Baroness Pidgeon Demands Wider PHV Licensing Changes
Baroness Caroline Pidgeon has welcomed new government plans to improve taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) enforcement rules. These plans mainly target problems linked to cross-border working.
The Liberal Democrat peer praised amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. She said the changes represent progress after years of regulatory problems. The amendments aim to close loopholes linked to cross-border taxi and PHV operations.
Currently, local enforcement officers face difficulties when dealing with drivers licensed by different authorities. These limitations have raised serious concerns about passenger safety and weak enforcement powers. Under the new rules, enforcement officers can act against drivers, vehicles, or operators with safety concerns.
They can suspend licences immediately for up to 48 hours when concerns arise, regardless of which council issued the licence originally. Afterwards, the original licensing authority must investigate the situation and decide whether further action is necessary. Possible actions include extending suspensions or revoking licences entirely in serious cases.
Pidgeon believes the new powers will strengthen safeguarding and improve enforcement responses nationally. She also believes councils can respond faster when serious complaints or concerns emerge.
Cross-border working has recently become a major issue throughout the taxi and PHV industry. Many drivers receive licences in one area but mainly work elsewhere. Sometimes drivers operate far away from the council responsible for regulating them. Officers often struggle to monitor drivers properly or investigate complaints effectively under current rules. The reforms would let officers act immediately against unsafe drivers or operators.
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