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Killer removed from taxi course Killer removed from taxi course
(about 2 hours later)
A paranoid schizophrenic killer will not be allowed to study to become a black-cab driver following protests from taxi drivers. A killer with paranoid schizophrenia will not be allowed to study to become a black-cab driver following protests from taxi drivers.
The man, who cannot be named, strangled his wife in 2000 and was jailed indefinitely for manslaughter in 2001.The man, who cannot be named, strangled his wife in 2000 and was jailed indefinitely for manslaughter in 2001.
Moves to allow him to train jeopardised the industry's reputation, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) said.Moves to allow him to train jeopardised the industry's reputation, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) said.
Transport for London (TfL) said he was removed from the Knowledge course because of his criminal history.Transport for London (TfL) said he was removed from the Knowledge course because of his criminal history.
Hundreds of cabbies blocked streets outside the public carriage office in protest over the decision to allow the 38-year-old to take the black taxi exams.Hundreds of cabbies blocked streets outside the public carriage office in protest over the decision to allow the 38-year-old to take the black taxi exams.
Shock waves The brother of the man told BBC London: "I know for a fact he is well so there is nothing wrong with him.
He had been detained under the Mental Health Act after killing his wife and released after the parole board assessed he was no longer a risk to society, which left him free to pursue work. "It doesn't make sense now when the people say he is not right to do driving."
He has been working as a minicab driver but his licence has now been revoked. 'Shock waves'
The man had been detained under the Mental Health Act after killing his wife and released after the parole board assessed he was no longer a risk to society, which left him free to pursue work.
He was given a licence to work as a private hire driver in 2008 and used it to work for a minicab company in West Ham, east London, between January and May 2009. But his licence has now been revoked.
The owner, Azim, said: "I expect the Public Carriage (Office) to make their own enquiries and after that they give someone a permit.
The independent review made it clear that this individual's wider criminal history meant he should not progress with the Knowledge or be licensed by us Jeroen Weimar, TfL
"I have got no problem to give that person a vacancy, but as a passenger if I found out what he did I would think twice before I get into his cab."
Bob Oddy, LTDA General Secretary said: "The original decision to accept [the man] onto the Knowledge sent shock waves through our trade.Bob Oddy, LTDA General Secretary said: "The original decision to accept [the man] onto the Knowledge sent shock waves through our trade.
"The united trade demonstration and crisis meeting achieved the desired result and this Public Carriage Office u-turn will go some way to restoring public confidence in London's world renowned taxi service." "The united trade demonstration and crisis meeting achieved the desired result and this Public Carriage Office U-turn will go some way to restoring public confidence in London's world renowned taxi service."
Jeroen Weimar, Chief Operating Officer at TfL said it had announced plans to tighten the guidelines for licensing taxi and private hire drivers in the Capital. Jeroen Weimar, Chief Operating Officer at TfL said it had announced plans to tighten the guidelines for licensing taxi and private hire drivers in the capital.
In future, taxi and private hire licences will not be granted to applicants who have been convicted for serious or violent offences, unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances.In future, taxi and private hire licences will not be granted to applicants who have been convicted for serious or violent offences, unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances.
'Productive lives'
"This was a unique case and we fully understand the concerns of everybody in the cab trade at the implications for public safety and confidence," Mr Weimar said."This was a unique case and we fully understand the concerns of everybody in the cab trade at the implications for public safety and confidence," Mr Weimar said.
"I am grateful to the LTDA for making clear how strongly working taxi drivers felt about this issue."I am grateful to the LTDA for making clear how strongly working taxi drivers felt about this issue.
"The independent review made it clear that this individual's wider criminal history meant he should not progress with the Knowledge or be licensed by us.""The independent review made it clear that this individual's wider criminal history meant he should not progress with the Knowledge or be licensed by us."
Earlier this month, a spokesman for the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health said it could not comment on an individual case. Earlier this month, a spokesman for the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health said schizophrenia "should not in itself preclude someone from working".
But he said: "The vast majority of people with an illness like schizophrenia can still work and can still lead decent, productive lives.
"Having a condition like schizophrenia - you can recover entirely from it - should not in itself preclude someone from working."