Taxi Driver Online

I'm sure the likes of these articles are interesting enough if you haven't read zillions of them before...

And not sure I really understand either of the points made by the senior LO about the licensing process


Dozens of Buckinghamshire taxi drivers stripped of licences

https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/peop ... es-5398217

Dozens of Buckinghamshire taxi drivers have been stripped of their licences for sex and drug crimes and driving offences.

A total of 40 cabbies had their licences revoked between October 1, 2024, and September 30, newly published figures show.

The most common reasons for revocation included motoring offences such as using a mobile phone while driving, speeding, drink or drug driving, and driving without insurance.

Others lost their licences for unacceptable or abusive behaviour, including rudeness towards passengers, aggressive driving, and even assaults.

A number of drivers were arrested or charged with serious crimes, including sexual assaults, violent offences, and drug-related activity, while several were found to have breached licensing conditions by failing to report arrests or convictions, allowing unlicensed individuals to drive licensed vehicles, or providing false information to the council.

Senior licensing officer Joanne Bowles explained: “During the reporting period, the licensing service approved 1,095 applications for hackney carriage and private hire driver licences, reflecting a 0.5 per cent decrease compared to the 1,100 approvals in the equivalent period of the previous year.

“Most of these applications, 59.6 per cent, involved licence renewals, indicating that existing drivers are increasingly submitting renewal requests before their current licences expire.

“This may be due to the automated reminder notifications sent to encourage timely submission of renewal applications.”

Meanwhile, a total of 47 applications for hackney carriage and private hire driver licences were refused, down 11 per cent from 53 refusals in the same period last year.

Most refusals involved new applicants, 79 per cent, with the main reasons being criminal behaviour, motoring offences, and dishonesty on applications.

A further 108 driver applications were rejected, representing a 28 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.

Ms Bowles said this improvement reflected the service’s efforts to simplify the application process.

She added: “Applications are declined when the applicant abandons the process and fails to complete payment within 24 hours.

“This marks a notable improvement over the same period last year and demonstrates the effectiveness of the licensing service’s efforts to streamline and clarify the application process.”

The council also granted 35 operator licence applications, down from 52 the previous year. Of these, 26, 74 per cent, were for new operators and nine were renewals.

A total of 31 applications were rejected and 14 withdrawn, mainly because applicants failed to meet licensing requirements or provide the necessary documentation.