New Government data reveals eleven Equality Act prosecutions against taxi and PHV drivers in England and Wales

Latest Department for Transport (DfT) data reveals eleven prosecutions under the Equality Act 2010 for offences committed by taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers in England and Wales.

In 2023, prosecutions hit 11, a significant increase from just 4 in 2022. However, this is consistent with figures from previous years before the pandemic disrupted the trend.

A closer look at the data shows that the bulk of these prosecutions relate to sections 168 and 170, which address refusals by drivers to transport assistance dogs, and section 165, which covers discrimination against wheelchair users. From 2014 to 2023, 61% of these cases were due to drivers refusing to accept bookings involving assistance dogs.

The pandemic years saw a marked decline in these numbers, with 47 prosecutions in 2019 compared to lower figures in subsequent years. This indicates a broader trend of reduced enforcement during the pandemic period and better compliance since demand for taxi and PHV services retuned post-pandemic.

Although precise conviction rates are difficult to pinpoint, the data suggests an approximate 80% conviction rate over the past decade. This reflects a strong track record of upholding the principles of the Equality Act within the taxi and PHV sectors.

The rise in prosecutions this year suggests there remains work to be done in educating taxi and PHV drivers of their responsibilities and highlights the ongoing importance of ensuring compliance with accessibility laws.