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. Read about our approach to external linking. ( ofWolverhampton Council . Once a statement is provided you may be asked to give evidence in court. In the last financial year, the city registered an extra 7,428 drivers, taking the total with a Wolverhampton licence to 26,745. City of Wolverhampton Council Taxi Licensing Safeguarding Statement, A face-to-face English assessment (followed by a recorded interview where there are any concerns), Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. ( Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender, Customer Engagement Officer Reports of child sexual exploitation are among allegations made against drivers licensed in Wolverhampton, but who also operate across England. SocietyWorks Ltd ( the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and This email has been scanned for all viruses and all reasonable precautions On April 29, 2020, council officers received a complaint that Ayub, aged 25, had picked up a passenger who had not pre-booked, which is a requirement of both her private hire licence and car insurance policy. All rights reserved. Wolverhampton Council has always defended its position, stating that it oversees enforcement operations all over the country, and that any profits it makes from licensing are ploughed back into the scheme. (05798215). (Q@Q@QL(EPE% QKI@-%G4s@ %/4sHhy9 94 ) - QG4 sAE- !()hhJ'zVP(g -%(?i ))QCRPE RQHaEPE%- QI@E)i)hQEQE !BQKE u'49hbm8h! Dear Wolverhampton City Council, Please provide number of complaints received by council in relation to uber taxis from 2015-2019 . ( Established in 2008. Summary of CCTV Requirements 1. Complaints about taxi drivers. Contact us if you think it should be reopened. Placing members of the public at unnecessary risk by taking a booking without valid insurance is unacceptable.. ( Please notify [1][Wolverhampton City Council request email] Learn more about Resolver Pro and how to claim your business. stream Taxi and cab drivers have staged go-slow protests against the current regulations around the country, saying they leave the public at risk. A new report to Walsalls director of public health has outlined concerns over dwindling application numbers. If we decide a fee is payable, we will 3 0 obj The request was refused by Wolverhampton City Council. except where the sender specifically states these to be the views ( 2019aboutTaxi complaints 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). (E 4.h i)h(@ E QF( jZ;PEhRCRhZ%4 Please provide your details so we can keep you informed on the outcome of the complaint you wish to raise. i90#?WHB CH 7:+ 6YgY]BPU8q-HG-b%+aK`y=DUFB%2)x$T'oSz+! A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. endobj We are dealing with yourrequestunder theFreedom of Information Act The vehicle is then checked in person by our trained vehicle inspectors. and a limited company (03277032). This policy relates to surveillance cameras, also. . CCTV may also be fitted to cars, with an encrypted system so footage could only be accessed if a crime was reported. "What is really important is that we make sure we bring the taxi drivers in on this. It just seems like the budget line comes first above everything.. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? PQ[PKE))h4 QEIK@QZJ )h@ E-% - RPQE -PEPEPEPEPEPHih( (( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((JZ@QE QE H9@ %/4sI@ E- QE% QK@ EP0(QE(QE QE %-S ) QE RQFhi)i( (E4hz ?hh 94P JZ(4 i(9(E -'4G4:9CG4 RJ) JB1E RP~( IE(ABQE 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. As of the middle of last month, there were 2,634 applications in the queue, with 1,924 processed but awaiting more information from the applicant. The driver can only undertake work in a vehicle licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. To pay your Parking and Bus Lane Penalty Charge Notices online you will need: your Parking and Bus Lane Penalty Charge Notices reference number your debit or credit card details Account details. Resolver can help you send your complaints to Wolverhampton City Council. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council xUMo0#HMH,mQ-Uki66>X{o<3n|uYK6+m Download ^hE/4 Ph @EPsG4R(99 (iH=iOjJ@/&R % 7 0 obj `!DR Please note, if you are not willing to provide a witness statement we may be unable to process your complaint fully. WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? n)=_} bRqHCD@[WP,=|B2Ho|Sc$+! Where new information is found, their licence is reviewed. Over the same period Wolverhampton Council had 1,018 applications from private hire drivers based in Walsall. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (IKFh I@Q@ E- QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE RR ( ( ) sG4sH999999( ()i)h( (QE Resolver is a totally free service that you can use to complain effectively. Established in 2008. 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". % disseminate the information contained within this e-mail. If you need to book a wheelchair accessible vehicle this is a list of thecurrent licensed providers. ^hibQE( ZJ(EPEPER ( ( ( ( ( ( (QE( E6) E:hwAKKAIKI@Q@IE QE R(4 J )hi( (i( Wolverhampton Council has cornered the market, but you have to question whether it is right that a driver can get a licence there but ply their trade hundreds of miles away, he said. Political Editor for the Express & Star. In the last year, we have covered: These operations are conducted in partnership with officers from the respective licensing authority, as well as the local police force and representatives from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). ( and if anyexemptionsapplyto some or all ofthe information then we 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. It licences drivers from around the UK including Scotland, Manchester and Nottingham. 1. mailto:[Wolverhampton City Council request email], 92K The report noted there had been a decline in the number of private hire drivers nationally since 2020, possibly, it said, because drivers had left the industry after seeing a loss of trade during the Covid-19 pandemic. endstream The Council has never refused a request from a licensing authority for a compliance operation in their area. ( The city council added it had been at the forefront of calls for a national database of drivers. Yours faithfully DearL Thompson Thank you for your request for information received on6 November You are now required to show photoID when voting at a polling station at the elections on May 4th. Donate and support our work. Wolverhampton Council handed out a record 15,000 private hire licences last year raking in nearly 3.7 million in fees. Meanwhile Walsall Council received just 48 new applications for licences last year, when it had a total of 1,129 private hire drivers registered. Simple! The BBC has been unable to determine whether the drivers accused of offences have faced criminal proceedings. Under the plans, those with specific previous convictions would face minimum bans "in all but truly exceptional circumstances". DBS checks are also carried out on vehicle licence applicants, as well as a check that the vehicle is insured for public and/or private hire. ( The court heard that Ayub frequently carried the passenger without their journeys being pre-booked through a licensed private hire vehicle operator which is illegal and contrary to Section 45 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847. )})( %- RJ- K@ J(i)i( ( The campaign also highlights the risks involved in taking an unlicensed vehicle and how to identify a legitimate taxi or private hire driver. 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. . The applicant is also checked against the National Anti-Fraud Networks (NAFN) National Register of Refusals, Revocations and Suspensions (NR3S). (Q@QH((((((((aEP2Sk`(= Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. This includes when drivers are operating outside of Wolverhampton, where drivers are expected to co-operate with reasonable requests from compliance staff authorised in other areas. In Birmingham, where there have been four serious sexual allegations against drivers licensed in Wolverhampton, the council said it was concerned the Deregulation Act had "resulted in a situation where there are many vehicles and drivers in the city over whom the council has no enforcement powers". This email contains proprietary confidential information some or all of City of Wolverhampton Council takes taxi licensing seriously. The council report also stated its licensing team prioritised drivers in its own area and had taken on 20 extra staff in the last year to deal with the volume of applications, with plans to appoint more. %PDF-1.7 ( Just raise a case and leave feedback after. might not provide that informationto you. If you need to make a complaint about a driver or a vehicle, . Six of the drivers in the CSE reports had their licences taken from them but the seventh complaint was not upheld. If not, we will refer your complaint to the manager responsible for the service you're unhappy with. ( ( It is intended solely for the addressee. View our cookie policy here. <> We provide commercial Raheel Shah, chairman of Wolverhampton Private Hire Drivers' Association and a taxi driver himself, said: "We have been protesting for more than three years over this. Get started. This week, the government said it was tightening taxi safety guidelines and considering stopping drivers from operating hundreds of miles away from where they were licensed. Freedom of Information Act 2000 Weve helped millions of people find a resolution. 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. Wolverhampton Council 13 Birmingham pubs named after royalty - but are they celebrating the Kings Coronation Weekend? Deputy chief reporter at the Express & Star. (/65hQJ1AE% RR)(JZ(AIE R ZC@RPKE% QK@ E- QE QE QK@ EPEPEPIKE %Q@ EPzQE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QE QI@E% QKE (Q@%- QI@EP'4s@. ( The purpose of the witness statement is to provide written evidence to support a complaint that will, if necessary, be used as evidence in court. We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. Resolver is not affiliated to, linked with or otherwise endorsed by Wolverhampton City Council. 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. ( The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. ( Want to help others get their issues sorted fast or see the latest updates about how Resolver can help you? Reports of child sexual exploitation are among allegations made. Finally, the driver must attend our offices in person, where they undergo facial verification against their driving licence and proof of right to work in the UK. Please check with your phone provider if you are unsure about how much a call will cost. 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. These guidelines have been consulted on with the industry, police, courts and all other councils. endobj He added there should be a cap on the number of drivers that can be licensed by one authority as it would lead to a "safer and more robust system". This condition empowers officers in other areas and where drivers are breaking the law then other licensing authorities can and do prosecute them. JFIF ` ` C 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. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. This request has been closed to new correspondence. We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information Wolverhampton City Council, Download a zip file of all correspondence, Enforcement of standards in private rented sector, Noise complaints for Premier League stadiums, People banned from council-owned buildings. ( South Staffordshire Council is handing over taxi and private hire licensing functions to Wolverhampton Council (CWC). On Tuesday, the Department for Transport announced new proposals for taxi and private hire drivers to have to pass enhanced criminal record checks before being granted a licence. We need to support the private hire trade in the city and not turn ourselves into a taxi version of Gretna Green. Slower processing times and higher fees elsewhere had encouraged many drivers to choose Wolverhampton. In one instance, a council officer drove more than 100 miles to a suspect driver's home and "took his licence away from him on his doorstep". <> 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, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'Fighter jets are roaring over my home in Sudan'. NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. City of Wolverhampton Council licensed Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles are referred to collectively as 'taxis' in this policy. ago In Wolverhampton they can use older taxis That's the main reason 13 blake-a-mania 8 mo. Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. Please provide as much information as possible to help our Licensing Compliance team investigate your complaint. )((((QE( ( ( ( ( ( ))h9G4:9 4wE/4 sIJ ( ^PER`QE Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, 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, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, US rock band Aerosmith announce farewell tour, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool. Governance endobj EP Contact details. Where there is information on the applicants DBS certificate, this is considered in accordance with the Councils Guidelines. Mr Ashford welcomed news of the government's proposals for tougher legislation. Drivers must have held a UK driving licence for at least one year and this licence is checked as part of the application process. and a limited company (03277032). NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. the use of this email or attachments. 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. ( has misdirected this e-mail; you must not use, disclose, copy, print or City of Wolverhampton Council takes taxi licensing seriously. ( Your donations keep this site and others like it running. Before becoming a driver, there are several requirements that must be met. ( Enquiries are made with those authorities and any previous complaints considered with the Councils Guidelines. Governance Drivers must attend a one-day driver training programme, provided independently by Worcestershire County Council. ( has misdirected this e-mail; you must not use, disclose, copy, print or In response to your request, please see attached our response to your City of Wolverhampton Council has increased the number of licences it issues eightfold since the Deregulation Act 2015 was introduced, meaning drivers no longer needed to live or work in the area of the local authority that granted them a licence. The authoritys total income from private hire and Hackney Carriage licensing was 157,482. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. ( We are an entirely independent issue-resolution tool that enables the raising and handling of consumer issues, making complaining simpler for everyone. If their licence is revoked, this decision is recorded on NR3S, in case the driver tries to apply for a licence at another authority. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details "Since 2015 I know that there have been more complaints over sexual harassment, accidents in taxis and illegal pick-ups, all different things have been going on. "They will know for example, that the children live together in residential care homes and become friendly with them, and quite easily take advantage of a particular vulnerability by being approachable by offering a sense of fulfilment to that child by offering things that are perceived to be quite adult or responsible such as alcohol, drugs and gifts, and begin grooming them that way before abusing them.". (%-% ii(BsKIh9O/4 GS jJV ( ^j@J(QH((((((( Wolverhampton council said it stripped licences from suspects immediately. Drivers must undergo medical certification to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Group 2 Standards. What action has been taken by Wolverhampton council? It's quick, easy and (best of all) it's free. the author immediately by replying to this email. If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error I understand they may feel like they're being unfairly targeted but you know this is about protecting children and protecting drivers' business reputation.". send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before ( Importantly, our driver conditions dictate that drivers must cooperate with reasonable requests from compliance staff authorised in other areas. 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.
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