‘Risk to public’ warning over plans to relax licensing regulations for minicab drivers

Legislation going through Parliament will make it “impossible” for councils to ensure cab drivers have been through the proper checks, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).

The LGA is also warning that dangerous minicab drivers could more easily challenge reviews of their licences following traffic offences. This is because they could more easily claim another driver was responsible.

The concerns centre on clauses in the Deregulation Bill which the association says would permit anyone to drive a licensed vehicle.

The LGA’s licensing spokesman, Tony Page, said: “Councils fought hard for the reinstatement of enhanced criminal records checks for taxi and private hire drivers and these irresponsible plans threaten to undermine that progress and remove this vital protection for passengers.”

The Yorkshire Post revealed in April last year that taxi drivers with criminal records for gun possession, violence and drugs offences were working in the region. Applicants with convictions for motoring offences including drink and dangerous driving have also been granted licences, figures released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed.

Mr Page added: “The consequences for someone entering a vehicle marked for hire where the driver has not been properly licensed and vetted by the council can be severe. We should not increase the chances of that happening.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The deregulation bill will not put taxi passengers at risk, and drivers will still have their backgrounds routinely checked.

“These measures are tried and tested in London and have made life easier for passengers as well as drivers and their families.”