Source: Evening Chronicle
THIS haul of tat was seized from illegal street traders as part of a city centre clean-up probe.
Operation Jersey saw police and council officers team up to tackle all forms of low-level crime in Newcastle.
That ranged from unroadworthy taxis picking up punters and noisy nightclubs to revellers dropping litter and illegal busking.
Also targeted were street traders flogging goods to party-goers without a licence.
And that led to scores of novelty items like these cowboy hats and flowers being seized from street-sellers during the operation.
Also recovered were electrical goods with dodgy connections, such as batteries that easily fell out, potentially posing a danger to users.
Environmental crime and pollution team manager at Newcastle City Council Roy Harris, said: “Through working with the police, the City Council is committed to tackling problems associated with the night-time economy.
“These are things that cause a nuisance to residents, visitors and businesses in the city.
“This includes noise, litter, street urination and illegal sales of potentially unsafe goods.”
Operation Jersey saw five fixed penalty notices given out for littering, 12 for urinating in public and seven for illegal street trading.
Two buskers were warned for excessive noise and two noise warnings were slapped on licensed premises.
Two people were summonsed for begging, while another was arrested and charged with the offence.
The selling of goods in the street is restricted by the City of Newcastle Act 2000, which requires anyone trading in the street to be licensed by the council.
That means all of the people selling roses and so-called “flashing goods” on the street are doing so illegally.
During the course of the probe, 27 taxis were inspected to make sure they were safe to carry passengers.
It comes on the back of a similar crackdown on rogue cabbies.
That operation – codenamed Detour 2 – saw three drivers immediately suspended.
Nine more were ordered to carry our repairs to their cars within five days.
And more than 30 others were pulled up for offences ranging from speeding to dodgy number plates.
Overall, the operation saw 82 vehicles stopped and inspected.
A team of engineers were on hand to inspect cabs and 51 licensed by the Newcastle Council – 15 private hire and 36 Hackney carriages – were looked at.
A further 31 vehicles licensed outside the area were stopped and of those, 18 were Berwick Hackney Carriages, five were licensed to North Tyneside, three Derwentside and the remaining six licensed with other North East authorities.
Eighteen drivers ordered to produce their documents, two were given fixed penalty notices for speeding and one for driving through a no entry sign. Two further summonses were issued for speeding, with another served for having a dodgy number plate.
The latest crackdown was carried out in response to concerns raised by locals about late-night disorder by revellers.
It focussed on all aspects of the night time economy that can cause problems and detract from Newcastle’s reputation as a safe and welcoming city for revellers.
Officers linked-in with the work done by street pastors during nights out.
The team walk through the city centre and offer advice and assistance to anyone identified as vulnerable or in need of help.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Well this was once again Newcastle leading from the front with Enforcement, and may be that is why the Chinese Guy is no longer a regular feature on South Parade, and the Begger with the Dog who is normally in Newcastle, but comes down the Coast for his Summer Holidays to play on the drinkers feeling sorry for his dog, but on a serious note perhaps North Tyneside are going to do similar things in the future.
Maybe when all these street traders etc decide to get Licensed then hopefully we will not have to foot the bill for £126,047 for basic Staff Wages, £2,508 for Staff Overtime, and this little charge of NON NT Employee Bisic Pay £13,814, Staff Superanuation £19,033, Staff National Insurance £10,714 and then there is Management and Admin £56,032.
You may be wondering what I am on about, but these are just a few of the gems North Tyneside Council Licensing Department want to charge to us the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence, Private Hire Vehicle Licence and the Operator Licences.
I have also noticed that the Council has no right to charge us under Section 70 for any Drivers Licence or Badges, but would think they can Charge £5 Admin and £5 for the Badge meaning only £10 for a Drivers Licence in North Tyneside.
There are many other things I have noticed, but you do not put all your cards on the table, until the time is right.
Thanks
Dave Walls
@David Walls, Dave u do speak in riddles mate tell us abit more about Section 70 tho ???????????
@confussed.com taxi driver,
Try clicking on the Local Government(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, that is available on the toomanytaxis webpage and read Section 70 for yourself, and see if the penny drops when you read it.
I am Genuinely Sorry for not explaining it to you fully, but Alan Fidler and David Wilson will through their Independent Consultation Companies charge you for the explanation with there Fees and Charges Applicable to their Drivers they are supposed to represent, or do they just do as they are told by their paymasters the Operator Licence Holders in many cases I fear. Its all about being selective with what you choose to bring to peoples attention, not that there is anything illegal in that I must state to avoid upsetting them.
I intend to set-up as an Independent Road Passenger Transport Management Consultant for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers, but I fear nobody wants to pay me for my services, that is factual based using Acts of Parliament in my answers.
If I am wrong then just email me through the Road Passenger Transport Management Services link on this site, and I will email you back more Information about my Fees and Charges for my Services and Advice given.
I am a genuine, honest, loyal, and hardworking lad, therefore I will give you the honest answer in exchange for your Yearly Subscription, if any drivers are interested.
Thanks
Dave Walls
@David Walls,
I don’t think you’re stupid David and you are probably the most humble and unassuming member of the intelligentsia I have ever come across outside of my circle of colleagues. Sometimes I am truly astounded at the breadth and scope of your understanding and your ability to educate us in such a precise and erudite manner.
I am only a PhD myself with a background in psychological profiling but I am now diligently studying transport management during every spare minute in order to catch up with you.
We understand that you are genuinely sorry when you fail to explain things fully and that you notice many things that may go over our heads. Thankfully we can all rely on your astuteness to guide us through the maize of legislation.
I am sure that the majority of us will gladly pay you a subscription for your explanations of those big scary words that civil servants copy from dictionaries.
We’re almost in the same business you and I David in that when you notice things you could possibly save us money. When I notice things my observations could possibly save your life.
I love you David and I want to have your children.
@Ollie Beak, Well I just think he’s a wassick!
@David Walls,
In view of the fact that there are so many people sitting on the forum wanting to line their own pockets, NTC can sit back and wait for the trade to slowly argue amongst itself and destroy itelf in the process.
@honestjohn,
Hello,
Can I just say that North Tyneside Council have a responsibility to listen to the Trade, both Hackney Carriage Vehicle Proprietors and the Private Hire Operator Licence Proprietors, because 18.5% of the Council Fees and Charges come from the Hackney Carriage Prorietors, because there are 204 Hackney Carriage Vehicles and 81.5% is supplied by the Private Hire Industry through 899 Private Hire Vehicles and 32 Operator Licences who control the Private Hire Vehicles, as a Private Hire Vehicle does not have its own Operator Licence, as the figures above prove, that were accessed through FOI.
As we foot the bill for Controlling and Enforcement within North Tyneside then we should have the opportunity to discuss what is happening, and the Private Hire Operators and Hackney Carriage Operators are just discussing North Tyneside, and I will hopeful ensure we never will discuss Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and Washington,South Tyneside or Northumberland, as every local Authority has its own set of rules and conditions applicable to their own Local Authority for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policies and therefore NO Driver or Operator has anything to fear from our monthly Licensing Forum, and that is why I do not get involved in other Area disputes in any way shape or form, except to visit County Hall and listen, as a concerned resident of Northumberland.
I cannot speak for Alan Fidler and David Wilson, but they claim they are representing North Tyneside Drivers with the NTTO and A2Z Licensing, and they keep making reference to elsewhere, not the Hackney Carriage Trade or Me.
I do understand the concerns of the Drivers Only in the Trade within North Tyneside, who do not have a seat at the table, and therefore think about the effects on them before I speak, but sometimes the Law is the Law in relation to certain issues.
Thanks
Dave Walls
@David Walls, it was only last month when u were boasting on here that u will give your advice 4 free if iam not mistaken now u want to charge ???? just out of interest u have had your Independent Road Passenger Transport Management company ? 4 what 2-3 years now how many customers have u actually had ??????? no need 4 a 5 page reply David just a straight answer will do many thanks xxxx
@confused.com taxi driver, I’d like to join his independent road passenger transport management company. I’ve only got a moped but it’s got a massive skip on the back for students.
@confused.com taxi driver,
I was taking the piss out of the fact that everybody wants everything for nothing whilst the other two independents seem to be prospering, I already know nobody will pay me, but thanks for finally letting the penny drop with you anyway, and Sorry if you are an even more Confused.Com Taxi Driver now.
And for the “Band of Brothers” coming to the next “Coffee Morning” dont forget its “Buy one, Get one Free at Morrisons on Chocolate Biscuits at the Moment.
Tougue and Cheek.
@David Walls, Cheap at half the price when you consider that it costs upwards of £5,000 for a forged British passport. This is then offset by the speed at which a driver can make this back with a Berwick or Derwentside plate.
I kid you not.
@Ollie Beak,
Hello,
If Councils apply Section 70 properly, they control their Local Council Authority Area, and we do not need to worry about Northumberland Adopting their New Hackney Carriage Policy if the Fees and Charges are applied properly, these cheap Drivers Licences and Badges are not easily accessed, if they cannot speak English our Native Language like the Education Departments are now enforcing for people wishing to Apply for a Course the Applicant must have a good command of the English Language, just to register.
I may be boring in some peoples eyes, but I am not stupid.
Thanks
Dave Walls
I bet they love you at that Coffee morning you attend! (aka the Forum)
@E.Coast community Theatre,
Hello again,
You are right, and I do not need to get the Acts of Parliament out in many cases to quote chapter and verse of the Act of Parliament, and it embarasses the foolish ones such as “Kato” with over 20 years service at the Council, when he says something that proves he is not fit for his job, as he does not know what the Act of Parliament says, or what “Information” the Council Application Forms ask for.
I am the Drivers Champion in that meeting even though I am a Hackney Carriage Proprietor, and can see things from both sides of the fence, as a Driver.
Thanks
Dave Walls
Well Dave
If you are the Drivers Champion, I hope when it’s your turn to buy the Biscuits for your Coffee morning (Forum), you buy decent Bicky’s for the Drivers, cheap Digestives for the big two Goons and two bags of Peanuts for their Monkey’s!!!
@David Walls,
David, the Council charge for badges by virtue of Section 53(2). Those fees are not amenable to challenge under the terms for objection provided by Section 70, for Vehicle and Operator licences.
NTC, like many other councils, publish intended revision of driver licence fees although they are not obliged to do so and we have no right to object although comment is always possible in any objection submitted in respect of the other fees.
The crucial issue is that driver licence fees are to be ‘demanded with a view to recovering the costs of issue and administration’
Without separate cost accounting how can the council establish that it is/ may not be profiting from the fees charged for badges???????????????
Or, conversely, that vehicle and Operator licences are not subsidising driver licences.
Of course being the one big happy family that we are, we are all presumably unconcerned about such minor matters.
@alan fidler, On the contrary Mr. Fidler we’re all very concerned. In fact the more minor the matters, the more concerned we actually are. We believe there is a lot of mileage in exploring trivialities and we are most grateful to you for taking time out to bring them to our attention.
While we’re on the subject what exactly does ‘conversely’ mean please.
Yours admiringly,
Oliver
@alan fidler,
Hello Alan,
No I have not missed Section 53 in the 1976 or Section 46 in the 1847 Act.
I have actually applied for a FOI to release the figures for certain other matters, but I am sure Ken Wilson will be pulling his hair out when all the objections start arriving in the near future.
Dont worry, I am not buying any NUTS for the Monkeys as the East Coast Community Theatre put it the other day, as Chocolate Biscuits all round for the ” Band of Brothers”
Tongue and Cheek.
@E.Coast community Theatre, Stephen ! You’re less than funny so shut the F*** up!
@honestjohn,Honestly honest John honest that’s a bit presumptious of you.Honestly we don’t argue one little bit.Be Honest John you are stirring the Poo a bit here aren’t you?
Hey Admin, you are a bit angry tonight!, I was not getting at you or the Drivers, just the two Clowns that YOU claim are destroying the trade!!!!!!
@E.Coast community Theatre,
I hope your not the stephen i think you are prattling on about sh*t which is all your good for!
How many different taxis have you rented this year stephen and unsuccesfully made a living with????
I also seem to remember that you also used to drive a berwick plated vehicle that didnt seem to bother you.
You need to have a long hard look at yourself before you start trying to throw around silly innuendos about things you know clearly fu*k all about.
Now pipe down about the coffee morning you had your chance like everyone else to join so ill have your share of the chocolate hob nobs thankyou.
No name from you then?, but call me what you want!
Stephen
@E.Coast community Theatre, Coffee Mornings!!??!
Hello everybody peoples,
I back again somebody play joke on sietnav and lock him in bloody caravans. it was teerible the kemical toilet overflowed it smelt like mr wulson in their. I come down from beerwick and they told me i must i think the word was preerdominantly work in beerwick to keep my lisense. I tell them i no not what preerdominantly mean i plumb in my country.
I make good monies now becoz meester shank he show me how to flimp i tell him i not interested in fishing i taxi now my eenglish better than meester shank. I pickup everybodies. I buy meester shank choclit lipures for creestmas and i buy meester wulson some knickers he told me too. I think meester wulson he is strange man i think i no really why he sacked from council at beerwick . I work hard now i do ate thowsind job a week for meester shank he keep my passport make sure i don’t go to LA. it is not nessary for meester shank do this i not even like america. I tell him i work with plenty cowboys already.
Sietnav
Nice to see you set free!, your comments are the best on here.
Keep them coming Sietnav
@ David Walls
David you are obviously clued up on regulations and acts.
So can you enlighten me on the Newcastle Act 2000 as it states in the article above that ” The selling of goods in the street is restricted by the City of Newcastle Act 2000, which requires anyone trading in the street to be licensed by the council ” yet PH firms licensed outside of Newcastle using plated vehicles from were ever there is no locality test can in a sence Trade on the sreets, advetise themselves and even apply for contract work within the city so how is this possible???
Cheers David
And if the muppets read this dont bother saying that the PH firms are just picking up and going back to their licensed area because we all know thats a parcel of smelly poop!!!
@MB 27,
Hello MB27,
I am not one for getting involved in things in an Area, that I am not Licensed, as each Local Council has its own set of rules, but I think I can say this without offending anyone, as it is not an Opinion.
If you go onto the Newcastle Council Website, and on the right-hand side of the page, as you look at it you will see a search box, I put Newcastle Act 2000 into that box, and what came up was the Local Government Act 2000 reference.
I would therefore say MB27, you should look for that Local Government 2000 Act, and you will find it on http://www.opsi.gov.uk Scroll down page and in the centre area of the page, look for Acts of Parliament 1988 to 2008 and click that link, and it will open another link, then click on the left-hand side of that page, as you look at it on the word ACTS, and it will open another page, then scroll down to the Acts Years Listed, and click on 2000, this will open all the Year 2000 Acts, and look for Local Government Act 2000.
I am Sorry to not have been able to answer your question in full, but hope this assists you in being able to find the information you are looking for, as Newcastle has its rules based on this Local Government Act 2000, I would have thought.
Hope this helps MB27
@MB 27, The Newcastle Act 2000, States this;
An Act to confer powers on the Council of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne
For the better control of the street trading in the city of Newcastle; for
The registration of door supervisors and second-hand goods dealers in the
City; for controlling the distribution of free literature in the city; and
For other purposes. [21st December 2000]
No where does it reference the Hackney Carriage Taxi or Private Hire
Vehicle, who are Licensed under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Act 1976 that has its clear rules of how to work in your own Local
Authority Council Controlled Region, which has licensed the Private Hire
Operator or Hackney Carriage Proprietor to either “Ply for Hire” with a
Hackney Carriage Taxi Vehicle with the Driver to obey the Local Authority
Byelaws, or in relation to the “Pre-Booked in Advance” Hire Cars, that is
Controlled by the Locally Licensed Private Hire Operator Proprietor, who has
been given permission to “Accept hiring’s and make the provision for
undertaking those hiring’s”, each Local Authority is only allowing a Private
Hire Operator Proprietor to use vehicles that are licensed by the same Local
Authority, as Hire Cars, with the Section 55 to control the Section 48, and
The Driver must hold a valid Section 51 Drivers Licence and Section 54
Drivers Badge.
When it comes to Hackney Carriage Taxi Vehicles, those also must be within
their controlled district to accept and obey there Local Council Byelaws,
and be able to accept from a customer the hiring request personally from the
Passenger, as there is no facility for a Hackney Carriage Taxi Driver to
Accept a hiring whilst outside of its Local Council Authority Licensed
@David Walls,
On the other hand, you might find the City of Newcastle Act 2000 at: http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=newcastle&Year=2000&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&TYPE=QS&NavFrom=0&activeTextDocId=1516056&PageNumber=1&SortAlpha=0
If you want a legal answer to a legal question, ask someone who is qualified in law and licensing!
Happy reading!
@David Wilson,
Hello David,
Now you are once again doing what you did at the Licensing Forum, and that is you are once again impersonating something you are not!
A Person who puts on a Policemans Uniform will be prosecuted for Impersonating a Police Office, and a Council Officer of the Berwick-upon-Tweed, who is not in Berwick-upon-Tweed will you will find be prosecuted for impersonating a Council Officer In Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Washington, or Durham, The Ridings and South Wales.
You David were dismissed by Northumberland County Council earlier this year under restructuring, so please do not come on here and impersonate what you are not!
I do not charge for my services, and I do not give answers, what I do is assist a person to find the Information that is available FREE OF CHARGE on Google, therefore why do they need to pay you!
I am not impersonating anyone or anything, as I like the Citizen Advice Bureau give out FREE Information to people, who are not sure where to find it themselves like MB27, and nothing more than that.
Happy Reading!!!!!
Dave Walls
@David Walls,
There you go again, making false accusations! Did you not learn anything the last time? For the avoidance of doubt, I was not dismissed by the council and have never been dismissed by anyone for whom I have worked.
I think you’ll find I’m not impersonating anyone, least of all a council officer. The fact is I was a council officer and accordingly have a greater knowledge than most of administrative law – a subject about which you have privately admitted to knowing nothing, despite it being an essential part of local authority licensing!
As for charging for my advice, I think you’ve overlook the fact that I provided the information you didn’t / couldn’t find free of charge!
Finally, whilst I am neither a solicitor nor barrister (and have never suggested or implied I was), I do have various qualifications in law and licensing.
Mr Wilson
I hope you are doing Blueline’s sponsored walk for a Cancer charity, it’s about time you did something good!
And well done to the Drivers who do take part!!
@Stephen Arthur,
If you’re referring to the “firewalk” that’s taking place next week, I’m not not, because I’ll be in London.
I do, however, share you support and admiration for anyone who is taking part in the event; and appreciation for those who have pledged sponsorship.
@David Wilson,
David,
I am Sorry if you feel hurt by my use of the word dismissed, maybe it should have been made redundant or something else, but the fact is Northumberland County Council did not want you, and that means you no longer work for a Council as an Employee.
Now David on the subject of learning, can I just point out to you it costs around £25,000 as the deposit to take a claim for slander or liable against a person, who believes they have been hurt by a comment, but legal aid is not an option, and so 12500 drivers would have to pay you £2, just for you to have the £25,000 required sum.
Now David, as someone who has spoken at lenght to some of your drivers registered with your scheme, why is it they recieved paperwork with there names already on it with the terms and conditions attached, when they have not personally paid you 1p of the £2 a week you request, from what I was told by these drivers a certain Operator was paying you the Fee for the drivers named on each of these terms and conditions for A2Z Licensing Protect.
I suggest David, you spend what ever money you are making very wisely to try to build your business and do not waste whatever you are recieving on building up your £25,000 for the Court Room you would like me to be sitting in.
Happy Reading.
Dave, get a three page spread about David in the Upfront Mag!, a good one, just like the one you did about Station Road!
P.S. Stick a Picture of him in it!, pref next to a Caravan!
@David Wilson, On even another hand you might Find it Here! If you want to know anything about creating Tidy Links ask someone who isn’t qualified in law and licensing.
@Admin,
It was tidy, until I hit “submit Comment”. Perhaps you would be kind enough to tidy it up for me, because it does make your site look a bit of a mess! Sorry.
I think only a proper numpty would pay a subscription to ask someone who isn’t (by their own admission) properly qualified in law and licensing.
PS. That link he gave us was long enough to hang himself with.
@Ollie Beak,
A long link, but only a small click to get MB27 to where he wanted to be!
Has anybody noticed the growing number of private hire offices that are employing drivers with Durham City plated cars? I kept tabs on one of these jokers on Friday night because he was getting a hell of a lot more work out of the town than I was.
It was really starting to boil my pi** so I followed him from High Heaton and along Sandyford Road, as we were approaching a bus stop some students put their hand out and this guy starts to indicate to pull in BEFORE he looked in his rear view mirror. He was on a roll this guy and it was only at the last minute that he thought he’d better check to see if he might just have a legal Newcastle Hackney carriage behind him.
Not to be outdone though he carried on along towards the TA centre and I slowed right down to see where he was getting ‘his work’ from and he proceeded to turn right and into the grounds of Northumbria University’s Lovaine Halls of residence. Throughout the night he was picking up regularly from both Lovaine Hall and Claude Gibb hall. This meant that he and his pals were getting to the punters even before they could make their way to a rank.
I have got the plate number, the registration number and vehicle make of this joker. Just for the record he is not Polish. I used to work for the same private hire office whose booked work he is supposed to be doing. I am also a friend of the owner of that office so if this guy wanted to plead innocent he’s on a hiding to hell.
The problem here is whether our enforcement officers are going to do what their job says on the label before there is a reckoning.
The Durham plated Hacks are just the ex Derwentside Cars, Don’t worry Hackney Carriage Driver!
@David Walls, still did not answer my question in full ( just out of interest u have had your Independent Road Passenger Transport Management company ? 4 what 2-3 years now how many customers have u actually had ??????? no need 4 a 5 page reply David just a straight answer will do many thanks ) oh and PS have u ever been wrong on any facts or is it true u know every thing there is to know about every thing ????