London TravelWatch has welcomed the Government’s new proposals to ensure the safety of vulnerable people by allowing taxi licensing authorities to apply for enhanced vetting checks for all their taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch Chair said: "Black cab and mini-cab drivers are trusted by the public and we want that to continue to be the case. London TravelWatch has therefore campaigned for some time to ensure that proper and regular checks are made on anyone who drives a cab for hire."

The Government’s Protection of Freedoms Bill includes plans to:

·         Make all taxi and private hire vehicle drivers eligible for enhanced criminal records checks; and

·         Enable licensing authorities to check whether any applicant for a taxi licence is barred from work with children or vulnerable adults.

Sharon Grant continued: "We were most concerned last year by the suggestion that CRB checks for taxi drivers were to be relaxed - and we are delighted that the Home Office has recanted today on this.  We would also take this opportunity to remind people that they should never use unbooked cabs, where of course no such checks can be made. "

“Using a booked cab ensures that a mini-cab office knows you are travelling in one of their cars Passengers are advised to lag down a black cab or book a mini-cab through TfL’s Cabwise scheme by texting CAB to 60835.”

For more information, please contact the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953 or 07734 055494

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