Isn't that great??? 

We just need to tell the passenger to hang around while we try to contact the device supplier! 

No doubt they'll answer and send someone out in seconds at 2am (or any other time)! 

Then if they can't or won't pay, we just treat it " like any other instance whereby a passenger refuses to pay a fare."

Why didn't I think of that!

TfL are obviously a waste of time, even though as a woman you would have assumed that Helen Chapman would have been sympathetic, so we have to move to the next level. 

Editorial Comment :

At he LCDC AGZm on Tuesday Helen Chapman was asked about the drivers safety being compromised by rear placement of the PED's by Lenny Etheridge. 

She answered that TfL's data did not show this to be true, in regards to drunk or awkward passengers.  

Is there anyone out there who has been attacked by their passengers, please let us know by sending email to callsignmag@aol.com 

Excerpts from Commons debate on Taxis and Private Hire.

Daniel Zeichner shadow minister for transport and Louise Haigh, Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley in Thursday's debate in the commons. 

...

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