Uber Fake Medicals And Fake DBS Checks, Not Enough To Suspend Licenses... By Jim Thomas

The Sunday times has now published the story, about Uber's partnership with a company that's been changing DBS results to help drivers who have dodgy backgrounds get PH licenses. (Surprise, surprise)

Thousands of Uber drivers are to be contacted, by post, and asked to undergo new criminal record checks, after regulators rejected the vetting process used by the eHailing app's appointed partner.

Transport for London (TfL), is said to be writing to over 13,000 minicab drivers who have used this service, more than a tenth of the total PH drivers -yes that's right, drivers that could have convictions for rape, sexual assault, violence theft- TfL are going to write to them, telling them their background checks are no longer valid. 

The drivers will be given 28 days to make new DBS applications, or be taken off the road, TfL said. They work for several companies but the largest number are Uber drivers. 

So assuming that TfL can get the licenses and roundels back off the most dangerous predators in the extreme cases, and get these drivers off the road...the public (again) have been put in grave danger for at least the next month.

The move comes after The Sunday Times revealed that police had accused Uber of failing to report sex attacks on passengers by its drivers!!!

This new scandal is no surprise to the Taxi trade as the LCDC published this story in the badge months ago, but again, nothing was done by TfL.

We also know that Mike Brown and Sadiq Khans (along with silent Val) continue to refusal to meet with trade orgs, to discuss these current problems.

If all these stories hitting the headlines were about Taxi drivers, there would not be a black cab on the road as TfL would have suspended/revoked licenses by the barrow load. 

Anyone holding their breath waiting for Uber suspensions... have long since past out!

This Letter From Sean Paul Day:

Before we start talking about,

• Whether the signs at the O2 are lawful or not...

• Whether Taxify can legally use the name or not....

• Whether fake DBS/Medical PH drivers should be suspended 

• Whether the number of PH drivers should be capped or not...

• Whether Uber's working model deems them employers or not...

• Whether all operators should have a landline or not...

• Whether Uber should be stopped operating from special areas at Westfield shopping centres...

• Whether Uber should have their operators license revoked or not...

Before we concern ourselves with any of the above, let's not forget 

Uber's operation is illegal !

LETS NOT GET DISTRACTED!

Any talk about how their operation can be contained only serves to legitimise their modus operandi.

Should the trade issue a statement that we no longer recognise Mike Brown, Leon Daniels, Peter Blake and Helen Chapman as regulators of the licensed taxi trade.

If Uber are continually circumventing the law, and if TFL have failed - with intent- in their duty to enforce laws parliament have deemed fit to keep in place, then why are we doing things by the book. 

I believe we are afforded a unique opportunity, albeit finite, to organise ourselves outside of the usual prescribed parameters of doing things. 

In the first instance, The trade should issue a statement that we no longer recognise Mike Brown, Leon Daniels, Peter Blake and Heken Chapman as regulators or arbiters of the licensed taxi trade.

They are appointed officials, therefore are operating without advocacy, and we cannot align ourselves with regulators that do not work in the interests of the trade. They have overseen the utter decimation to the potential earnings of sole traders who are forced to meet the inflated running costs of a TFL authorised vehicle. 

The well-being of the licensed taxi industry is synonymous with the well-being and safety of the travelling public, he has therefore, unequivocally, failed on both accounts. 

But most of all, the tried and tested formulas of dealing with Trade disputes, or changes to prevailing standards, no longer apply. 

Silicone Valley has changed the rules entirely. 

Effectively, an off shore company has walked in to Britain and been allowed to run roughshod through UK legislation. By allowing them to operate, TfL has set a precedent that big dollar corporations can dictate UK policy. No one, no matter what industry you are in, should welcome that, and it's crucial to convey the magnitude of that to the public. 

The only way I can see it working is if we are a bigger disrupter than the disruptors. 

I believe if we could galvanise support from rank and file drivers and bring London's economy to a grinding halt, every day for as long as it takes. We could then call all the shots and Uber's operation will either be shut down or tailored to our terms. 

Furthermore, it will also deem us as a mighty force to be reckoned with and will discourage future 'viral' infiltrations into the trade.

But we need the numbers, and we need the impetus! 

Ask the powerful these five questions:

1) What power have you got? 

2) Where did you get it from? 

3) In whose interests do you exercise it? 

4) To whom are you accountable? 

5) And how can we get rid of you?” 

If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.