Improving safety for taxi and PHV passengers

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Consultation has concluded

Update 12 December 2023 

Following our consultation, a number of changes to the taxi and private hire licensing requirements are being introduced. Our focus has been on Part 1 of the consultation, so that we can be fully compliant with the DfT’s Statutory Taxi and PHV Standards as soon as possible. Parts 2 and 3 will be considered separately. 

Part 1 

We are proceeding with the proposals in Part 1 of the consultation, but with amendments to two of the proposals: 

  • DfT1: Licensee self-reporting – we have amended this to include the requirement to inform us of cautions, as well as any arrest and release, charge or conviction of any offence, within 48 hours. The inclusion of cautions makes this consistent with our current requirement.  

  • DfT3: Overseas convictions – we have amended this from the original consultation proposal and will only require a Certificate of Good Conduct (CoGC) from taxi drivers, PHV drivers and PHV operators who have been outside of the UK for three or more continuous months in the last 10 years since they were 18. Periods of extended holiday outside of the UK will be included.  

Information about the licensing requirement changes and when they will be introduced is available in TPH Notice 07/23 - Improving Safety for Taxi and PHV Passengers.  

We will now begin developing detailed guidance for licensees to support the industry in preparing for these changes. This guidance will be shared with licensees when it becomes available. 

We have now published our report on our Response to Issues Raised with us during the consultation.  

Parts 2 and 3 

We intend to consider the responses in relation to Parts 2 and 3 of the consultation in early 2024 and will communicate the next steps and any recommendations separately.  


Update 22 September 2023

This consultation has closed. 

We have now completed our analysis of the consultation replies and our report on the consultation is now available. We will use the outcomes of this consultation to consider whether we will make any changes to our proposals.  

The consultation was split into three parts. We are initially focussing on Part 1 so that, where appropriate, we can be fully compliant with the Department for Transport’s Statutory Taxi and PHV Standards as soon as possible. 

We aim to provide an update on our Part 1 proposals later in Autumn 2023 and this will include a response to the issues that were raised in this consultation. We will use the consultation feedback to review Parts 2 and 3 following that.


Update 01 June 2023

The consultation has now closed. Thank you to those of you that took part. We are now reviewing all the responses and using these to finalise our proposals. We are aiming to publish the consultation report and next steps later in the Summer.


Overview

We are reviewing taxi (black cab) and private hire (including minicab) licensing in London to improve passenger safety.  

We are proposing 19 changes to improve safety and safeguarding for all passengers, especially children and vulnerable adults.

We want to hear your views on how our proposals would impact you and any alternative suggestions you have. You have until 12 May 2023 to share your feedback.

Why are we proposing changes to taxi and private hire licensing?

What are we proposing?

How could the changes affect taxi and PHV passengers?

How can you find out more?

Tell us your views

What happens next?


Why are we proposing changes to taxi and private hire licensing?

In July 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) set out new standards to protect taxi (black cab) and private hire vehicle (PHV) passengers. Although the focus is on protecting children and vulnerable adults, all passengers will benefit.

The Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards (‘Standards’) are the result of detailed discussions with the taxi trade, regulators, safety campaign groups and a public consultation. That is why we are not consulting on the Standards.

Most of the Standards are already in place here in London. But there are 10 we still need to comply with. We are consulting on how we propose to implement these remaining Standards.

We also continually review our policies and requirements to see what else we could do to improve taxi and PHV passenger safety and standards more widely. We are proposing nine additional proposals and reviewing a further four areas, that we believe will build on the DfT’s Standards. We would welcome your feedback on these.

You may notice some differences in what we propose between taxi and PHV services – this is in part due to the different legislative powers we have.

What are we proposing?

Our consultation is split into three parts. The table below provides an overview, including which licensees they affect. Please click on each Part to see further details.

PartWhat it coversWhich licensees will the proposals affect?

Part 1



How we propose to introduce the new DfT Standards, including ten proposals to:

  • Improve criminal record checks and requirements
  • Assess taxi drivers’ safety, equality and regulatory understanding
  • Make improvements to records PHV operators must keep
  • Taxi drivers
  • Taxi owners
  • Private Hire vehicle (PHV) operators
  • PHV drivers
  • PHV owners

Part 2




Part two is seeking your suggestions on how we can make taxis safer. We would like your ideas for how passengers could check if taxi drivers and taxis are licensed in advance of their trip.

  • Taxi drivers
  • Taxi vehicle owners

Part 3



Nine extra proposals to make PHV services safer to use including:

  • New and enhanced requirements for operators, covering the records PHV operators must keep and how complaints are managed

In addition to the proposals, we are seeking your views on whether we need to consider licensing changes in these areas:

  • Public liability insurance requirements
  • Ridesharing; and
  • The licensing conditions for different sized PHV operators
  • PHV operators


How could the changes affect taxi and PHV passengers?

The focus of these changes is on protecting children and vulnerable adults, although all passengers are expected to benefit. The proposals should reduce the risk of crime and also make it easier for passengers to report problems with taxi and private hire services.

However, there is a risk that the proposals will create additional costs or barriers which may affect the number of licensed taxi and PHV drivers. This could have some negative impacts for passengers including:

  • Some taxi fares could increase
  • Some PHV fares could increase
  • People may have to wait longer for a taxi or PHV

You can find a full assessment of the impacts of the proposals in our independent Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA).

How can you find out more?

Background Information

We have provided more information to help you respond. Visit the Documents section for:

  • Our response to the DfT’s Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards
  • An Integrated Impact Assessment on our proposals
  • A Data Protection Impact Assessment on relevant proposals
  • Factsheet on Our role in licensing and regulating taxi and PHV services

The DfT also recommended that licensing authorities should consult on the use of in-vehicle CCTV in taxis and PHVs. We carried out this consultation in February 2021. We continue to monitor developments in this space and are considering our next steps.

Making the information accessible 

We want this consultation to be accessible to everyone. So you can find:

  • Easy Read versions and British Sign Language (BSL) videos of our consultation and consultation survey
  • A copy of our consultation survey in case you would prefer to respond offline

If you need to translate this page into another language, please use the ‘Select language’ button in the bottom-left hand corner of this page

What happens next?

Once the consultation ends on 12 May 2023, we will consider all the responses we receive and will prepare a consultation report.

The consultation report will help us reach a decision about how licensing requirements may change.

The consultation report will be available to everyone that takes part in the consultation and will be published on our website.

Update 12 December 2023 

Following our consultation, a number of changes to the taxi and private hire licensing requirements are being introduced. Our focus has been on Part 1 of the consultation, so that we can be fully compliant with the DfT’s Statutory Taxi and PHV Standards as soon as possible. Parts 2 and 3 will be considered separately. 

Part 1 

We are proceeding with the proposals in Part 1 of the consultation, but with amendments to two of the proposals: 

  • DfT1: Licensee self-reporting – we have amended this to include the requirement to inform us of cautions, as well as any arrest and release, charge or conviction of any offence, within 48 hours. The inclusion of cautions makes this consistent with our current requirement.  

  • DfT3: Overseas convictions – we have amended this from the original consultation proposal and will only require a Certificate of Good Conduct (CoGC) from taxi drivers, PHV drivers and PHV operators who have been outside of the UK for three or more continuous months in the last 10 years since they were 18. Periods of extended holiday outside of the UK will be included.  

Information about the licensing requirement changes and when they will be introduced is available in TPH Notice 07/23 - Improving Safety for Taxi and PHV Passengers.  

We will now begin developing detailed guidance for licensees to support the industry in preparing for these changes. This guidance will be shared with licensees when it becomes available. 

We have now published our report on our Response to Issues Raised with us during the consultation.  

Parts 2 and 3 

We intend to consider the responses in relation to Parts 2 and 3 of the consultation in early 2024 and will communicate the next steps and any recommendations separately.  


Update 22 September 2023

This consultation has closed. 

We have now completed our analysis of the consultation replies and our report on the consultation is now available. We will use the outcomes of this consultation to consider whether we will make any changes to our proposals.  

The consultation was split into three parts. We are initially focussing on Part 1 so that, where appropriate, we can be fully compliant with the Department for Transport’s Statutory Taxi and PHV Standards as soon as possible. 

We aim to provide an update on our Part 1 proposals later in Autumn 2023 and this will include a response to the issues that were raised in this consultation. We will use the consultation feedback to review Parts 2 and 3 following that.


Update 01 June 2023

The consultation has now closed. Thank you to those of you that took part. We are now reviewing all the responses and using these to finalise our proposals. We are aiming to publish the consultation report and next steps later in the Summer.


Overview

We are reviewing taxi (black cab) and private hire (including minicab) licensing in London to improve passenger safety.  

We are proposing 19 changes to improve safety and safeguarding for all passengers, especially children and vulnerable adults.

We want to hear your views on how our proposals would impact you and any alternative suggestions you have. You have until 12 May 2023 to share your feedback.

Why are we proposing changes to taxi and private hire licensing?

What are we proposing?

How could the changes affect taxi and PHV passengers?

How can you find out more?

Tell us your views

What happens next?


Why are we proposing changes to taxi and private hire licensing?

In July 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) set out new standards to protect taxi (black cab) and private hire vehicle (PHV) passengers. Although the focus is on protecting children and vulnerable adults, all passengers will benefit.

The Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards (‘Standards’) are the result of detailed discussions with the taxi trade, regulators, safety campaign groups and a public consultation. That is why we are not consulting on the Standards.

Most of the Standards are already in place here in London. But there are 10 we still need to comply with. We are consulting on how we propose to implement these remaining Standards.

We also continually review our policies and requirements to see what else we could do to improve taxi and PHV passenger safety and standards more widely. We are proposing nine additional proposals and reviewing a further four areas, that we believe will build on the DfT’s Standards. We would welcome your feedback on these.

You may notice some differences in what we propose between taxi and PHV services – this is in part due to the different legislative powers we have.

What are we proposing?

Our consultation is split into three parts. The table below provides an overview, including which licensees they affect. Please click on each Part to see further details.

PartWhat it coversWhich licensees will the proposals affect?

Part 1



How we propose to introduce the new DfT Standards, including ten proposals to:

  • Improve criminal record checks and requirements
  • Assess taxi drivers’ safety, equality and regulatory understanding
  • Make improvements to records PHV operators must keep
  • Taxi drivers
  • Taxi owners
  • Private Hire vehicle (PHV) operators
  • PHV drivers
  • PHV owners

Part 2




Part two is seeking your suggestions on how we can make taxis safer. We would like your ideas for how passengers could check if taxi drivers and taxis are licensed in advance of their trip.

  • Taxi drivers
  • Taxi vehicle owners

Part 3



Nine extra proposals to make PHV services safer to use including:

  • New and enhanced requirements for operators, covering the records PHV operators must keep and how complaints are managed

In addition to the proposals, we are seeking your views on whether we need to consider licensing changes in these areas:

  • Public liability insurance requirements
  • Ridesharing; and
  • The licensing conditions for different sized PHV operators
  • PHV operators


How could the changes affect taxi and PHV passengers?

The focus of these changes is on protecting children and vulnerable adults, although all passengers are expected to benefit. The proposals should reduce the risk of crime and also make it easier for passengers to report problems with taxi and private hire services.

However, there is a risk that the proposals will create additional costs or barriers which may affect the number of licensed taxi and PHV drivers. This could have some negative impacts for passengers including:

  • Some taxi fares could increase
  • Some PHV fares could increase
  • People may have to wait longer for a taxi or PHV

You can find a full assessment of the impacts of the proposals in our independent Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA).

How can you find out more?

Background Information

We have provided more information to help you respond. Visit the Documents section for:

  • Our response to the DfT’s Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards
  • An Integrated Impact Assessment on our proposals
  • A Data Protection Impact Assessment on relevant proposals
  • Factsheet on Our role in licensing and regulating taxi and PHV services

The DfT also recommended that licensing authorities should consult on the use of in-vehicle CCTV in taxis and PHVs. We carried out this consultation in February 2021. We continue to monitor developments in this space and are considering our next steps.

Making the information accessible 

We want this consultation to be accessible to everyone. So you can find:

  • Easy Read versions and British Sign Language (BSL) videos of our consultation and consultation survey
  • A copy of our consultation survey in case you would prefer to respond offline

If you need to translate this page into another language, please use the ‘Select language’ button in the bottom-left hand corner of this page

What happens next?

Once the consultation ends on 12 May 2023, we will consider all the responses we receive and will prepare a consultation report.

The consultation report will help us reach a decision about how licensing requirements may change.

The consultation report will be available to everyone that takes part in the consultation and will be published on our website.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Tell us your views

    Once you have read more about our proposals, please share your views in our online survey.

    We want to hear your views on our proposals, the impacts they may have, and any alternative suggestions. Your views are important to us and will help us with our decision-making. There’s no need to respond all the questions, please feel free to skip to just those questions that you wish to provide feedback on. 

    If you have not done so already, you will need to register with us to take part in the online survey - your details will be kept secure. 

    If you prefer not to complete the survey, then please submit your response to by:

    • Email: Haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk; or
    • Post (no stamp needed): FREEPOST TFL HAVE YOUR SAY
    • Or you can call the consultation telephone line on 020 3054 6037 to request a call back so we can record your feedback for you. 

    You have until 12 May 2023 to give us your feedback.

    Please note responses may be made publicly available after the consultation has closed, this would typically be in the form of a report on the results of the consultation exercise, but any personal information will be kept confidential. Your personal information will be properly safeguarded and processed in accordance with the requirements of privacy and data protection legislation. For further information, please visit our privacy policy.

    Consultation has concluded
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