YouTuber and London taxi driver, Tom Hutley, focused his latest video around Transport for London (TfL) significant policy change for London’s taxi and private hire drivers.
From 1 July 2024, all drivers renewing or applying for a new licence who have spent more than three months abroad in the last decade will need to provide a “Certificate of Good Conduct” (COGC).
The certificate is intended to ensure drivers have not committed any offences while living abroad. It must be obtained from the relevant country’s authorities or embassy and submitted in English. This applies to all time spent abroad, whether for work, leisure, or other reasons.
Drivers will also need to complete a new form, the TPH 205, to declare any time spent outside the UK. This is a new layer of scrutiny for London’s drivers, who will need to ensure they have the necessary paperwork for each country they stayed in. Hutley highlights that for many, particularly those who have visited countries with limited embassy services in the UK, the process could prove challenging.
Hutley, also know as ‘Tom the Taxi Driver’ on his popular social media channels, argues that it signals a lack of trust in drivers’ conduct while abroad, as UK criminal records do not cover overseas offences. The retroactive nature of the policy also poses practical issues, as obtaining documentation for past travel could be difficult or, in some cases, impossible.
Taxi drivers looking to take a prolonged break or go travelling, could be forced to think hard about where they travel and for how long.
What is a TPH 205 form?
The TPH 205 form is a document introduced by Transport for London (TfL) specifically for taxi and private hire drivers. It is used to declare any time that a driver has spent living abroad. Under the new policy coming into effect from 1 July 2024, drivers will be required to complete this form if they have lived outside of the UK for more than three months within the past 10 years.
The information provided on this form will help determine whether a Certificate of Good Conduct (COGC) is needed for each country the driver has stayed in during that period.
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