might not provide that informationto you. (05798215). Wolverhampton City Council Complaints Email & Phone | Resolver UK except where the sender specifically states these to be the views ( It is a criminal offence for people on barred lists to apply to work in a regulated activity and offenders are reported to the police. ( 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". Slower processing times and higher fees elsewhere had encouraged many drivers to choose Wolverhampton. Contact us if you think it should be reopened. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and endobj 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. endobj It showed that in 2019 a total of 11,461 applications to Wolverhampton Council came from drivers based in Birmingham, while there were 2,457 from Manchester, 1,926 from Coventry, 1,279 from Leicester, 1,102 from Nottingham and 432 from Telford. is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) We provide commercial A total of 927 drivers were said to be waiting for a hearing to determine their application. ( . WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. Donate and support our work. Council cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from 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. South Staffordshire taxi licensing to be handled by Wolverhampton Council 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. "But there are some who will use their position of power and authority to take advantage of vulnerable people, particularly as taxi journeys are often one-on-one situations. Drivers must undergo medical certification to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Group 2 Standards. 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. ZLP J;i Pi(KBR :J((ZJ(RRQE QE Q@ )))hEPEPRI@Rs@)ii(z Six of the drivers in the CSE reports had their licences taken from them but the seventh complaint was not upheld. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council The BBC has been unable to determine whether the drivers accused of offences have faced criminal proceedings. ( This policy relates to surveillance cameras, also. We take passengers safety and wellbeing seriously. J)h )(h (%-PHii(cRHR})sG4sE J`(4QH((EPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEP2Q[)R It is examining a range of proposals, including making taxi and private hire. 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 . 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. 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. It currently has 4,461 drivers licensed. ( ( It is intended solely for the addressee. endstream Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? It will see eligible drivers receive a one-off payment of. )i( ( 4G View our cookie policy here. We need to support the private hire trade in the city and not turn ourselves into a taxi version of Gretna Green. Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. 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. 2,000 grants to help Wolverhampton taxi drivers | Express & Star 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. request. ago In Wolverhampton they can use older taxis That's the main reason 13 blake-a-mania 8 mo. 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. PDF Complaints Procedure - Civica ( Read about our approach to external linking. L thompson made this Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton City Council . Where there is information on the applicants DBS certificate, this is considered in accordance with the Councils Guidelines. Magistrates dismissed Sahrish Rahat Ayubs appeal against Wolverhampton Councils decision to revoke her private hire driver licence. If you need to make a complaint about a driver or a vehicle, . An enquiry is also made to the DBS to determine whether the information is that the driver has been added to a barred list and is prohibited from working with children and/or vulnerable adults. (Q@QH( List of Private Hire Operators - WhatDoTheyKnow Magistrates dismissed Sahrish Rahat Ayub's appeal against Wolverhampton Council's decision to revoke her private hire driver licence. Deputy chief reporter at the Express & Star. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. . Consumer guides, newsletters, surveys and more! Wolverhampton taxi drivers accused of serious sex crimes Importantly, our driver conditions dictate that drivers must cooperate with reasonable requests from compliance staff authorised in other areas. 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). Councillor Alan Bolshaw, the citys licensing chief, said: Councillor Bird seems to have come quite late to the party. ( ^hibQE( ZJ(EPEPER ( ( ( ( ( ( (QE( E6) E:hwAKKAIKI@Q@IE QE R(4 J )hi( (i( (ZNh ( (((((((((( (EPEPI-Nh9G4sG4 sG4sG4 S{4 We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. ( ( 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. Public safety is paramount and we are constantly working to improve our processes to protect people. Political Editor for the Express & Star. 2019aboutTaxi complaints City of Wolverhampton Council licensed Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles are referred to collectively as 'taxis' in this policy. Learn more about Resolver Pro and how to claim your business. . send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before Taxi drivers and council colleagues say farewell to Elaine Moreton (centre) who is retiring at the age of 75 after 39 years' service. In response to your request, please see attached our response to your We willcarry outan assessment The service has never failed an audit. Where complaints are made, the Council has a key performance indicator (KPI) for all complaints involving safeguarding concerns to be investigated within one day. 7 0 obj The data was provided in a Freedom of Information request. Councillor Philip Page, chairman of the councils regulatory committee, said: We take public safety very seriously at Wolverhampton. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ofWolverhampton 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. 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". If you are not the intended recipient, an addressing or transmission error please follow the link to Wolverhampton City Council Taxi Licensing. Reports of child sexual exploitation are among allegations made against drivers licensed in Wolverhampton, but who also operate across England. ( Established in 2008. Before April 2015, there. ( ( mySociety Navdeep Nijjar "We would like to see a return of standards so that public safety is not put at risk.". We will inform youif this is Police were informed in all cases, it said. (QA!EPEPEPES ) QE QE We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information Where new information is found, their licence is reviewed. If you need to make a complaint about a driver or a vehicle, please visit thecomplaints page. 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. 8 0 obj which may be legally privileged and/or subject to the provisions of PDF Taxi CCTV Policy - Wolverhampton The campaign also highlights the risks involved in taking an unlicensed vehicle and how to identify a legitimate taxi or private hire driver. Taxi drivers and council staff say a fond farewell to the 'queen of A driver working in Southampton when a serious sexual allegation was made against him in October 2017, A Wolverhampton taxi driver accused of being involved in child sexual exploitation on 16 June 2017 in Bolsover, Derbyshire, A serious sexual allegation recorded as taking place in Mansfield, more than 70 miles away, on 3 October 2016, One allegation of CSE made in Shropshire in January 2018 along with two other serious sexual allegations in 2017, In Telford, where authorities have dealt with. This condition empowers officers in other areas and where drivers are breaking the law then other licensing authorities can and do prosecute them. ago Yours faithfully Contact details. Get started. Simple! 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. Drivers must attend a one-day driver training programme, provided independently by Worcestershire County Council. Lib Dem campaigner Ian Jenkins, said: The council has turned a vital safety check into a cash cow. Taxi drivers licensed by a council which is accused of threatening public safety are suspected of serious sexual offences. Please notify 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. 2023 BBC. If you need to book a wheelchair accessible vehicle this is a list of thecurrent licensed providers. and if anyexemptionsapplyto some or all ofthe information then we <> stream 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 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. and a limited company (03277032). You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. "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. endobj ( Mr Ashford welcomed news of the government's proposals for tougher legislation. ( hh hh hhQ@%- QK@ EPEPPQE QEQE QE QE0 "In terms of my experience working on the front line and from working in some cases, there are some drivers that are predatory. Your donations keep this site and others like it running. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. NihsG4sG499 99 99 J)y JZ)( (QE 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". 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. He backed plans for a government review into licensing, saying it should "bring it up-to-date and to create a regime that is fit for the 21st Century". The vehicle is then checked in person by our trained vehicle inspectors. Donate and support our work. On April 29, 2020, council officers received a. Whilst people apply to Wolverhampton from all over the country, we conduct compliance operations all over the country. ( 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". With Resolver you can send your case to key ombudsmen and regulators including: Resolver is not affiliated to, linked with or otherwise endorsed by Wolverhampton City Council. DearL Thompson The Council is 100% compliant with this KPI. The authoritys total income from private hire and Hackney Carriage licensing was 157,482. The licensing authority has been made aware of complaints against drivers via police, other councils and by passengers themselves. 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. Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Well always be on hand with guidance and support to help you get the results youre looking for. In some case, a fee may be payable. Would you be willing to provide a witness statement? The first is an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which includes a check on the children and vulnerable adults barred list. 2019. ( 30 March 2022. 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. The situation has led to a chaotic picture emerging around the country, with authorities unable to control all cabbies working in their area. (%-% ii(BsKIh9O/4 GS jJV ( ^j@J(QH((((((( Taxi complaints Wolverhampton City Council. 5 0 obj ( Successful Weekend Taxi Enforcement Operation - Merseyside Police Reports of child sexual exploitation are among allegations made. 1 0 obj Taxi Complaints - Report a taxi driver | City Of Wolverhampton Council Resolver can help you send your complaints to Wolverhampton City Council. 'Downloads' section of the Council's Taxi Licences webpage). Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. "There have been several consultations about the private hire trade and he appears to be playing catch up. The driver can only undertake work in a vehicle licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that since the change in the law, Wolverhampton had invested heavily in its digital licensing service, reducing processing time and cost. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr ( ( Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? <> the author immediately by replying to this email. You are now required to show photoID when voting at a polling station at the elections on May 4th. 6 0 obj If not, we will refer your complaint to the manager responsible for the service you're unhappy with. Taxi and cab drivers have staged go-slow protests against the current regulations around the country, saying they leave the public at risk. 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. Enquiries are made with those authorities and any previous complaints considered with the Councils Guidelines. Please notify The BBC has learned there have been seven allegations of child sexual exploitation (CSE) made, and 16 serious sexual allegations against drivers licensed in Wolverhampton. Best and worst companies at resolving issues. Our reference: 926105, --------------------------------------------------------------------------. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 2000andwe aim to senda response by4 December 2019. 4 0 obj Wolverhampton has registered about a third of England's taxi drivers and is inundated with applications, according to a report. 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. To apply/renew your driver or vehicle licence follow the links below. The service also undergoes audit each year. 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. Why is my taxi from another city? - BBC News ( It just seems like the budget line comes first above everything.. City of Wolverhampton Council Taxi Licensing Safeguarding Statement 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. Wolverhampton Council hands out 15,000 taxi licences in one year to %PDF-1.7 What action has been taken by Wolverhampton council? Taxi drivers protesting in Wolverhampton last year over the city council's controversial licensing system. These guidelines have been consulted on with the industry, police, courts and all other councils. ( % <> endobj Private Hire Driver Licence Application Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. ( We automatically connect you to contacts at thousands of household names, ombudsmen and regulators to find a resolution. Wolverhampton Council, PDF Taxi CCTV Policy - Wolverhampton 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. ]k w79`Yu-i%r!H106 43@QX-Wq/ Then like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. ( JFIF ` ` C complaints against drivers, are less likely to occur in an environment . has misdirected this e-mail; you must not use, disclose, copy, print or 1. mailto:[Wolverhampton City Council request email], 92K 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. 13 Birmingham pubs named after royalty - but are they celebrating the Kings Coronation Weekend? Governance 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'. The guidelines have been benchmarked against the Institute of Licensings Guidance and the Governments Statutory Standards and in both documents cases, the Councils rehabilitation periods are longer. This email contains proprietary confidential information some or all of View as HTML. Over the same period Wolverhampton Council had 1,018 applications from private hire drivers based in Walsall. However, if you'd rather complain directly, you can use the above address to contact Wolverhampton City Council. 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. ofWolverhampton Council . n)=_} bRqHCD@[WP,=|B2Ho|Sc$+! The request was refused by Wolverhampton City Council. It licences drivers from around the UK including Scotland, Manchester and Nottingham. Theres no jargon in our rights guides. <> We provide commercial JZ(99(J ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((EPEPER(96 all of the information you have requested. (JaIKE9R@J_sMjJ ZJU%0 Before becoming a driver, there are several requirements that must be met. Thank you for your request for information received on6 November Summary of CCTV Requirements 1. ( Wolverhampton a magnet for taxi driver applications - BBC News Wolverhampton Council launched The Additional Restriction Grant - Taxi and Private Hire Grant Scheme to help drivers across the city. Wolverhampton Council Pay Customer Self-Service - Wolverhampton Once a driver is granted, we continue to monitor them. Visible links ( ( (Q@%- QI@EP'4s@. A new report to Walsalls director of public health has outlined concerns over dwindling application numbers. ( and a limited company (03277032). The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. 2023 BBC. 2 0 obj If we decide a fee is payable, we will 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". Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Yours faithfully We are dealing with yourrequestunder theFreedom of Information Act Is climate change killing Australian wine? J^h'K~s@sIMJZJ)( Let us know what you think has gone wrong and how you think we can correct it. 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. Wolverhampton City Council, Download a zip file of all correspondence, Children and adults removed by social services due to poor housing conditions, Correspondence between UBER BRITANNIA LIMITED and Wolverhampton City Council. Resolver is a totally free service that you can use to complain effectively. EP 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. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. It has granted 35,035 private hire licences since 2017, pumping 8.7m into the authoritys coffers. Your donations keep this site and others like it running. It is intended solely for the addressee. Private hire drivers have been accused of sex crimes over 150 miles away from where they are licensed, Taxi drivers have held protests around the country over cross-border hiring, Taxi drivers in Wolverhampton say they have been protesting about the issue for years. endobj 13 Birmingham pubs named after royalty - but are they celebrating the Kings Coronation Weekend? 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.
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