Taxi drivers hit out at cash con clampdown

Source: Lancashire Evening Post

Taxi drivers in Preston have hit out at council chiefs after it was announced they are being targeted in a new benefits fraud crackdown.

Preston Council, in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is reviewing benefits claims by all taxi drivers in the city as part of a clampdown, which starts in January.

However, some drivers have accused the council of “unfairly targeting” them and warn the move will drive more people away from the ailing industry.

Mick Rooney, of Ribbleton Taxis, said: “It is hard not to feel like we are being singled out unfairly in this. It is obvious they are targeting us because taxi driving is a cash led industry but there are other professions that rely on cash too, like scrap metal dealers, window cleaners and market traders.

“People are only just scraping a living at the moment because the trade is so bad – but the council keep forcing more and more regulations on us making it harder and harder to survive.

“This is just another knife being shoved into the industry. They should be supporting us, not targeting us.

“In the end more and more people will be driven from the profession and suddenly the council will find there are no taxi drivers left.”

Council chiefs say taxi drivers are being subject to the review because their incomes, unlike many professions, are prone to sudden fluctuation making it easier for changes not to be reported straight away.

Officers will make contact with all taxi drivers that are in receipt of benefits. If discrepancies are found they may be referred to the fraud section for further investigation.

Mark Selley, secretary of the Preston Hackney Carriage Association, said: “This news will cause some consternation among drivers and there will certainly be feelings that taxi drivers are being picked on.

“However, as long as it is dealt with in an even-handed and transparent way we have got to accept it.

“My philosophy is, if you have got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to fear.”

A spokesman for Preston Council said: “The council routinely reviews customers’ benefit claims, especially those which have income types that are more likely to have changes. Historically, taxi drivers, amongst other income types, can have more regular changes and peaks and troughs in their income, which is why they were selected for review.

“The review is a preventative fraud measure with a view to finding changes that may not have been reported promptly, however some of these could result in fraud investigations depending on our findings.

“Preston City Council has a duty to protect public funds and has a zero-tolerance policy against benefit fraud, and we will do all we can including working with external agencies in order to protect the public purse.”

To report fraud contact 01772 906316 or email benefitfraud@preston.gov.uk.