​Concerns Arise as Convicted Deliveroo Rider Found Still Making Deliveries

Alarm has been raised within the community and beyond as Jenniffer Rocha, a 35-year-old Deliveroo rider from Aldershot, Hampshire, was found continuing her delivery work despite a recent grievous bodily harm conviction. Rocha was convicted after she admitted to biting off a customer's thumb during a dispute over a pizza delivery in December 2022. Following her court appearance in March, Deliveroo responded by terminating her account. However, BBC News footage revealed that Rocha was still active, utilising another account as recently as April, which has also since been suspended.

The incident unfolded when Stephen Jenkinson, 36, the victim, approached Rocha after a miscommunication about the delivery location. An altercation ensued when Rocha reacted violently to Jenkinson's attempt to retrieve a necessary delivery code from his phone, which he had left behind. "When she finally released my thumb, my hand sprayed her with blood," Jenkinson recounted the horrifying moment, emphasising the severity of his injury.

This event highlights significant concerns regarding the monitoring and enforcement of safety protocols by delivery platforms. In response, primary delivery services such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have declared their intentions to overhaul their identity verification processes for all riders, especially substitutes. This policy shift comes amidst increased scrutiny from the Home Office, which criticised the existing practices for allowing illegal work activities and potentially compromising public safety.

Deliveroo has since rolled out a new system incorporating direct right-to-work checks, aiming to be a pioneer in responsible platform management. However, the incident raises critical questions about the effectiveness of these measures and the ongoing risks posed to both customers and the reputation of delivery platforms.

As this situation develops, it invites a broader discussion on the need for more rigorous enforcement and transparency in the gig economy. What steps should be taken to prevent such severe oversights in the future? How can platforms better protect both their customers and their service providers? We encourage you to share your views and concerns below.