Call Sign May 2011 - Page 26 - COMPLIANCE OFFICER’S REPORT

COMPLIANCE OFFICER’S REPORT
Hello Ladies & Gents, I have been asked to reply to the letter (reprinted below) sent to Mailshot by a fellow member and felt it best that I include a more detailed explanation that I hope will further clarify the current situation and emphasise just how important it is that the procedures that are now in place are followed, not by just some, but all of us. I can understand fully how disgruntled a driver could be if he is following procedures whilst others are not, especially if it puts him at a disadvantage. The letter reads: No lights at E14? For the attention of Allan Evans. What is the point of having rules if 90% of drivers ignore them? I was the only DaC driver with his light on at the rank in Bank Street E14 tonight (April 15 at 00.25). So I was the mug who took the walk up job to All Saints DLR station thanks to all the other drivers who ignored the message put out by despatch. I returned later and still no lights were on with eight cabs on the rank. Is there anything that can be done? Unfortunately, I don't think there is. None of us want our lights on as we want a radio job. But unless we all play the game, the only ones losing out are the mugs that play by the rules. Just one further thought on this. If you enforce the ‘lights on’ rule, it will immediately lead to all cabs trying to get on the back of a rank to avoid being on point. How you get around that one is even more of a challenge!! James Whiting (E83) **********	As you know, procedures were changed after the recent AGM at the request predominately of day drivers. They wanted to use all ranks within the Canary Wharf Estate to help generate street work, other than from the two ranks that existed prior to the changes and which would then allow them the added option of gaining a queue position on the Island for account work. The new rank is now E14C and as long as you are inside the security gates with your light on, you can book in and use any of the official taxi ranks. The ‘lights on’ rule During the weekday period (06:00 to 21:00) it would surely be false economy not to have For Hire lights on and would most certainly defeat the object of generating additional cash work from all parts of Island. The Canary Wharf Management (CWM) have already given us strict instructions that although they have no desire or intention to restrict our operation on the Estate, they will take appropriate action if taxis are on ranks with their lights off, especially if drivers refuse walk ups, as seems to be the case at the moment. As you know, in the past they (security) have and can refuse entry at any of the four entry points and this could seriously affect coverage of all of our accounts in this area, something we must all be	aware of and prevent happening. There will now be spot checks and any reported registrations that are deemed to be violating Procedure Rules 2 and 3, if found guilty will be brought to task. Rule 2: Conducting him or herself in a manner likely to bring the Society into disrepute. Rule 3: Conduct liable to prejudice the Society. These changes were made at the request of the members to assist you in a positive way, but they must be also be followed in a fair and consistent manner and in accordance with the request of Canary Wharf Management. In order to further prevent drivers breaking any procedure rules, I would like to remind you that after 21:00 and up to 06:00, there is no need for any driver to be inside the security cordon as all trips are dispatched to the physical area zone of E14. If you have a trip on your screen prior to entering, there will be no problem. It is when you are inside the estate and booked into E14 with your light off and without a trip on your screen, that the security staff will question your actions - especially if you are seen to refuse a cash paying customer. As mentioned in James Whiting’s letter, it is concerning when drivers are ignoring the messages on their terminals that are sent out for a reason and now that the changes have been in place for quite a while, it will continue to be strictly monitored and now is perhaps the right time to take the appropriate action. You have been politely forewarned, please play the game, drive safely and be lucky! Allan Evans DaC Compliance Officer

COMPLAINTS RESULTS

A Complaints meeting was held on 7 April 2011. The results are below…

Maurice Evans (B35) – 3 weeks suspension plus additional training
Complaint: Driver unable to find pick up location on more than one occasion and pulled off trip without notifying dispatcher or obtaining authorisation from Call Centre, causing passengers to miss train and flight connection.

Paul Pryor (E05) – Expelled, reduced at Appeal meeting to: Rule 3 (2 weeks), Rule 11 (2 weeks) - Total 4 weeks suspension
Complaint: Driver accepted trip from EC5 when his true location (GPS) was Nine Elms Lane. You must be in one of the EC zones before booking in to EC5 at all times (repeated violation).

Geoffrey Rowe (J28) – 3 weeks suspension, upheld at Appeals meeting
Complaint: Driver booked into E14 when his true location (GPS) was Snaresbrook and accepted trip. You must be physically in the E14 postal area before booking in to E14 after 9pm and up to 6am.

Keith D’Urso (M57) – Expelled on both counts, reduced to 4 weeks suspension at Appeal meeting
Complaint: Driver booked into EC5 on a number of different occasions when his true locations (GPS) were Camberwell Road, Lambeth Palace Road and Belsize Park. He accepted trips on each of the dates. You must be in one of the EC zones before booking into EC5 at all times. Driver did not adhere to the correct procedure regarding run-ins.

John Wild (D029) – 3 weeks suspension
Complaint: Driver accepted a trip from EC5 when his true location (GPS) was Holloway Road near Furlong Road. You must be in one of the EC zones before booking into EC5 at all times.

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