Boro Taxis 'will not take disabled people' in fares row

The boss of Teesside's biggest taxi company has revealed the firm will no longer transport disabled passengers following a row over pricing.

Mohammed Bashir, of Boro Taxis, said the decision had been taken on economic grounds.
Teesside taxi operators were recently warned they could lose their licences for overcharging disabled passengers.

Middlesbrough Council believes the conduct breaches discrimination laws.
Mr Bashir said his company cannot afford to send an eight-seater minibus to pick up customers if it can only charge them the same price as it would an able-bodied person using a four-seater car.
'Morally totally wrong'
"The simple fact is if you order a car and four people jump in you are charged for a taxi. If you order an eight-seater minibus and eight people jump in you are charged for a minibus.

"If you order a minibus and there's only one person you will still be charged for a minibus because that's what you ordered.

"But because we are charging for a minibus we are breaking the law."
Mr Bashir told BBC Tees the decision was "morally totally wrong" but added it was "uneconomic" to continue carrying disabled passengers in minibuses.

Middlesbrough Council said it was looking into the matter and had written to taxi operators reminding them of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Deputy mayor Dave Budd said companies "have a moral obligation to treat everybody the same".
Last month a report by the authority found wheelchair users were sometimes being charged up to double the standard fare.

Article from the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-25697433?post_id=726116158_10152230225871159#_=_

Cleveland Police response to You Tube Video

At around 11:30pm on 1st August 2013, police were called to reports of a man being drunk and disorderly in a pub on Stockton High Street. The report said that the man had left…
…the premises and was engaged in a dispute with a woman on Stockton High Street.

A male police officer arrived at the scene and was head-butted by the man and left injured on the floor. A female police officer attempted to handcuff the man, when she was kicked and head-butted.
Other officers at the scene attempted to restrain him so that he could be handcuffed and taken safely into police custody. Officers have said that the man was trying to bite them and was digging his nails into their arms whilst they were attempting to handcuff him.

In this case officers have used hands on tactics that are trained and recognised, they have not resorted to other tactics such as taser or baton strike which can be seen to be higher on the use of force continuum.

Controlling the arms and head of a violent person is not easy particularly when they are in a heightened state and have just assaulted someone.
Punches to the muscle group in the arm in order to “deaden” it and thus allow it to be moved to the rear are appropriate when encountering resistance from the arms. Once the man’s arms are secured he was then put into the back of a van safely, reducing the possibility of injury to him or others.

Cleveland Police Professional Standards Department have viewed the footage and are satisfied that the officers acted in accordance with legislation and their training when dealing with the man.
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Officers operating in Stockton Town Centre know they are on CCTV and value the evidence gathering and support it gives them, they often direct where the cameras should point via the police radio link into the CCTV control room.

“Officers deal with extremely violent individuals on a daily basis who could be under the influence of drink or drugs, which also has a part to play in increasing the offender’s mindset and strength.

“There is a danger that this footage could be taken out of context on first viewing, but it is important to view it with full knowledge of the facts.”
The man pleaded guilty at court to two counts of assaulting a constable in the execution of his or her duty and possession of cannabis. He was given a 12 month community order with supervision, a four week curfew, costs and compensation to police.

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Man dies after being hit by train near Marton Station in Middlesbrough

Paramedics, fire and police rushed to the scene - near Marton station and Park End estate - at 3.45pm on Saturday, but he was pronounced dead at the scene

Emergency crews on the scene after a man was killed after being hit by a train on the tracks close to Marton station

A man died after being hit by a train on the line near Marton Station in Middlesbrough.
Police officers from the Cleveland force, British Transport Police and Cleveland Fire crews were called to the incident at 3.45pm on Saturday, just north of the railway station near the Park End estate.

Several police cars and paramedics - as well as a private ambulance - congregated in the Marton Station car park just off Ladgate Lane.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Northern Rail confirmed someone had been hit by a train and services along the line between Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough ceased until 5.45pm.

A spokeswoman for British Transport Police, who could not confirm the man’s age, said: “British Transport Police officers were called to the line near to Marton train station on Saturday, October 19, after a report of a person being struck by a train.

“Officers from British Transport Police and Cleveland Police attended the incident, which is being treated as non-suspicious, arriving at 15.50 hours.

“Paramedics also attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Emergency services at the scene after a man died on the railway line near Marton

Ian McPherson

 She added the train involved was a Northern Rail service from Nunthorpe to Hexham.
A full report is being prepared for the coroner, who has been informed.
A mum from Park End, who asked not to be named, said she was aware of other accidents involving trains along the line in the past.
“I’ve heard of some accidents on the track around here, but not a lot,” she said.
“It’s a terrible shame.”

Another woman said she didn’t know exactly where the incident had occurred, but had seen the police helicopter hovering overhead on Saturday.

A Northern Rail spokeswoman said any traumatic incident which affects employees triggers a chain of care.
“This includes thorough training and awareness to prepare our employees as well as counselling after an incident has happened,” she said.

“We also work closely with the Samaritans, providing a call-out service for people in distress. We make sure there is post-incident support available for everyone, both employees and customers and develop links with mental health services.”

Article for Gazette Live
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/man-dies-after-being-hit-6214995

£2.2m boost to young people in Teesside to get into employment and training

Funding will support schemes to help young people overcome a range of barriers or issues to help them successfully back into education, employment and training

Hundreds of young people are set to benefit from a £2.2m boost for employment and training.
The cash from the European Social Fund (ESF) will help more than 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 19 in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Hartlepool and Darlington who are not in education, employment or training.

Stockton Council led the ESF bid, securing £755,014 of the cash to help 355 young people while Middlesbrough received a £423,233 share, which will help 199 teenagers, and Redcar was awarded £297,752 to help 140 young people.

The funding will support schemes to help young people overcome a range of barriers or issues to help them successfully back into education, employment and training. This will include support such as mentoring, work placements, assistance with literacy or numeracy issues, homelessness or drug misuse, personal and community development projects, mentored work placements within local authorities and in-work/learning mentoring support.

Stockton Councillor Ann McCoy, Cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Many young people have so much to contribute but sometimes need a support to help them overcome a range of personal issues or barriers which prevent them from performing to the best of their ability in a work or training situation.

“The funding will provide a range of schemes that will provide these young people with invaluable help and support to overcome their issues and barriers at a very important time in their lives, giving them the opportunity to secure for themselves meaningful training and employment and a successful future.”

ESF has been supporting schemes in Stockton since 2008, and has already helped more than 750 young people successfully into training and employment.
Synergy VCS Consortium, a partnership of voluntary sector organisations which deliver services on behalf of Stockton Council and other bodies, has already seen the difference these schemes make.Jon Goodwin, from Synergy VCS Consortium, said: “When young people join training organisations they are often vulnerable and unable to move forward into employment and independence.

“Through these projects, young people often find new confidence and go on to achieve successful employment and education - it’s hugely rewarding and great to see them turn their future from one of uncertainty to one that promises success.”

Article from Gazette Live
 http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/22m-boost-young-people-teesside-5836266

Cannabis farm worth £160,000 seized by police in Eston

Officers executed a drugs warrant at an address on Tawney Road in Eston earlier today and a cannabis farm with a potential value of around £160,000 was discovered

A cannabis plant

A cannabis farm with a potential value of around £160,000 has been discovered by police.
Officers executed a drugs warrant at an address on Tawney Road in Eston earlier today.


A man was arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and remains in custody.

Detective Sergeant Nigel McCartney, of Redcar and Cleveland Drugs Unit, said: “Members of the public are encouraged to contact us should they have any information regarding drugs activity.

“We will always act upon information passed to us by the local community and we will continue to tackle drug dealers and those that make others lives a misery through drugs across the district.”

Article from Gazette Live.
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/cannabis-farm-worth-160000-seized-5830464