Ever Wondered Why The Statistics On Minicab Related Sexual Assaults, Including Rapes, Was Taking So Long To Make Public ?

Ever wondered why the minicab related sexual assault and rape statistics were taking so long to collate ?

It is our opinion at Taxi Leaks that TfL are trying to water down the effect of the statistic by removing any driver who wasn't actual King signed on to an operator or app at he time of the attach 

i.e. The driver was illegally touting outside a club or bar 

We believe this has been made perfectly clear in this letter from Neil Hasset, customer correspondence manager for surface operations TfL.

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2eKWkiT
via IFTTT

Ever Wondered Why The CSH Lanes Were So Wide?

Defra has begun a consultation on soecial zones in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton. 

Special lanes could be created (hold it, isn't that what we've already got with the CSH ?) exclusively for small electric cars giving them priority at traffic lights and the right to go against the flow on one-way streets.

(Isn't that what Uber already do?)

The proposals are part of a drive to create “clean-air zones” in five cities to combat air pollution, which has been linked to 40,000 deaths per year.

There's been a lot of concern from businesses in London, devastated by the utter congestion that's been caused by segregated cycle lanes. 

It wouldn't take too much more of an investment to convert them for use by small slimed downed 4 seater, low speed electric vehicle access, that could pass, side by side along the lanes

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has begun a consultation on the special zones in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton, where high levels of nitrogen dioxide are associated with diesel vehicles. 

The zones are due to be in place by 2020.

Still want to invest £46k in a new TX4 euro 6 Taxi, or £60k for a TX5 to sit in the middle of the road, stuck in traffic?

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2dJmgsK
via IFTTT

The end of the annoying paper receipt? Tesco trials contactless system that will send a receipt to your phone instead

Rummaging through your handbag or down the back of the sofa for a lost store receipt could soon be a thing of the past.

Tesco is testing a contactless system which dispenses with paper receipts, and instead sends a record of your purchase to your smartphone.

After customers have paid for items at the checkout, they tap their debit or credit card on a separate terminal at the till, which sends a digital receipt to a pre-installed phone app. A shortened paper receipt will also be printed out.

But for those who prefer to stick to traditional receipts, the supermarket stresses it is merely giving shoppers the option of going paperless.

Tesco is testing a contactless system which dispenses with paper receipts, and instead sends a record of your purchase to your smartphone

Tesco is the first major retailer to trial the system. It is being tested at the self-service tills at two stores in Harlow, Essex, but it could be rolled out more widely if the three-month trial, which finishes next month, proves successful.

Tesco, Britain’s biggest grocer, said the system is designed to make it easier for shoppers to keep a record of their payments, as paper receipts can be lost or torn. And it said there is an added environmental impact, as it will save paper.

Earlier this year, shoppers complained that they were blocked from returning a faulty or unwanted item because their paper receipt had faded. 

ONLINE BOOM IS KILLING OUR HIGH STREET STORES 

The boom in online shopping is slowly killing off the High Street, a report has claimed.

The number of shops opening in Britain has slumped to a five-year low as consumers increasingly use ‘click and collect services’, said financial services firm PwC.

It found that 15 shops are closing every day, with 2,656 shutting in the first half of 2016 – but only 2,153 opening. Meanwhile there are now more than 22,200 click and collect services across 130 of the nation’s largest retailers.

The service, where shoppers buy online and collect from places such as the Post Office, has reduced the number of shops needed, particularly among clothing retailers.

Some receipts are generated by thermal printers using temperature-sensitive paper that is chemically unstable.

While this saves retailers money because the printers do not require ink, it means receipts can quickly fade if exposed to light and warmth, including body heat.

Tesco has teamed up with IT company Tag Retail Systems for its latest venture. The firm’s ‘Tap&Tag’ terminal provides customers with digital receipts through a smartphone app.

Earlier this year, shoppers complained that they were blocked from returning a faulty or unwanted item because their paper receipt had faded

It is the latest attempt by the grocer to make shoppers’ experience at the till more digital. Tesco launched its PayQwiq ‘digital wallet’ app this year, which holds shoppers’ card details.

In 600 stores, shoppers can scan their items at the checkout and pay using the app on their smartphone as part of a pilot scheme.

The rise of card payments and loyalty cards has allowed retailers to collect a treasure trove of information on their customers, to target them with loyalty incentives and special offers.

But Tesco last night insisted the launch of digital receipts would not provide it with a load of new data on its customers

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2dHe8xQ
via IFTTT

Pearl Harboured- Never Again!

Make no bones about it, the licensed taxi trade was hijacked, not by a cab company, but by financiers- the global kind-  of the likes we have never seen before. 

It mattered not that the new product didn’t meet the conditions of fitness or the driver come remotely close to acquiring the required standard necessary to work the ‘on demand’ market, TfL was intent on facilitating the government bidding and roll it out anyway. 

Stringent licensing conditions set in place to honour safety, liberty, and equality, meant our trade had never had to communicate the benefits and safeguards of using a licensed taxi. It also suffered from fragmentation and had no one to speak with a unified voice on its behalf. 

Not unlike the cross org work ethic employed by The Mayfair Mob or the principles of DDD, really hope that the team at Taxiapp can bring many fractions together and encourage everyone to get involved with their respective trade association or union. 

Members of taxiapp are aware that we need to be in long match conditioning, and that each and everyone of us has a role to play. One thing is for sure, we will go through hell and high water to make sure we do win back all that is rightfully ours. 

Never again will we soporifically trust our government, or  it’s regulators to insulate us from the free market’s rapacious risks. As with all extreme capitalists, their only concern is the bottom line. Their aim simply was to remove a state licensed product- traditionally based on socio-economics of supply and demand- and replace it with a corporate monopoly with no social concept whatsoever. Never again will we be caught sleeping at the wheel. 

To allow it would be something akin to a game of monopoly where  one person owns everything and everybody else (us)  trips around the board getting punished as we go. Shat we experienced was the systematic attempted takeover of a regulated trade. 

At times it felt like everything- including the kitchen sink-  was thrown at us. But you know what, we are still here, despite not having  any marketing, despite not having any PR or advertising links. We are here because we offer  a solid product that is vibrant, valid, and required by London and Londoners. 

Because of that, and because of you the drivers, the drivers that are seen every where doing what it takes for the trade,  the ones that refuse to be identified for all eternity by the cardinal sin committed by the 3 Amigo’s, are the ones that will never suffer the tiredness of defeat. 

For that- and I know I can speak on behalf of the whole team at Taxiapp- we are beyond grateful, we are truly humbled. Thank You 

Forward Facing Only 

Sean Paul Day

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2dRHSqs
via IFTTT

One Taxi Trade, One Message...We Call On Government To Set Up An Enquiry Into TfL

Every driver needs to support this demo. 

There can be no fence sitting. No egos, no tribal mentality. If you want to carry on being a licensed Taxi Driver, then you need to turn up.

TfL have tried desperately to divide the trade at every opportunity. The implementation of the Credit Card Mandate was no more than smoke and mirrors, designed purely to keep us at each other's throats.

• TfL waited 4 years to go to court over Uber driver insurance. 

• They lied to the GLA

• They lied to the Taxi trade. 

• They coached Uber how to get round legislation

• They relaxed regulations. 

• Compliance has been a white wash.

While new regulations were bought in which take even more of your income, Uber have been given a free hand to run riot.

They've been aloud to operated from unlicensed premises, they've lied about having a landline, admitted they don't do pre bookings....in fact it's now come out under oath in the Toronto verdict, that it's the driver who takes the booking in their vehicle. A total disregard of the Private Hire Act 1998. 

 TfL have aloud all this to go on. 

The GLA made promises 

The new Mayor made promises 

All promises have been broken

It's clear TfL have no intention of changing Uber's modus operandi. 

We've seen drivers licensed with fake medicals, fake topographical passes, no UK driving licence, no enhanced DBS checks, plus now we've been told TfL refusing to publicise the results of multiple FOI requests, for full minicab related sexual assault (including rapes) statistics because they say it's not in the public interest.

The United Cabbies Group have called on the trade (drivers, orgs and unions) to attend a mass protest, to be held on the 8th of November, around Trafalgar Square and along Whitehall, at 2pm.

Permission has been granted for a letter to be delivered to the Prime Minister, calling on the government to set up an enquiry into TfL.

No one is fighting your corner for you.

It's time to turn up and fight....or sit back and watch your trade die. 

TIME FOR TALKING HAS RUN OUT.

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2eA7hI1
via IFTTT

Appeal From The UCG...Please Support And Send This Letter To Your MP

As you are no doubt aware TFL are trying every way possible to avoid publishing the latest Taxi / PH sexual assault figures.

A member of the UCG has asked that you email your MP as a matter of urgency requesting their help to force publication.

The letter below can easily be cut and pasted into an email to your MP.

Please take a few minutes to do this. The figures MUST be made public asap.

Thank you

UCG Committee...

In March this year, in response to a Freedom of Information request, Transport for London agreed to publish Taxi / Private Hire (using the Public Interest Exemption) sexual assault statistics in the ‘coming weeks’ they never did.

In response to another FOI request on August2nd 2016 they said they anticipated publication on September 20th 2016 – they still have not done so, despite several assurances that they are imminent.

During the interim period women have been sexually assaulted, having had no warning from TFL of the possible dangers associated with using Private Hire vehicles.

 

Having used Section 22 of the FOI Act to justify their response, I believe TFL will shortly be in breach of FOI regulations as the use of Section 22 is conditional upon the ‘existence of intent to publish ‘ BEFORE the FOI request is made.

I would like you, as my MP, to demand the immediate publication of a complete and comprehensive statistical report of the sexual assault fata.

TFL REF: FOI – 0870-1617

 

Thank you

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2efY7wx
via IFTTT

Taxi Leaks Readers Give Opinion On The Dave Davies Letter.

Dave
Formally seconded, some along with yourself have been campaigning for years for an inquiry.

The UTG didn't want to know, in my opinion in case they were excluded from the now proven meaningless consultations or in the case of the LTDA the lucrative recruitment opportunity of badge day, in effect they allowed TfL to corrupt their representative remit and render themselves impotent.

Others have come together, fallen out etc etc, some support policies publicly such as defining plying for hire or WAV yet undermine it in the shadows, you have either got a policy or you haven't, don't get your 'orchestras' caught on the fence!

Tariffs, cross border hirings, bogus documents, sexual assaults, tax avoidance, political interference and lots more all are subjects to be looked into.

I have previously called for a proper trade summit with an independent chair where surely no one would not want to sign up to our demand for an enquiry, let's have an all trades demo outside DfT, questions in the house etc etc. 

No bleating 'don't want to inconvenience anyone', or 'if their there we ain't coming' and all the rest of the tired old bullshit, all because someone might cancel their membership or yet another trade organisation' spring up.

Forget 'London is different' let's get the entire country involved for maximum impact, let's be clear the threat is existential to us all.

SIMPLE DEMANDS, ALL ON BOARD FOR THEM

MASSIVE AND CONTINUING ACTION UNTIL GOVERNMENT NATIONAL AND LOCAL HEEDS US!

I won't say the time is now, it's well overdue, will the leadership step up,? If not sweep them away! 

I'm Spartacus.

 .........................................................................

Great post, I will forward adjusted template letter on to my MP without fail.

I also agree with a fellow post responder about the tight arses who didn't pay into the crowd funding petition to raise funds for an enquiry but now think the time has come for a second serious crowdfunding collection petition especially with all the serious happenings at TFL since the last one and I am convinced that the mood in our workplace has driven a greater sense of fighting spirit and taxi trade camaraderie higher than it has been in all the time I can remember in the past.

A £25 fighting fund donation per cabdriver donation should sought & a numbered sticker should be issued similar to the ones cab drivers displayed after earlier drive-ins (I was there in the square etc) just to make each drivers donation feel significant, proud & displayed with pride... as it really has now become a seriously desperate fight for survival and that cannot be stated any louder.

Be Lucky

greenbadgejohn

 .........................................................................

Dear Sir,  

I am not a london black taxi driver but I fully support your trade.

I have on previous occasions sent letters to my MP Joan Ryan, expressing my concerns regarding the huge number of PH and the way uber and its 'partners' have been allowed to operate in our city.

Today, I have forwarded the letter by Dave Davies to her as my MP as requested on Taxileaks. 

Yours in support, 

Rosemarie Odell

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2eZfeGo
via IFTTT