A Rise in Compliance Officers

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has announced that the number of compliance officers in London will be quadrupled in a bid to crack down on illegal taxi and minicab activity.

Transport for London (TFL) will look to employ an extra 250 compliance officers by September 2017. To support the current 82 officers that TFL already employ.

Khan advised that it would “drive up standards… and help our world famous cabbies continue to thrive.”

The fully uniformed officers will be deployed across London to ensure that can drivers hold the correct insurance and documentation along with checking that vehicles are legal and road safe.

In addition they will also look to take part in operations run by other bodies to ensure wider regulations are being met by the drivers.

The BBC website posted the following figures that show between May and July TFL, Scotland yard and Westminster City Council reported;

  • 448 private hire drivers reported for not having a badge
  • 5116 private hire drivers reported for not wearing their badge
  • 65 private hire drivers reported for plying for hire offences
  • 1265 private hire drivers reported for parking on taxi ranks

The general secretary, Steve McNamara of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) stated that drivers would welcome the move and that it is “fantastic news for Londoners and the black cab trade”

Steve Wright who is chairman of the Licensed Private Hire Car Association claims that many of those illegally touting for business did not work within the industry and he went on to say: Many of these people simply don’t work in the industry at all or they’re partly in the industry, they’re not fully in the industry, and for that reason we shouldn’t have to pick up all the cost”.

Steve Garelick, branch secretary of the Professional Drivers branch of the GMB union added his comments: “Whilst we broadly accept the need for improved compliance and enforcement for London and its many visitors we want to assure the travelling public that the majority of journeys are safe.

“Protection against illegality is paramount. We are concerned however that the costs borne by operators will be passed on to drivers creating further hardship.”

TFL earlier this year rejected a proposal put forward to stop “e-hailing” firms from showing customers where nearby vehicles were.

Khans announcement was backed by Tom Elvidge, general manager for Uber London who went on to advise that “It is important that people only use a properly booked car from a licensed private hire operator”