Institute of Licensing issues updated taxi licence suitability guidance for local authorities

The Institute of Licensing has published updated guidance for licensing authorities when considering the suitability of applicants and licensed holders for taxi and private hire driver, operator and vehicle proprietor licences.

The latest guidance replaces the guidance originally published by the Institute in April 2018. 

The IoL said the original guidance was widely used by local authorities and closely followed in the Annex at section 10 of the DfT’s Statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards, published in 2020.  

“The Guidance is intended to assist licensing authorities in considering their own licensing policies on determining the suitability of applicants and licence holders for taxi and private hire licensing,” the Institute said.

“It was well received among such authorities generally, with many updating or reviewing their policies by incorporating the guidance in part or in whole, ahead of or subsequent to the publication of the DfT standards. The guidance has been successful cited in courts where it has been so incorporated by authorities and also as a stand-alone reference.”

Working Group Chair, Stephen Turner, said: “This updated Guidance is intended to inform those who regulate the hackney and private hire trades. It has been produced following extensive consultation with and consideration of the views of the regulators and the trades. It is hoped that many licensing authorities will adopt it and use it to assist in their decision-making in order to deliver their duty to protect the public.”

IoL President James Button said: “The taxi and private hire industry provides vital transportation to everyone in our society. The vast majority of licensees are honest, decent, hardworking people. This document provides clear guidance to licensing authorities to ensure that those are unsuitable, or who wish to exploit, harm or abuse passengers are not allowed to have or retain licences. This will benefit the industry, the licensing authorities and society.”

John Miley, NALEO National Chair said: “I am delighted with NALEO’s participation in this work and getting the updated suitability guidance published.  This is an important piece of work and we hope licensing authorities find the updated guidance useful.”

Earlier this month the Suzy Lamplugh Trust issued a call for national minimum standards for licensing taxi and private hire vehicle drivers after finding at least 90 active licences were held by drivers with convictions for violent offences.

The personal safety charity said a consolidated legislative framework is "imperative" for public safety and recommended a policy that clearly specifies which crimes and behaviours result in the revocation of a driver's licence.