Before I start I should say that there have been multiple UNSUBSTANTIATED rumours to The Skidder and his helpers about Sandwell taxi drivers being involved in child sexual exploitation (as in Rotherham), money-laundering and the drugs trade and that they enjoy protection in these activities from West Midlands Police. Interestingly, one of the recent callers has insisted to me that occasionally SMBC and WMP have joint [no pun intended] operations where they "randomly" check taxis eg for mechanical faults. BUT the caller is adamant that certain drivers are tipped off in advance of the times and locations of these checks so that don't get caught with a kilo of heroin in the boot! The caller cannot say whether the leaks are from SMBC or the Police.
As above, what follow are allegations and comments from various sources and I need to put the meat (if any) on the bones!
UNLAWFUL FEE STRUCTURE
I have been referred to a judicial review decision from last December whereby Wakefield Council were charging taxi drivers too much for their licences as they were lumping in "enforcement" costs to "self-finance" the system. This is a short report from the barristers chambers which dealt with the case:
https://www.ftbchambers.co.uk/news/high-court-quashes-wakefield-taxi-fees
The allegation is that Jan Britton has been doing the same. No doubt the great man will contact me as to why this is wrong. Of course, if it isn't then this would be very costly indeed!
DBS CHECKS etc
Would-be taxi drivers and those seeking renewal of three year licenses must declare criminal convictions. These apparently show up on SMBC's computer system. But there appears to have been failures to check the declarations against DBS checks.
People renewing licenses who have had criminal convictions have just been allowed to renew "on the nod" on the basis of their renewal declarations! When SMBC tried to tighten up on this they found discrepancies with the DBS records but had already dished out the licenses.
Whilst the general public may not be concerned with this bit I am told that the law only permits SMBC to mark their data records as clear or unclear with regard to DBS checks. Obviously if the record is not clear there is a procedure to determine whether the licence should be issued or not.
In breach of Data Protection law it is alleged SMBC unlawfully retained copies of old DBS checks and, indeed, other personal information. When someone decided that Jan Britton's systems were so lax they double-checked old DBS certificates and found that licenses had been issued regardless. The public would, no doubt, say "so what" but the fact is that SMBC have been unlawfully keeping data to which they are not entitled and then making decisions against people on the basis of this.
Further, because of this laxity (deliberate or otherwise) criminals have, of course, been driving around picking up fares in Sandwell-licensed taxis.
THE KNOWLEDGE and GENERAL CORRUPTION
There are allegations that a series of "knowledge" questions which drivers have to answer are being leaked to certain favoured applicants in advance.
Certain medical records have not been checked adequately or at all so that unfit drivers have been allowed licences.
I can't say the reason here but there is an allegation that a large number of drivers who were having licensing problems with Dudley Council suddenly decided to apply to Sandwell instead????
Some staff enjoy free taxi rides for reasons that are not clear.
Whereas matters that were due to go to committee were kept private in the past, drivers with licensing or disciplinary issues are routinely discussing their cases with "sympathetic" councillors in the hope of favourable treatment. [Clearly it is unlikely that any comrades approached in this way would act improperly.....]
THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - COMMUNITY NEWS - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!
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