The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing Like The Truth.... By Jim Thomas

While the LTDA are busy braking arms, slapping themselves on the back, in aid of the next Taxi magazine headline....

Taxi Leaks would like to set the record straight by thanking Danny Henderson who made the original FOI request on 11 Fed 2016 to the Met Police. 

Freedom of Information Request Reference 

No:  2016020000642

>CICK HERE TO VIEW FULL REQUEST<

We would also like to thank Angela Clarkson and Heather Rawlings from their time and effort spent, bringing this FOI request to the attention of the national press.

We should also like to thank Danny Sullivan for an earlier FOI request which produced this graph showing that more TfL licensed minicab drivers were involved in sexual assaults and rapes than unlicensed fake drivers.

But... Bob, Steve, Richard...don't let he truth get in the way of a good story....again.

FROM THE PAPERS:

IN THE SUN

UBER drivers are accused of rape or sex attacks on customers nearly three times a month in London.

They were suspects in 32 cases reported by female passengers in the capital across 12 months. 

The tap-and-ride app, which now operates in 20 UK cities, claims to be the “safest ride on the road”.

(Funny, not a word about the AddVan here!)

IN THE MIRROR

Female passengers have made 32 claims of rape or sexual assault against Uber drivers in London over the past 12 months. 

The Metropolitan Police Service and West Yorkshire Police released information on reports relating to the minicab app after The Sun requested information from 14 police forces. 

West Yorkshire Police received four reports of serious sex assaults and eight violent incidents from February 2015 to February this year.

The Met had recorded 154 allegations including minicabs, private chauffeurs and even rickshaw riders.

(Nothing again about the AddVan!)

IN THE INDEPENDENT

 Uber drivers are accused of sexually assaulting or raping customers almost three times a month, according to new figures which have outraged rape campaigners.

Freedom of Information data obtained by The Sun newspaper revealed 32 assault claims were made against employees of the taxi-hailing app in London over the past twelve months, equal to one every eleven days.

(Again, not a word about the AddVan!)

What ever next: 

They might even claim the kudos for sorting out St Pancras and not even mention the week long demonstrations organised by Dads Defending Daughters and attended by drivers from every org. Oops, too late...they already have. 

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Are these people really worth this amount of money? ... Letter To Taxi Leaks

Have a quick perusal of the' tfl organisational chart 2014 /15 'on google and see what these 'executives' earn, it will make your hair stand on end and raise your blood pressure, they are phenomenal figures. 

            >To Download Chart, Click Here<

These people are simply not worth the vast sums of money they are being paid. It's heart breaking to see the depths this city has fallen to when you attempt a journey by road. 

In 29 years I have never experienced such interminable road congestion as now. So many roads have been closed from the city westwards to soho, Mayfair and beyond. 

The job of cab driving has been thoroughly deskilled. Traffic is being funnelled down main routes, those little streets to the side, a form of pressure relief valve are closed. As difficult as the App companies make life for the established business that we try and run, the real latent threat is the tfl policy of shutting down roads/routes. 

They are like veins that carry blood. 

They are either being removed from usage or narrowed, ie parliament sq, Farringdon road Victoria embankment and so on. 

Truthfully,knowing what you do regarding the geography of London, a cab wouldn't be your instinctive choice as a means of transport if you had to get somewhere. 

Why couldn't the LTDA, LCDC, RMT and god knows how many other trade reps have argued for us to be given access from Oxford st into soho st, a small but significant measure. 

Open up Rupert St from Brewer St into Winnett St into Wardour st, for 'Cabs Only'.

A job from Great Marlborough street to Covent Garden can literally cost someone an arm and a leg, it's embarrassing! 

This Brown character has a shinny cv and yet what concrete proposals for improvement has he got. This dystopian existence we all now suffer has occurred on his watch, the mans a clown. 

A well remunerated clown at that. 

Regards Rob.

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United Trade Group Snubs Meeting With TfL Over Daniels Attendance.

It's been alleged that yesterday, the LCDC along with other invited trade organisations who make out the exclusive united trade group (UCG), snubbed the the proposed meeting with TfL and the new Mayor. Reason being, Mike Brown was allegedly insisting that Leon Daniels be present.

Below is the response from TfL's Mike Brown, in regards to the trade's snub.

Sadiq Khan who has been heavily lobbied by most of the taxi organisations, and other close and trusted trade supporters, is well versed of the problems within London's taxi industry. It is believed that once he has his feet under the table and fairly reviewed the structure and processes of the trade that changes will be introduced.

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Action For Cabbies Update :

Action for Cabbies wholly supports and agrees that all taxis should accept credit cards and that passengers are able to pay fares by cards as well as cash; what we do not support is the ban on transaction surcharges and the surcharges being levied against drivers. 

If card payments become as popular as TfL suggest they will be, TfL’s ban is likely to cause annual losses to the taxi industry of over £9m a year, losses the industry can ill afford when it is under unprecedented competition from  minicabs. 

Therefore, Action for Cabbies has funded a claim brought by driver, Mr James Thomas, for a judicial review of TfL’s decision to ban drivers from passing on transaction fees to passengers where they are paying by card. 

The claim was formally served on TfL yesterday, 17 May 2016. 

It is our view – and the view of Rosenblatt (Jim’s lawyers)  - that TfL’s ban is both unfair and irrational. 

A much fairer solution, and one supported by the majority of all respondents during TfL’s 2015 consultation, would have been for TfL to have allowed drivers to charge a surcharge which reflects their transaction fees, but no more than these fees incurred by the driver.  

We very much hope that Jim’s claim will encourage TfL to review its decision and adopt this fairer solution.

Thank you for your continued support, stronger together.

Action for Cabbies.

Editorial Comment:

Of course the CC mandate is a great idea, it brings us inline with most of our competitors. But at the same time, we can't have an open ended agreement where equipment suppliers can raise the odds ever time the opportunity presents itself. 

If the percentage of card users rises in line with TfL's expectations, at present rates, the trade will lose over £9m a year. If the surcharge should rise as contracts come up for renewals, the trade could be losing £18-20m every year.

It should be left to individual drivers, to decide whether they charge the passenger or not. If using more economical equipment from companies such as iZettle, PayPal or CabApp, all set at around 2.75%, some drivers will feel they can absorb the charge.

But many drivers feel 4-5% plus a 20p transaction charge is an unwelcome expense, which they should be able to claim back from passengers, using their facility. 

The trade has to protect itself and should never agree to any arrangements which may put its future in a precarious position.

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Time For Transparency

We all know how much Leon Daniels earns, what his benefits are and hopefully a full record of his dinners and lunches provided by those who he meets with.

Is it now time for our trade leaders to follow suit? After  all they should have nothing to hide from their memberships nor should they want to.

We know how much Mick Cash (RMT) is paid and what his benefits are, the same applies to  Len McCluskey of UNITE.

So in the words of Delia Smith 'let's be 'avin you' Steve, Grant, Len & co.

1. How much are you paid by your organisation as a salary or stand down pay?

2. Declare any other benefits such as cars, health schemes, low or zero rental cabs, garage servicing etc?

3. Do you receive any other income from cab related activities such as marshalling, TfL boards and committees, radio circuits etc?

Let's be clear no one is accusing or inferring anything but in these difficult times we need to be sure those who speak for many of us are really doing just that rather than ensuring some kind of 'status quo' is maintained.

So nothing to lose and a lot in reputation to enhance, I am sure the editor of this blog and others, the trade press or LTR will,be happy to broadcast anything you release.

We all know how much to the meter a cab driver takes, it laid down in law.

All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.

I'm Spartacus



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LTDA Taxi House 18th May 2016 : Drivers Turn Out To Support Sean Day.

Taxi House Woodfield road. Drivers support Sean Paul Day at complaint hearing.

This afternoon, Sean Paul Day appeared before a complaints committee at Taxi house, accused of lying about the LTDA's JR bid, they claim was running in parallel with the Action For Cabbies Fundraising campaign.

Drivers turned out to support Sean and the forecourt of Taxi house soon filled to over capacity, with approximately another 50-60 Taxis queuing in Woodfield Road. 

Sean faced the committee accompanied by Marc Turner who was not allowed to speak. But Marc was allowed to read a prepared statement in support of Sean, at the end of the meeting. 

The hearing lasted just over an hour. 

Sean was seen leaving the building with supporters, shown to the door by Bob Oddy. 

We asked Sean of the outcome and it appears no division on his future as a member was made today. He has been told he will be contacted by mail and informed of the committee's decision in due course ( much in the same way they expelled Mike Calvey). 

Below, Oddy is quizzed,  'where has the money gone Bob?'

...

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London Taxi Drivers Fund For Underprivileged Children : London's Finest, Take 200 Kids To Woburn Safari Park

Another story you won't see in the press today....or on any of the mainstream TV news broadcasts

Words cannot express the the pride I feel in my fellow cabbies and the members of the LTDFUC, who again this morning, gave up their days work to take 200 kids for a fun packed trip to Woburn Safari Park

Just one of the reasons our taxi trade in London, is the envy of the World. 

Perhaps somebody should tell Dave, George, TFL and the media!!!!!!

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