• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

London’s Taxi and Private Hire compliance officers gain extra powers to stop and inspect cabs

May 17, 2018 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Transport for London’s Taxi and Private Hire compliance officers have been granted powers to carry out road stops without a police presence and check whether drivers have valid insurance, verify their licence and inspect the vehicle for any defects.

In addition, officers will have the power to stop drivers working if they’re breaching their license.

TfL says the powers, conferred on officers by the Metropolitan Police, will make it easier to take enforcement action against taxi and private hire drivers who flout the rules.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The majority of taxi and private hire drivers provide a good and safe service for Londoners, but drivers who haven’t got a valid licence or are breaching the terms of their licence shouldn’t be on London’s streets.”

“Having increased the number of compliance officers across London last year, I’m delighted they will now have the powers to pull over vehicles and take action against drivers breaking the rules and putting the safety of Londoners at risk.”

Steve Burton, TfL’s Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, added: “These new powers will allow officers to stop and check vehicles without the police present, which will significantly increase levels of enforcement so we can robustly deal with dangerous drivers and vehicles.”

Today’s announcement has been welcomed by Caroline Pidgeon AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, who pointed out the committee called for “compliance officers to have stronger powers, including the ability to charge higher fines for touting and vehicle seizure powers” back in 2014.

AM Pidgeon added: “There has also been confusion about the respective powers of the Met police and TfL compliance officers to tackle touting, so this will help to clarify the issue.
 
“However, more needs to be done. Further measures are needed to protect London’s passengers, including making it easier for them to identify whether a minicab is licensed.
 
“For this reason, the Transport Committee will begin another investigation into the Taxi and Private Hire industry later in the year.”
  

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.