On Tuesday 14th May, The Southampton Hackney Association was invited to attend the "Helping Victims of Hate Crime" App Launch for Smart Phones, it was held at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The app has been designed to give people more information about hate crimes and to encourage communities to come forward and report them.
You can now upload both platforms of the "Helping Victims of Hate Crime" App free of charge on your smart phone:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/hate-crime/id599314473?mt=8 (iPhones)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.revelmob.hatecrime (Android)
The app includes a definition of what hate crime actually is, as well as more detailed information about crimes which target a victim's race, sexual orientation, transgender identity, disability, religion, age, refugee or asylum status.
There is more information about the app, Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents on the Hampshire Constabulary webpage by clicking here.
To all taxi drivers why not visit the The Sweet Market who advertise on the partners page of our website, just by the Bargate Taxi Rank?
Apart from the great sandwiches and coffee, Kevin and Caroline keep a large stock of taxi receipt pads, account books and the 2013 - 2014 Passenger Ship Movement Diary which only costs £1.
Have a flutter and buy a lottery ticket - you may be a winner! Or top up your phone, Gas or Electric card - it's all there
Apart from selling the National Newspapers, they have newspapers from other parts of the world. Plus you can pick up groceries, magazines, birthday cards and much more, making The Sweet Market well worth a regular visit!
Would you like to advertise on our website? Get in touch to have a chat, our website gets lots of visits daily, and we can link from ours to yours!
We often get requests to find lost items in taxis, and this can be extremely difficult since rather than being a taxi company, we are an association of taxi drivers. However, if we can help we always will.
Just recently the Southampton Hackney Association received a lovely email from one of the passengers who used a Southampton licensed white taxi:
"Hi, I just want to say thank you to the taxi driver who returned my watch to me. I got a taxi from Southampton Central to my home and accidentally left a Links of London bag in it. I didn't realise I'd lost it till this evening and was extremely upset - obviously! This evening, the same driver knocked on my door and gave me the bag back. It has totally restored my faith in humanity, and I can't thank this gentleman enough.
Thanks again to him."
The Southampton Hackney Association - representing the licensed white taxis in Southampton City.
The Southampton Cenotaph Association is one of the organisations who advertise on the partners page of the Southampton Hackney Association website -
They are in need of more First and Second World War researchers to help collate names for the Southampton Cenotaph War Memorial which is opposite the Titanic Taxi Rank in Above Bar.
Does anyone have a family history of having lost their loved ones in one of these two World Wars? If you do please contact southampton.cenotaph@hotmail.co.uk...You can take a look at the Southampton Cenotaph Association website for more information by clicking on the photo:
On the 9th April 2013 The Law Commission released an interim statement regards the taxi and private hire trade.
The full report should be available in December 2013. However, one of the findings that has been released is that the two tier system between taxi's and private hire's should stay the same.
Only taxi's should be allowed to pick passengers up from ranks and be hailed in the street, whilst Private hire vehicles are only able to pick up passengers that are pre-booked through a licensed operator.
Click on the image to read more on The Law Commission website...
Last Thursday evening 28th March 2013, the SHA held it's AGM and General Meeting.
Members present were concerned regarding the current economy and the increase of private hire vehicles that companies seem to be allowing to join their radio circuits, as this is having a detrimental effect to the Hackney trade of Southampton.
However putting a positive spin to the present situation - representatives of this association and The Unite Union Cab Section, Southampton had a constructive meeting with a Senior Member of Southampton City Council with regards to the Local Transport Plan.
We are confident that the taxi trade can offer a reliable alternative transport package to the local community and we hope to continue to have further discussions on this matter.
Southampton taxi drivers who operate a saloon car or a multi purpose vehicle taxi (MPV) can apply for a Smart Cities Card for use on the Itchen Toll Bridge.
The Smartcities card is a multifunctional card which allows you to access a number of different services and products in Southampton:
It can be your bus pass, donor card, library card, leisure card or your ID card. It is also the new way to pay the toll on the Itchen Bridge.
You can apply online at http://www.southampton.gov.uk/living/smartcities/bridgeinfo.aspx or phone (023) 8083 3008.
The card avoids the need to carry the exact change when crossing the toll bridge, you can add credit to your account online with a credit or debit card - great news!
The official opening of Oceans, Southampton’s cruise and visitor support centre featuring a nostalgic Tea Room, Souvenir Shop, Visitor Information Point, baggage store facility and Exhibition Gallery, takes place on Thursday, 14th March 2013 at 11.30am.
Representatives of the Southampton Hackney Association have been invited to attend this event, which is to be opened by Commodore Ron Warwick, first Master of the QE2 and QM2. Please see image for details.
Geely who had a significant stake in Manganese Bronze (makers of the famous London Cab) have now completely taken over the company and all of it's assets.
Although The Southampton Hackney Association would like to see the famous London Cab manufactured again in Coventry, it appears we are still a long way from that happening.
We will keep you updated with any news as it comes in.
The informative 'Helping Victims of Hate Crime' booklets, sponsored by Hampshire Constabulary Western Area have now been distributed to most, if not all taxi companies and drivers in Southampton
Both the Unite Union and the Southampton Hackney Association are totally against any kind of Hate Crime, be it in relation to a persons colour of skin, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or beliefs, since we understand the devastating psychological effect it can have on individuals.
Hate Crime can consist of physical violence, assault, verbal abuse or obscene calls, and taxi drivers who work at night can be easy targets.
Taxi Drivers are trying to make people aware by placing stickers inside their cabs, if you would like to find out more about Hate Crime, how to report it or to receive support visit The Hampshire Police Hate Crime Advice page here.
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and The Public Order Act 1986 Part III are two forms of legislation which protect victims of crime.
