Taxi Driver Online

Crawley again

But this time it's an official council press release, as opposed to the unions huffing and puffing about illegality etc.

And in that regard, maybe they should finally take note that there's absolutely nothing in here to suggest there's anything illegal in cross-border working per se.

But, of course, like in Portsmouth the other day, pretty unlikely this will impact what's currently happening at Westminster.

To that extent it's more huffing and puffing, but by the council rather than unions


Crawley Borough Council calls for urgent national action on cross border taxi licensing to protect public safety

https://crawley.gov.uk/council-informat ... lic-safety

Published: 26 March 2026

Crawley Borough Council has formally raised serious concerns about the growing issue of ‘cross‑border hiring’, where taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers licensed in one area operate almost entirely in another, following a motion passed at the Full Council meeting on 25 March. Councillors warn that loopholes in the Deregulation Act 2015 are enabling some drivers and operators to sidestep the higher safety and training standards set locally.

The council highlighted evidence, including findings from the Casey Review, showing that cross‑border hiring undermines the ability of local authorities to enforce consistent standards, putting public safety at risk and creating an unbalanced marketplace for compliant local drivers.

The motion agreed by councillors states that passenger safety should never depend on a postcode, that local authorities are best placed to regulate the vehicles operating within their boundaries and that urgent legislative reform is needed to ensure taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in the areas where they predominantly operate. It maintains that all passengers deserve high, consistent safety standards and that Crawley’s taxi trade, which is an essential part of both the local transport network and the local economy, must not be disadvantaged by regulatory loopholes.

To address these concerns, the council has resolved to call on the government to restore previously removed licensing requirements and implement key reforms, including:

1 - national statutory mandatory minimum standards for driver checks, safeguarding, vehicle safety and operator conduct, with flexibility for councils like Crawley to set higher standards

2 - a start or finish rule, ensuring every PHV journey begins or ends in the area where the driver is licensed (with clear exceptions, such as NHS or school transport)

3 - further cross‑border enforcement powers for local authorities

4 - stronger sanctions for repeated breaches or unlawful operating practices

5 - retention of enforcement revenue by the authority carrying out checks to support effective compliance

This council has already lobbied central government on this matter on two separate occasions. Following the motion being agreed at Full Council, the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet member for Public Protection will once again write to the Secretary of State for Transport, urging the government to act on the Casey Review’s recommendations and implement these reforms without delay.

Passenger safety must always come first. Crawley sets high standards for our taxi and private hire drivers because our residents deserve the very best. But these efforts are undermined when drivers licensed elsewhere, often to much lower standards, can work here without proper oversight.

Councillor Michael Jones

Leader

Crawley Borough Council

The government must act swiftly to close these loopholes and restore fairness. Our local drivers are committed professionals who follow the rules, invest in their vehicles and training and help keep Crawley moving. They deserve a level playing field, and our residents deserve the confidence that every vehicle operating in our town meets robust safety standards.

Councillor Yasmin Khan

Cabinet Member for Public Protection

Crawley Borough Council

They can call all they want but the inertially challenged immoral mendacious cretins that govern the uk won't do anything about it unless someone offers them a few million quid towards winning the next election.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Well, some of us were hoping the millions the unions give to the Labour Party would have done what you suggest above.

But clearly those millions are not sufficient enough.

_________________
IDFIMH

This is a solid enough case, but no doubt a bit too good v evil - local drivers beyond reproach, while cross-border drivers beyond the pale - the truth probably somewhere inbetween.

And once again puts to bed the barrage of stuff from Unite claiming that it was all fundamentally illegal. When it wasn't. (And this guy should know better than most, since he's a qualified solicitor and ex-licensing chair.)

Although as befits a politician, he does his own bit of politicking - it was all the fault of the big, bad Tories, while Labour were vehemently opposed, and are now doing their best to clear up the mess.

Er, which party controlling which council is most responsible for cross-border working in England - you know, the one from you-know-where?

Fortunately for him, the cross-border problem in Crawley/Gatwick is TfL-badged drivers. And, to be fair to Sir Sadiq Khan (for a change!), I don't really think the cross-border problem can be laid at his door...


Crawley Borough Council Leader: Cross border taxi loophole must be closed for public's protection

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/your-wo ... on-6531191

Speaking as a former Chair of Licensing, Crawley Borough Council has always prided ourselves on having high standards and we enforced them! Every taxi driver without exception operating in the Borough had to have a licence with the council and completed a rigorous vetting process, including criminal records and medical history checks, so we knew exactly who they were and what they were driving. And we could call them in if we needed to, for any reason.

But then in 2015 the Deregulation Act was introduced and drove a coach and horses through those arrangements, allowing private hire drivers to operate anywhere in the country. We warned the then Tory Government what they were doing, but were completely ignored.

We believed, rightly as it turned out, there was the possibility of pushing licensing authorities elsewhere towards a position of competing for such business with less regard to public safety matters.

At the recent Full Council I moved a motion with Cabinet Member for Public Protection Yasmin Khan on addressing these unsatisfactory cross border taxi rules.

Our taxi standards that we set as a council matter because it is how we can satisfy ourselves that our taxi drivers are meeting an acceptable standard of service and safety. That they are fit and proper to be driving a taxi and your trusted loved ones alone.

It was unfair on our local taxi drivers licensed with us, too. Unless we wanted a race to the bottom here at this council, which we have always resisted, we expect our local taxi drivers to meet our high standards, yet they see other areas apparently where different rules applied. Different knowledge requirements of the areas they serve, the standard and age of their cars, emissions.

How is it acceptable that some local authorities are permitted to licence very large numbers of taxis that could be registered there but operating here? How easy is that for a local resident who wants to make a complaint? Indeed, how easy is it for these far away councils to enforce?

Eleven years on, we had the Uber controversy at Gatwick Airport, where examples of cross border behaviour have been most visible. Complaints about drivers’ behaviour and accusations of touting for business, but – throughout - our own licensing officers were constrained in what they could do, even though it was taking place in our Borough – because whether the Uber drivers were at fault or not, they’re all licenced by Transport for London.

The Casey report highlighted issues of safeguarding and taxis, but this wasn’t news either. Events over a decade ago in Rotherham had already demonstrated deregulation shouldn’t have reduced oversight.

The reason the Labour Group put this forward was all about upholding public safety, one of this council’s primary responsibilities. Our letter to the Government, supported by a vote of all councillors, supports minimum national standards and calls for the requirement to be reinstated that all private hire taxis and their operators must be licenced in the local authority area that the journey either starts or finishes in.

This is absolutely the right time to try again on this important subject. The Government’s consultation just finished at the end of March – our letter adds our voices calling for an end to the lack of regulation that prevents our council officers enforcing the standards we want in our area.

By Michael Jones, Leader of Crawley Borough Council