New city team to target illegal taxis

THE Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has established a new five strong team to crack down on illegal taxis in Londonderry, the Environment Minister Alex Attwood has revealed.

Mr Attwood revealed that the DVA recently increased its taxi enforcement staffing resource to 15 officers which has allowed it to establish a new dedicated taxi enforcement team in Londonderry.

“This is comprised of five officers (one Team Manager and four temporary Enforcement Officers pending the appointment of four permanent officers),” he stated in response to an Assembly Question.

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He advised the Agency also anticipates the introduction of the second phase of the Graduated Fixed Penalty and Deposit Scheme which will enable a more comprehensive range of Fixed Penalty Notices to be issued for taxi related offences.

He explained: “Introduction of new legislation under the Taxis Act (NI) 2008 is also planned which will change how taxi operator licensing is regulated.

“It is anticipated that new initiatives such as single tier licensing will change on-street licensing restrictions allowing additional enforcement resources to be redirected towards the investigation of more serious types of illegal activity.”

During hte summer Londonderry taxi-man Eamon O’Donnell told the Stormont Environment Committee it was shocking the DoE had allowed gaps in taxi licensing regulation despite a decades-long bid to tighten up the industry.

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Mr O’Donnell of North West Taxi Proprietors (NWTP) said greater regulation was needed and urged the DoE to pursue supplementary legislation to the recently passed Taxis Act 2008 in order to ensure ‘illegal taxis’ were clamped down on - if that was necessary.

Mr O’Donnell said there was a lack of confidence in the taxi industry in relation to the way regulatory change had been rolled out.

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