Obviously there's an overlap here with other recent threads, but this one's at least slightly different. The Wolverhampton boilerplate is nothing new, though
Taxi licensing 'loophole' at Wolverhampton Council 'putting Birmingham children in danger'https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... l-31895860The bonanza of out of area licences issued by Wolverhampton Council has been spotlighted in the grooming gangs audit by Baroness CaseyBirmingham councillors have spoken out to condemn the apparently 'lax' taxi licensing regime that they say has operated for years in neighbouring Wolverhampton, undermining their efforts to tighten up safeguarding for young passengers.
They have backed a recommendation to tighten loopholes and outlaw getting licences 'out of area' as part of the recommendations of the Casey grooming gangs audit.
Cllr Gareth Moore, Cons, Erdington, claimed at a full council meeting that drivers set to be rejected for a licence in Birmingham had blatantly claimed they would just go to Wolverhampton 'because they will give me one and I won't have to do half the things you are expecting me to do.'
"There's this real problem where we as a council strive to have high standards in terms of our licensed taxi drivers but we are repeatedly undermined by other councils quite happily having a race to the bottom, who are willing to let people who should not be licensed to have one."
His comments came in a full council debate focussed on the national inquiry now ordered into child grooming gangs following the findings of a rapid review by Baroness Louise Casey.
She found that taxis were implicated in several grooming cases as 'a way children can be at risk of sexual exploitation, both as a potential way for perpetrators to meet their victims, as well as a means of trafficking victims to different locations and introducing them to other perpetrators.'
She also said: "Several areas we visited which were imposing rigorous standards were left frustrated by seeing taxi drivers freely operating in their areas having been licensed by other authorities who were perceived to operate less rigorous processes."
Loopholes must now be closed and stricter rules applied, she has recommended.
Wolverhampton has long been spotlighted as an outlier, issuing thousands of licences a year to people with no local connections who then operate hundreds of miles away. It was one of the first councils to provide an online application service, and that appears to have opened the floodgates.
In a five month period last year, 2024, Wolverhampton issued 8,563 new licences while Birmingham issued just 277.
Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham has previously called on the Government to end the 'broken' practice.
He said it was "unacceptable" and a risk to public safety that almost half of private hires vehicles operating in his region were licensed elsewhere, with more than a third registered in Wolverhampton.
The practice has been condemned as a money spinner designed to put money into the council's own coffers to improve local services with no regard for the impact elsewhere.
The council says it performs well because of the speed of its turnaround of applications and lower fees.
Cllr Moore told the full council meeting: "We want the very best for citizens of Birmingham and visitors to know they can get in a taxi and be safe, particularly if you are a vulnerable person.
"The vast majority of taxi drivers, of course, are fair and responsible people and do a great job of service to the city but quite clearly, there is a loophole that needs to be shut immediately."
Cllr Adam Higgs, Cons, Highters Heath, on the council's licensing committee since 2018, said there had been several discussions expressing concern that a stringent approach to public safety risks was 'being undermined by local authorities with less stringent standards'.
The Casey report says it is unacceptable that local areas are unable to oversee and account for the taxis on their streets, and we have long agreed, he said.
In a full statement, Wolverhampton Council said it welcomed any new measures from Government that would help tighten safeguarding.
The council defended its record on taxi licensing and said safeguarding was its number one priority. It said it was the only local authority which checks drivers on the Update Service DBS status every day, and was the first to offer driver licence checks by smartphone so passengers can verify their driver’s licence status and identity them before they enter the vehicle.
They also say they were the first to implement the government’s statutory standards and best practice guidance.
A spokesperson added: “It is illegal for the council to refuse applicants a taxi licence on the basis of where they live. Under the current law, applicants are able to apply to any licensing authority for a licence.
“It is also illegal for licensing authorities to impose a limit on the number of private hire licences they issue."
They said any fees income was ringfenced for 'related activities'.
“Our early adoption of digital technology has allowed us to offer a simple and efficient online application procedure, with the requirement that drivers attend in person for training and strict assessment before an application can be processed," the statement continues.
“We take enforcement responsibilities seriously and our officers are out across the country, every Friday and Saturday night, working to protect the public.
"The council has three teams of compliance officers, one based in Wolverhampton, another in the East Midlands and another in the North of England.
The council's safeguarding statement and requirements for drivers
can be found here...the photos on the Birmingham Mail's website are certainly on point, though
https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/ar ... _wolve.jpghttps://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/ar ... cabbie.png
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