Taxi drivers across England will undergo rigorous new vetting procedures as part of sweeping licensing reforms announced by the government. The changes aim to establish consistent national safety standards and address growing concerns about passenger protection.
National Standards for Passenger Safety
Local government minister Miatta Fahnbulleh confirmed the measures, which form part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The reforms will create national minimum standards for all taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, specifically targeting problems linked to out-of-area working practices.
Ms Fahnbulleh stated these standards would prioritise "safeguarding passengers and improving accessibility" for everyone using taxi services. The move follows Baroness Casey's audit, which uncovered "many cases of group-based child sexual exploitation" connected to taxi services.
Tackling Licence Shopping and Exploitation
Speaking during the Bill's report stage, Ms Fahnbulleh explained: "National minimum standards will set a high but proportionate standard for licensing that is focused on safeguarding passengers and improving accessibility of these services for everyone."
She emphasised that the changes would reassure vulnerable passengers, particularly women, girls and people with disabilities, that drivers have undergone proper vetting regardless of where they operate in the country.
Transport committee chair Ruth Cadbury highlighted the problem of "licence shopping", where drivers seek licences from authorities with less demanding standards even if they work primarily elsewhere. Her committee's inquiry found the lack of common standards encouraged this practice.
Broader Legislative Changes
The comprehensive Bill, which passed its third reading in the House of Commons by 322 votes to 179, also includes significant changes beyond taxi regulation:
- Expansion of powers for regional mayors
- Creation of a tiered system of strategic authorities
- Devolution of transport, planning and housing to new unitary local authorities
- Automatic designation of sports grounds with over 10,000 spectators as Sporting Assets of Community Value
The sports ground provision means communities will have first refusal rights when facilities are sold, replacing the current system of sales to the highest bidder. Ms Fahnbulleh announced a new 16-week review period for communities seeking to purchase these sporting assets.
Despite government claims of community empowerment, Labour MP Chris Hinchliff noted a "slight oversight" in the Bill, arguing it doesn't substantially increase community powers. Conservative shadow minister David Simmonds criticised the legislation as "botched and incoherent restructuring" that centralises power away from local communities.
The Bill now proceeds to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, while the government plans additional consultations on making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle regulation in the coming months.
