Fairly bog standard cross-border piece, but can't recall any claiming that drivers are wearing criminal tags
Sounds far-fetched, but you never know...
Taxi driver ban call - amid claims some are tagged and others asleep at ranks
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/u ... d-32469484There have been concerns over the standard of out-of-town taxis operating in TamworthTaxi drivers should be banned from working outside the area covered by their licence - amid reports of cabbies wearing criminal tags and falling asleep at ranks.
Tamworth Council is now set to write to the Government expressing its concerns and demanding regulatory change in a move it said would protect passengers.
At present, licensed cab drivers can work throughout England and Wales without being confined to their licensing area. This arrangement means regulations and benchmarks can vary between different local authorities.
Tamworth councillor Richard Kingstone told a council meeting: "We need to make sure taxis are safe and the people driving them are indeed the people driving them and that they are fit and proper persons. Over the course of the past two to three years taxi drivers have been sending me notes and images of some of the out-of-town taxi drivers.
"I've lodged complaints with the necessary licensing authority that haven't been followed through. For example, photographs showing taxi drivers wearing tags issued by the court system, taxi drivers asleep in taxis while they are in taxi ranks and taxi drivers licensed outside our borough operating as hackney carriage drivers pulling into the station and picking up fares.
"If we look at the main council that is responsible for issuing taxi licenses in England it is Wolverhampton City Council, which issues between 12 to 18 per cent of all licenses issued in England. Every year that generates an income to that authority of between four to five million pounds.
"So you can understand why they are not very keen on engaging with other authorities or ceasing this confetti like issuing of taxi licenses."
He called for a uniform licensing system across England to guarantee top-notch standards or a ban on taxis not licensed by Tamworth Borough Council from operating locally. The proposal put forward to the council directed them write to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP.
Coun Natalie Statham suggested writing to the chair of the transport select committee, Ruth Cadbury MP, as the committee is conducting an inquiry into the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles.
From 2024 to 2025, City of Wolverhampton Council had a total of 49,983 licensed taxi drivers – a surge of 7,508 compared to the year before. A study by Taxi Point revealed 96 per cent of drivers sanctioned by Wolverhampton from April 2023 to March 2024 lived outside the city limits.
Wolverhampton City Council previously insisted it did not profit from issuing taxi licences and said it was unlawful for a licensing authority to reject an application based on the applicant's residence.
In contrast to Wolverhampton, where the fee is £128, Tamworth Borough Council levies £256 for a new taxi licence.
Councillors voted in favour of the call to action.
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