Fears children at risk due to taxi driver licensing

Taxi drivers are obtaining licenses from areas with less stringent regulations, such as Wolverhampton, to bypass tougher local rules aimed at protecting children. This issue has been highlighted by Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, who notes that drivers in her constituency can avoid strict safeguarding measures introduced after a 2014 child sex abuse scandal. 

Wolverhampton licenses are cheaper and easier to obtain, leading to a surge in applications from drivers across the country. The council insists it takes safeguarding seriously, but the disparity in regulations allows drivers to operate in areas with stricter rules without adhering to them. Calls for national minimum standards and robust legislation have been made to address this loophole and ensure consistent safeguarding across the UK.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said:

“The frustration is that in Rotherham we have probably the best regulation in the country and we’re trying to get that adopted nationally,” the Labour MP told the BBC.

“We needed it because a lot of children who were being exploited were being raped in taxis or being transported from one children’s home to the abuse location through a taxi.

“The problem is those regulations are only set by the licensing authority so unless we get national minimum standards then drivers can go to a different local authority with different regulations and still drive in Rotherham.”

A City of Wolverhampton Council spokeswoman said: “The council would refute any suggestion of prioritising earning money over passenger safety.”

But the council is reported to be attempting to reduce the number of licenses it issues.

In a recent report, external, its audit and risk committee said the “likelihood of a serious issue taking place” increases in line with the number of licenses issued.

“There has been serious child sex exploitation scandals revealed in Rotherham and Telford, which involved taxi drivers.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said:

“Everyone deserves to feel safe when using a taxi or private hire vehicle and we’re aware of concerns around licensing.

“There are safeguarding procedures in place and all drivers must undergo enhanced DBS checks, but we are carefully considering the options available to improve safety and accessibility in the sector.”