A campaigner and guide dog owner in Newham, who has been repeatedly refused service by a number of minicab firms, is taking a stand against this discriminatory practice.
Health grounds are a common excuse given by drivers for not taking dogs. However, the Public Carriage Office who are responsible for the licensing of all minicab drivers have assured us that only a tiny minority of drivers have an exemption from carrying dogs on the basis of health.
Other common practices include:
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cab drivers attempting to impose an additional charge for the carriage of a guide dog
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cab drivers insisting they have a right to refusing carriage if the passenger didn't inform the cab office that they were a guide dog owner when making the booking
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cab drivers making the dog sit in the boot, rather than remain with the passenger.
Many minicab drivers appear to be unaware of the duties imposed on them by the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, and continue to discriminate against guide dog owners. Our Newham campaigner is working on a media plan to raise awareness of the issue locally - and will be investigating the possibility of taking legal action against the worst offenders.