CROSS BORDER FOCUS: Private hire vehicle licensed by TfL and Wolverhampton, but spotted working for Harlow operator
A private hire vehicle (PHV) licensed by both Transport for London (TfL) and City of Wolverhampton Council was recently spotted with Harlow-based operator signage, drawing well timed attention to the contentious issue of cross-border taxi and private hire vehicle licensing.
Photographs obtained by TaxiPoint depict a white Toyota Prius licensed by both TfL and City of Wolverhampton Council as of July 2024 running through to July 2025. The vehicle prominently features a magnetic sign on the passenger door displaying the name and contact number of a Harlow operator.
This recent spotting highlights the renewed focus and concerns raised by Harlow MP Chris Vince regarding cross-border taxi licensing. Vince, echoing the frustrations of local taxi drivers, highlighted this issue during his election campaign and continues to address it in his role as MP.
Talking to TaxiPoint and in the House of Commons, Vince has called for urgent reforms to address the complications stemming from the 2015 Deregulation Act. He emphasised that Harlow’s stringent local authority checks are undermined by the Act, which allows taxi firms to secure licences from distant authorities, a practice known as ‘Cross Border Hiring’. It is argued that the loophole makes consistent scrutiny difficult and compromises the safety and standards of taxi services.
In a recent session in the House of Commons on 18 July, Vince pressed for a debate on the matter.
Vince MP said in the House of Commons: “I would like to call for a debate on an issue that is affecting taxi drivers and their passengers, not just in Harlow but in other parts of the country.
“As a repercussion of the Deregulation Act 2015, taxi drivers are no longer required to get licences from authorities in whose areas they operate.
“Different authorities have different standards, meaning that some taxis are checked less regularly, and some authorities do not require the same signage that we require in Harlow. That has a huge impact on the taxi trade and, particularly in the case of signage, on the safety of passengers.
“Can we have a debate on this important issue?”
