Justin Tomlinson MP has joined forces with Elaine Pickford, mother of Sian O’Callaghan, and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the charity concerned with personal safety, to call for national minimum standards on taxis and private hire vehicle licensing across England and Wales.
A report launched by the Trust reveals that taxi and private hire vehicle licenses are being granted to drivers with criminal convictions that include violent offences. Research has indicated that safety is being compromised because there are no national minimum standards to enforce sufficient safety checks.
Whilst the vast majority of drivers do not pose a personal safety risk to passengers, there is a small minority who are slipping through the net. Although taxi and private hire vehicles hold a position of trust, transporting passengers who are often alone and in a locked vehicle, the highest level of criminal checks are not required in law, only recommended in guidelines. Furthermore, each licensing authority applies different checks, with some being more stringent than others, thus leading to inconsistencies across the country.
The research conducted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust has highlighted:
- Almost all licensing authorities in England and Wales are failing to keep an accessible record of taxi and private hire drivers’ criminal convictions, with only 46 out of 316 local authorities able to provide detailed information about drivers’ criminal histories request.
- A significant number of licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers highlighted in the research have criminal records including convictions for actual bodily harm, common assault, speeding and drink driving.
- Current taxi and private hire vehicles drivers have successfully applied for or renewed their licence despite having committed crimes in the last 6 years (since 2012). Licence holders’ convictions in this time included battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and speeding.
- At least 865 drivers in the 38 licensing authorities which gave details or drivers with convictions in response to a freedom of information request have successfully applied for or renewed their licence despite having a criminal conviction.
Some licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers have multiple convictions:
- One currently licensed driver has over 36 separate convictions dating from 1973 to 2017, with offenses including actual bodily harm, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and threatening behaviour.
The North Swindon MP became involved with the campaign after getting to know Swindon resident Elaine Pickford, whose daughter Sian was murdered by taxi driver Christopher Halliwell. Elaine and Justin originally met to discuss Elaine’s voluntary work supporting families connected to victims of homicide. Since then, Justin had been so impressed with Elaine’s determination to make a difference he became involved in the campaign and offered to host an event in Parliament to get more MPs, from across all parties, to sign up in support of national minimum standards.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “When you get into a taxi you are putting the driver in a position of trust. You expect to be taken directly to your door safely, regardless of whatever time of day or night. The vast majority of taxi & PHV drivers are law abiding citizens who do exactly that. However there are occasions where that position of trust has been abused, as we have seen recently with the case of John Worboys. This campaign is all about ensuring that appropriate & sufficient safety checks are in place, and consistently so, for members of the public. Many members of the public already assume that this is done rigorously. I am delighted to have hosted the event and it has been a real privilege to work with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Elaine, who has been truly fantastic in using her own horrific experiences to help others. She is a real credit to our town.”
Rachel Griffin, Chief Executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: “We are calling for legislative change to ensure that people are protected while using taxis and PHV. It is vital that they are all held accountable to rigorous national licensing standards. These regulations much prioritise passenger safety; everyone who uses a taxi or PHV should be confident that their driver has been appropriately vetted, and that they will reach their destination safely.”
Sammy Woodhouse, survivor and campaigner of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation abuses, said: “Rotherham is testimony that crime such as child sexual exploitation in the taxi and PHV trade has reached alarming proportions around the UK. Improvements to passenger safety can be achieved through national minimum standards in legislation.”
Justin signing the Suzy Lamplugh Trust pledge
Justin with Rachel Griffin, Chief Executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Justin with Sammy Woodhouse and Elaine Pickford
