More than half of the independent taxi drivers in Amsterdam were involved in criminal offenses between 2016 and 2019. That is according to research. The Amsterdam taxi world is in bad shape. More than 40% of the self-employed taxi drivers come into contact with criminal offenses such as a false Certificate of Good Conduct, or are suspect, involved or witness in an investigation into drugs, weapons, serious violence or subversion. Director of Taxicentrale Amsterdam TCA Hedy Borreman is shocked by the figures from the research.
Henk Ferwerda of Bureau Beke is the author of the report 'Malicious activities and (subversive) crime in the Amsterdam taxi industry'. The VOG was discussed indirectly, but certainly raises questions for him. According to Ferwerda, the taxi market in Amsterdam is overcrowded while the market is bad because of corona.
"More supply than demand increases the risk of criminal offenses. There is a segment of drivers that uses the taxi to lend a hand to criminals, to transport narcotics from a to b, to transport criminals."
According to Ferwerda, it is therefore important to regulate the market. In addition, 'upfront' screening is crucial, for example when it comes to the VOG. “Several respondents said: perhaps you should consider introducing a driver's diploma again. And the third point is enforcement and control. You can set all kinds of rules, but you will have to check papers now and then, otherwise you open the door for a rogue group.”
According to TCA director Hedy Borreman, it is not reported if such a driver card is withdrawn. When someone has lost their VOG, they can block the number. TCA knows that VOGs are illegally purchased and checks randomly whether the driver cards are still valid. At TCA, every driver must have a driver card, but the screening of taxi drivers before they start work is not foolproof. “When you allow a BV to drive trips for you, where you have no idea which drivers are covered, then these kinds of practices are possible,” says Borreman.
Performance
Taxicentrale TCA would like to be informed if driver cards are withdrawn. And also believes that the market should be equalized. The municipality must be able to take action against every driver who works there, says Borreman. “Because if we now suspend a driver for two weeks, he can simply go back to work at another platform in another municipality.”
Listen here the full message from Director Hedy Borreman of TCA in EenVandaag on NPO Radio 1