Author Topic: Minicab firm offers white drivers  (Read 8154 times)

celeste

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Minicab firm offers white drivers
« on: 15:31:14, 22/10/14 »
A taxi firm based in Rochdale has said it respects the right of passengers who wish to choose their driver's colour.

Stephen Campbell, who runs Car 2000 in Heywood, said "people ask us to provide them a certain service and we try and do our best to provide that for them".

He said the firm received up to 60 calls a week asking for a white driver by customers using the word "local".

Rochdale Borough Council said the firm was not in breach of its licence but added that it was taking legal advice.

Mr Campbell said: "If they ring up and ask for an Asian driver, we will send them one. If they ring up and ask for a 'local' driver we will send them one.

"We also get people specifically ringing up by name for a driver, and we try and send them as well."

'Fit and proper'
 
In May 2012, nine men who ran a child sexual exploitation ring in the Heywood area were jailed.

Two of the men worked for the now-defunct cab firm Eagle Taxis, which was taken over by Car 2000.

Mark Widdup, director of economy and environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "Any private hire business must satisfy a 'fit and proper' test before they are licensed by the council and able to operate within the borough.

"While we have not had any complaints regarding Car 2000 up to this point, we are now taking legal advice as to whether their policy to offer white drivers contravenes the 'fit and proper' test, and will act accordingly depending on the outcome of that advice."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, David Lawrie, of the Rossendale Taxi Association in Lancashire, said: "I don't think it's anything do with grooming - I've been in this trade for over 20 years and it has always happened."

He added: "It's not us making that choice, it's our customers making that choice."

Mr Campbell said all of his drivers were self-employed and he could not "force a driver to do a particular job if he does not want to do it".

Naeema Choudry, an employment lawyer at Eversheds, said: "Discrimination legislation applies in employment to more than just your employees.

"Under the Equality Act, there are provisions that make it unlawful for you to discriminate against people who are personally providing services on your behalf."
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celeste

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #1 on: 15:33:02, 22/10/14 »
Quote:

Naeema Choudry, an employment lawyer at Eversheds, said: "Discrimination legislation applies in employment to more than just your employees.


on the other hand someone says 'it's like someone asking for a Coca Cola and being told - no you have to have a Pepsi'
All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

migky

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #2 on: 15:48:11, 22/10/14 »
I for one would stipulate that i only wanted a white driver. It is only like women asking for a female driver.
Most of the taxis i'v been in lately are falling to bits, i have no ideal how they get through the taxi plate?
It's like riding in something that has just come out of the scrap yard.
Someone also has to explain to me in these days of high motoring costs, how you can run a top of the range prestige car as a taxi and make a living from it?
Maybe it is like all the take-away's we see on every street with no one ever in them, but yet they seem to keep big families /homes & cars running or is it just a front for something illegal?
With this in mind i think really hard where i spend my money. I always think what is my money helping?


Migky
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celeste

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #3 on: 15:57:15, 22/10/14 »
I have asked for a female driver for coming home in the evenings, I don't go out at night nowadays but at one time there was an all-female taxi service and I'm not certain that there still is.

All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

Manchester Man

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #4 on: 16:32:05, 22/10/14 »
Come back Sheila's Wheels.
 
 ;D ;D ;D
 
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celeste

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #5 on: 16:36:17, 22/10/14 »
 ;D ;D O0
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Adsum

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #6 on: 11:39:51, 23/10/14 »
Come back Sheila's Wheels.
 
 ;D ;D ;D
 
ATB
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http://youtu.be/kWGiJeRdpls
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migky

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #7 on: 12:22:40, 23/10/14 »

   I'll get me coat.  :-[


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« Last Edit: 12:32:30, 23/10/14 by migky »
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Corrupt council

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #8 on: 02:24:40, 25/10/14 »
Its a slippery path this. The people asking for driver by ethnicity are clearly not people who would I imagine mix with people based on colour or creed. To ask for a white driver shows how mistrusted the Asian community has become due to the acts of a few.
I wonder if the same people ask for black or Oriental teachers at school for there children and not white ones. As nearly evert week a white teacher is in the news for child abuse.

ROY.

Corrupt council

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #9 on: 02:29:25, 25/10/14 »
Only driver I ask for is a qualified one who can get me there safely and at a good price.

I have no interest in his or hers colour religion or even football team.

That's my only stipulation when I hire a taxi. Any other requirements would be based on fear ignorance or down right stupidity.
ROY.

celeste

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #10 on: 08:48:05, 25/10/14 »
Its a slippery path this. The people asking for driver by ethnicity are clearly not people who would I imagine mix with people based on colour or creed. To ask for a white driver shows how mistrusted the Asian community has become due to the acts of a few.
I wonder if the same people ask for black or Oriental teachers at school for there children and not white ones. As nearly evert week a white teacher is in the news for child abuse.

At the moment people are being cautious because of the recent events, it will just take longer for them to get their confidence and trust back
All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

Corrupt council

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #11 on: 09:25:59, 25/10/14 »
And the bigoted will use it as a weapon to beat the drum of mistrust.
Edl cab service for whites?
Briton first for  whites?
Halal cabs for Asians?

Ludicrous situation to be talking about in 2014..
But with an education system as shambolic and as divisive as we have it does not surprise me.
ROY.

Corrupt council

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #12 on: 09:27:41, 25/10/14 »
Also why would a white fully grown male ask for a white driver?

Were the Asian cabbies not targeting teenage girls?
ROY.

celeste

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #13 on: 09:34:15, 25/10/14 »
Also why would a white fully grown male ask for a white driver?



Personal preference? 

If a service is being provided isn't the passenger entitled to at least ask - all passengers require is a journey which they are comfortable with, after all they are paying for it.


Only two Asian taxi drivers were convicted and jailed.
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sheilanz

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Re: Minicab firm offers white drivers
« Reply #14 on: 09:53:25, 25/10/14 »
I live a bit off the beaten track and it has happened that I have had to  direct the taxi driver. nowadays tho most of our cabs have this map thingee in them so can take you direct without any asking which way now,   this was white not just Asians.......I am rather lucky have to use a taxi a lot (hospital mainly) but now I only ring the number and the operator hears my voice and it Where to today Mts D===,accent recognised, I have before now had to go to A & E at 2am and its always the same, polite well spoken help arrives.  Oh yes I have an alarm to call
St John now so that's if I get a middle of the night need...
Oh Btw a lot of the drivers especially in the night get out of their cab and torch the way for me,  now that's service