New guidance strengthens information‑sharing between police and taxi and PHV licensing authorities

A new government guidance document sets out clearer expectations and practical steps for how police forces and local taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing authorities should share information to protect the public, improve licensing decisions and tackle unsafe drivers.

The guidance covers:

• Purpose: The guidance explains why timely, proportionate information‑sharing is vital for safeguarding passengers and communities, supporting licensing decisions, and preventing unsuitable drivers from operating taxis and PHVs.
• Scope: It covers routine and reactive flows of information, the types of data that are particularly relevant to licensing (for example, criminal convictions, safeguarding concerns, intelligence about offending or behaviour, and ongoing investigations), and the roles and responsibilities of each organisation when sharing or receiving information.
• Legal and privacy framework: The guidance sets out the lawful bases for sharing, emphasising data protection compliance, necessity and proportionality, and the importance of clear local agreements and record keeping.
• Practical measures: Recommended actions include establishing single points of contact, agreed referral routes, regular local liaison meetings, secure means of transferring information, and training for staff in both police and licensing teams so they can recognise and act on relevant intelligence.
• Risk‑based approach: Licensing decisions should be informed by graded, contextualised information that allows authorities to assess risk rather than relying on blanket restrictions or delays to information exchange.
• Safeguarding focus: The document highlights how effective sharing supports victim and public safety—particularly where drivers may pose a risk because of criminal behaviour, safeguarding concerns or non‑accidental harm.

Co‑authored with the Institute of Licensing

The guidance was developed jointly with the Institute of Licensing, bringing together operational policing knowledge and licensing sector expertise to produce practical, implementable advice. That partnership underlines a consensus across policing and licensing professions that improved collaboration, supported by clear national guidance, will help local areas make quicker, better informed licensing decisions while respecting legal safeguards.

Expected local impact

• Faster identification of high‑risk drivers, enabling licensing authorities to take proportionate action such as targeted checks, interim suspensions or referral to enhanced vetting.
• Better protected passengers and vulnerable road users through earlier intervention where concerns are identified.
• Fewer delays and disputes over information requests because roles, lawful bases and secure channels are clarified.
• Stronger local relationships between police and licensing teams, reducing duplication and improving intelligence quality.

Implementation and next steps

Local police forces and licensing authorities are encouraged to review their existing information‑sharing arrangements against the guidance, update local protocols where needed, agree named contacts and train staff on the document’s expectations. The collaborative authorship with the Institute of Licensing signals that there will be sector support for adoption and for sharing examples of good practice between areas.