In just 81 seconds Peter Hendy made three statements on BBC local radio, that were not only misleading, but also insulted every licensed Taxi driver.
Three statements from Peter Hendy on the Eddie Nestor Radio Show BBC 94.9 , 13/06/13.
1 There have been 1006 revocations of PH drivers licenses in the last five years.
2 Vulnerable young women less likely to get into unbooked minicabs
3 If you don't want your business taken by illegal touts, lets get some cabs out there with their lights on.
In the statement on revocations made by Peter Hendy, 1006 sounds like a lot, but when you consider this total over 260 weeks, it's under 4 a week. Plus the conviction rate has slowed dramatically, in the first quarter of 2013, there were only 6 revocations;
(1) 57296 Belal Ahmed 10/01/13
(2) 57905 Emrullah Cicen 24/01/13
(3) 51192 Matthew Ade-Tayo Kalejaiye 01/02/13
(4) 144301 Mohammad Khalil Chaudry 15/02/13
(5) 83905 Muhammad Rafiq 10/03/13
(6) 24888 A K M Shohidul Hoque 15/03/13
Possibly, the reason why he chose to go back 5 years, the figures for the last year are abysmal.
He also said that the police are much better these days at handling touting, really?
The word from Taxi drivers on the streets at clubs and bars would show completely the opposite.
If, as Peter says vulnerable people are now less likely to get into un booked minicabs, how does he explain the statement made in the Problem Orientated Policing report "Unlicensed mini cabs operating in Wandsworth", a report that won the prestigious Goldstein award, that the true figures for minicab related serious sexual assaults, including rapes in London are currently at an all time high of approx 25 attacks per week.
Lets not forget that Peter Hendy once said, on the Eddie Nestor show some years back, after a reported 52% rise in minicab related sexual assaults, that he didn't recognise the figures and they were probably the result of a militant Taxi drivers Blog. The fact was they came from TfL's own website and had been confirmed by the Met police as well as a prominent London assembly member.
Again Peter Hendy has a swipe at the licensed Taxi trade by insinuating that we do not work hard enough and the failings and incompetence of his LTPH directorate lay at our feet.
In 2008, Hendy stated to a London assembly surface transport committee, that Taxi driver take their money by 9pm and then go home. He also said " When you come out of the Grisvenor House at midnight you can't get a Taxi as they won't rank there. Not like the Hilton, now that's a much better rank."
When told by London assembly member Peter Holme Cross that Taxi drivers were unhappy, he said, "They are always unhappy, they need to get out more often."
Peter Hendy paid Hailo a huge compliment saying how great the service is and that he himself is a regular user. He also went on to say that the CabWise app was still available and working fine.
This is not true. It still doesn't work properly on the iPad, never has done, even though its been reported numerous times, it's impossible to book a licensed Taxi using the app on the iPad.
Finally Peter Hendy now in his sixties, stated that he has no intention of ever retiring. On his money neither would I.
CABWISE OR CAB NOT SO WISE?