New rules on taxi cabs could protect Telford youngsters, councillor says
New rules planned to crack down on rogue minicab drivers could help protect young people in Telford, a councillor has said.
The Department for Transport is planning to stop taxi drivers from working away from the area in which they hold a licence, as well as establishing a database of drivers whose licences have been refused or revoked.
The changes could be brought in after child sexual exploitation scandals in towns like Telford, Rochdale and Rotherham.
Councillor Nicola Lowery, who represents the Ironbridge Gorge on Telford & Wrekin Council, said the move would be a massive improvement in the borough, where drivers from areas with less stringent checks are still able to operate.
“I am absolutely delighted to hear of the Government’s decision to introduce legislation that will set national standards on passenger safety and prevent drivers from working away from the area where they hold a taxi driver licence," she said.
"Telford & Wrekin Council has tried to ensure the process of applying for taxi licences is robust and introduced a number of checks and tests. However, there is nothing currently preventing taxi drivers from operating in our borough that are licensed from other areas which is meaning they may not have completed the standards we expect from our taxi drivers in Telford & Wrekin.
"Given the concerns relating to how taxi licenses are managed as part of the national reviews into child sexual exploitation it is absolutely vital that this legislation is introduced to ensure we can control who is operating in our Borough and do all possible to ensure passenger safety to protect our residents and communities."
It follows the publication of a government-backed review into the industry.
The report warned that existing laws governing the industry were “inconsistent, ineffective and incompatible with the protection of vulnerable people and must not be allowed to continue."
