CPA Bulletin

40 CPA Bulletin > November 2021 www.cpa.uk.net Police Improved Roadside Checks The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) and the Home Office have developed technology to allow police officers dealing with motoring offences to confirm a driver’s identity at the roadside. Prior to this technology being in place, it could take up to 16 minutes for officers to confirm a person’s identity as the officer often needs to spend additional time validating the information given by the driver as the truth. In some cases, this can result in an arrest as the motorist is brought to the station to complete the checks. Supporting the focus on digitisation within law enforcement, DVLA has worked with the Home Office to give police officers access to the photograph held on DVLA’s driver database at the roadside. This nowmeans, in the case of motoring offences, officers can confirm the correct identity of a driver almost instantly. This technology is currently in use by 28 police forces. Discrimination Claimants Must Provide Evidence The Supreme Court recently gave a ruling where an individual who makes an allegation of discrimination at an Employment Tribunal (ET), must present evidence to prove that it occurred. The Race Relations Act 1976, which along with 115 other pieces of legislation, was repealed and replaced by the Equality Act 2010, and imposes a two-stage test in discrimination cases. At the first stage, the claimant has the burden of proving facts from which the Tribunal could conclude, in the absence of an adequate explanation, that an unlawful act of discrimination had been committed. If the claimant did not prove such facts, the claim failed. However, if the claimant did prove such facts, the burden shifted to the employer to explain the reason(s) for its treatment of the claimant and to satisfy the Employment Tribunal that race (or another protected characteristic, e.g., sex or disability discrimination) played no part in those reasons. Unless the employer satisfies this burden, the claim succeeds. This decision handed down by the Supreme Court may help prevent vexatious claims being brought by current or ex-employees. DVLA Warning on PremiumWebsites The Driver & Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) is urging motorists to beware of websites that charge a premium rate for DVLA online services that are either cheaper or free to obtain when motorists contact DVLA via the GOV.UKwebsite rather than another organisation’s website. The warning is a result of DVLA being contacted by more than 1,200 customers since January 2020, about websites that are not affiliated with DVLA, but which purport to offer DVLA-related services. In light of this warning, Members may wish to review their current practices so staff are not misled by unaffiliated organisations to Government departments. LEGAL: 3