Proposed amendments within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill could significantly reshape how taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing is enforced across England, with a clear shift towards stronger national oversight and cross-border compliance. At the centre of the changes  is a new power allowing enforcement officers to suspend taxi and PHV licences with immediate effect where public safety is considered at risk. The bill states that an officer may

The UK Government has stated that the safeguarding standards used by City of Wolverhampton Council for licensing taxi and private hire drivers align with national expectations, as ministers continue work on wider reforms to standardise rules across England. In a written parliamentary response  published, Lilian Greenwood said the council does apply recommended safeguarding measures, including enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks and ongoing monitoring of driver crim

Image credit: LEVC Transport for London (TfL) applies the same safeguarding standards when responding to passenger safety concerns involving taxi drivers, private hire drivers or private hire operators, according to the Mayor of London. The clarification came during Mayor’s Question Time after Reform UK London Assembly Member Keith Prince asked whether the capital’s regulator takes a consistent approach when credible safety risks are identified within the taxi and private hir