CROSS-BORDER CHECKS: TfL conducts compliance checks at Gatwick Airport to ensure safety beyond London

Transport for London (TfL) conducted out-of-area compliance checks at Gatwick Airport to ensure safety beyond London.

On 29 July 2024, TfL executed a ‘’Compliance Reassurance Patrol’ at Gatwick Airport. The operation aimed to assess the compliance of taxi and private hire vehicles (PHVs) with safety regulations.

According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, five TfL officers inspected a total of 32 vehicles and checked the credentials of an equal number of drivers during the patrol.

The inspection uncovered six instances of vehicle defects. Notable issues included two vehicles with tyre wear below the legal limit, two without the mandatory ‘No Smoking’ signage, and two fitted with unapproved CCTV systems.

Though Gatwick Airport lies outside London, TfL has a mandate to ensure that any vehicles licensed under its authority adhere to strict safety and regulatory standards, even when operating beyond the city’s boundaries.

This is crucial in cases of cross-border hiring, where London-licensed vehicles are dispatched to areas outside of London. By conducting regular checks at heavily used out-of-area locations like Gatwick Airport, TfL can maintain the integrity of its licensing system and ensures passenger safety, regardless of where the journey begins or ends.