Vertical Markets

Call on taxi and minicab driver checks

by Mark Rowe

Taxi and private hire vehicle licences are being granted to drivers with criminal convictions that include violence, according to a personal safety charity. Suzy Lamplugh Trust suggests that passenger safety is being compromised because there are no national minimum standards to enforce safety checks for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. The charity is campaigning for national minimum standards, including by petition to Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport.

Most drivers do not pose a personal safety risk to passengers and are being let down by a minority, the Trust says. Although taxi and private hire drivers hold a position of trust, transporting passengers who are often alone and in a locked vehicle, the highest level of criminal checks is not required in law, only recommended in guidelines.

The Trust has found that almost all licensing authorities in England and Wales are failing to keep an accessible record of taxi and private hire drivers’ criminal convictions, with only 46 out of 316 local authorities able to provide detailed information about drivers’ criminal histories on request. A significant number of licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers highlighted in the research have criminal records including convictions for actual bodily harm, common assault, speeding and drink driving. Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers have applied for or renewed their licence despite having committed crimes in the last six years (since 2012). Licence holders’ convictions in this time included battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and speeding. And at least 865 drivers in the 38 licensing authorities which gave details of drivers with convictions in response to a freedom of information request have successfully applied for or renewed their licence despite having a criminal conviction. Some licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers have multiple convictions; one licensed driver has over 36 separate convictions dating from 1973 to 2017.

Comment

Rachel Griffin, Chief Executive of Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: “It is deeply troubling that there are taxi and minicab drivers with serious criminal convictions operating across the country. Our research has revealed a significant number of licenced drivers with serious criminal convictions, and due to the large number of local authorities who did not respond in detail to our freedom of information request, we are concerned that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The ambiguity currently surrounding what constitutes a ‘fit and proper’ person with regards to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is unacceptable. Inadequate regulations can, and in some cases have already, led to passengers being victimised by drivers with a known history of unsafe behaviour and even criminal convictions. Despite this, local authorities are continuing to take unnecessary risks when granting and renewing taxi and private hire vehicle licences. This must stop.

“Suzy Lamplugh Trust is calling for legislative change to ensure that people are protected while using taxis and private hire vehicles. It is vital that all taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are held accountable to rigorous national licensing standards. These regulations must prioritise passenger safety; everyone who uses a taxi or private hire vehicle should be confident that their driver has been appropriately vetted, and that they will reach their destination safely.”

Among the Trust’s suggestions in a report; that all taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) have installed continuous video and audio recording CCTV and tracking devices; and compulsory enhanced DBS checks for all drivers; not a mandatory requirement for taxi/PHV drivers who are not contracted to drive ‘vulnerable adults’ or children.

About Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Figures were collated from responses to freedom of information (FOI) requests made to local authorities. Every licensing authority in England and Wales was sent an FOI request; between August and December 2017.

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