RUSSELL POLUCK GETS HIS LICENCE RETURNED

Many attending this year's Dial-a-Cab AGM may have been surprised to hear Russell Poluck (T55) tell drivers that the PCO had taken his taxi licence from him after he reported that his Diabetes had to be treated with Insulin rather that tablets.
   Regular readers of Call Sign will know of this magazine's stance against the PCO's edict that diabetics who needed to inject themselves with Insulin were apparently no longer considered to be safe drivers, whereas those on tablets were. Call Sign has published articles with several diabetic drivers and also with James Lightfoot - a solicitor representing two diabetic drivers. We have also published a response from Roy Ellis, Officer in Charge at the PCO.
   We agreed with the PCO who claimed to treat every case on its merit - surely the only sensible way to look at the situation. Yet time after time, the PCO were confiscating taxi driver's licences in the face of medical evidence which showed that individual drivers WERE safe to drive. Their policy seemed logical, but they never appeared to follow it.
   Russell Poluck has now been given his licence back without the need of going to court - a fate that drivers before Russell had to endure. Precedents were set with drivers winning their cases - led first by Ian Ross as reported in Call Sign at the time..
Yet the PCO kept returning to court. Now Russell has been told that there will be no court case and other than the eminently sensible yearly check-up, he is free to drive his cab.
   Speaking to Call Sign, Russell's brother Gordon (R34) asked:
   "What right does the Assistant Commissioner have to deprive a licensed taxi driver of his or her livelihood when medical evidence says that he (or she) is okay to drive...?"
   Also speaking to Call Sign, Russell's delighted wife Barbara put her thoughts into words:
   "Over the last year or so, some London Taxi Drivers lives have been put into turmoil. Why? Let me go back about 12 months when suddenly the Public Carriage Office said they were going to revoke the licence of anyone who was diabetic and on Insulin. Everyone would then be assessed on their medical reports. This, they were told, was an EEC directive (that was turned down by our Government).
   Some drivers were given an extension on 

their licences and told to carry on driving,  others, like Russell, were told to hand in their bill. We all know what can happen when you are diabetic and do not look after yourself. I am sure that there are some of you out there who suspect or have been told that you are diabetic, but have not told the PCO or the DVLC. If that is the case, then you are driving illegally and that is dangerous. We all understand why you're doing it - you are scared; you have a family to support, bills to pay etc. This situation should be dealt with in another way then you and your family would not be so scared.
   The PCO said that they wanted everyone who is on Insulin to get a consultant's letter stating that in their opinion you were safe to drive. Not only have you then a chance to carry on driving while they are looking into the situation, but everyone would be given the same opportunity. We can understand if the consultant says no, then the PCO have the right to take your bill away.
   Remember that being Diabetic is not your fault and you do not have to say sorry for having it. I could carry on and tell you how it affected my whole family, but that would be hard to put into writing.
   We would also like to thank everyone for their moral support and phone calls.
   Finally, I would like to say is that if any PCO Officers, are reading this article, may I say that this is from one of the wives and I hope that no animosity will come out of this to any of the drivers. We are all human beings and no one knows what is around the corner for us. But sometimes things can be dealt with in a different way."