Page 2 | How is this not a crime?

BecauseMyRingBurnsSheila · 2021-07-15T16:40:46+00:00

BBC News - Ruth Madeley: Actress says taxi driver took her wheelchair away [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57838553]] I've deliberately posted here rather than Chat or AIBU because I am genuinely interested in understanding why this isn't a crime? If the Equality Act and Disability Discrimination Act are law why is this behaviour not contrary to them?

IRanSoFarAway1 · 16/07/2021 22:41

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SisterMonicaJoansHabit · 16/07/2021 22:59

I can stand for the shortest time. I'm ambulatory, although I'm currently paying severely with my spine pain because I've not stayed in my chair like I need to. If someone grabbed my chair and tried to withhold it from me, I would very very quickly end up on my arse (also thus worsening the condition I have and the spinal injury). That is very much not OK. This woman had prepaid for the service too. She did not deserve to be treated that way. Propelling in a manual chair is exhausting and she should have been dropped off in the right spot. The driver was lazy and rude. There are some lovely ableist comments on this post. How about you all read the post properly and try to imagine what it might be like for those of us who find ourselves in these situations all too frequently.

prh47bridge · 16/07/2021 23:20

@IRanSoFarAway1

If attempting to steal her wheelchair isn't a crime, the law needs to be reviewed urgently.

Attempting to steal a wheelchair is a crime. Taking a wheelchair in a dispute over payment is likely to be a civil matter rather than a criminal one.

prh47bridge · 16/07/2021 23:24

@SisterMonicaJoansHabit

I can stand for the shortest time. I'm ambulatory, although I'm currently paying severely with my spine pain because I've not stayed in my chair like I need to. If someone grabbed my chair and tried to withhold it from me, I would very very quickly end up on my arse (also thus worsening the condition I have and the spinal injury). That is very much not OK. This woman had prepaid for the service too. She did not deserve to be treated that way. Propelling in a manual chair is exhausting and she should have been dropped off in the right spot. The driver was lazy and rude. There are some lovely ableist comments on this post. How about you all read the post properly and try to imagine what it might be like for those of us who find ourselves in these situations all too frequently.

I have great sympathy with you and, indeed, with Ruth Madeley. I agree that the taxi driver behaved appallingly. However, if there are any ableist comments on this thread I have missed them.

The OP asked why the taxi driver's behaviour was not a criminal offence. Perhaps it should be but, as things stand, it is not clear that the driver committed an offence. Stating that is not ableist. It is simply stating the law.

NiceGerbil · 17/07/2021 00:02

Not RTFT

Depends on the circs

And what the payment conversation involved

I think I read that

He was supposed to take her to accessible entrance
Got there he said CBA
She said erm no mate I paid you to take me to the wheelchair easier place not gonna pay full for this
He took wheelchair

I mean sounds like he's in the wrong to me but I wasn't there

Morally his actions as above mean he's an utter wanker

Not sure if crime though. Not a law expert. Maybe? He apprehended something of value from her in order to force full payment. If it was a suitcase or a pushchair or etc then that sort of thing. Much more high value though. If he grabbed crutches and said nope.

No idea if illegal. Doesn't sound right though to me.

prh47bridge · 17/07/2021 10:10

@NiceGerbil

Not RTFT

Depends on the circs

And what the payment conversation involved

I think I read that

He was supposed to take her to accessible entrance
Got there he said CBA
She said erm no mate I paid you to take me to the wheelchair easier place not gonna pay full for this
He took wheelchair

I mean sounds like he's in the wrong to me but I wasn't there

Morally his actions as above mean he's an utter wanker

Not sure if crime though. Not a law expert. Maybe? He apprehended something of value from her in order to force full payment. If it was a suitcase or a pushchair or etc then that sort of thing. Much more high value though. If he grabbed crutches and said nope.

No idea if illegal. Doesn't sound right though to me.

No, reports do not say that she said she wasn't going to pay in full. She had already paid for the trip. The taxi driver ignored this and demanded that she pay the fare again, then took her wheelchair when she refused to do so. It could be argued that taking her wheelchair was a criminal offence but, if he believed she owed the fare and thought that taking the wheelchair was a proper way of extracting payment, he would not be convicted. I am therefore not surprised the police thought this was a civil matter.