UK city set to compare taxi licence requirements to Wolverhampton Council following safety concerns
Portsmouth councillors are set to review how the city’s taxi and private hire licensing rules compare with Wolverhampton plated taxis following concerns about safety.
A report to the council’s licensing committee provides a comparison between the two authorities’ policies covering driver checks, vehicle standards and enforcement rules.
The issue of taxis licensed by Wolverhampton Council has raised fears in Portsmouth due to differing safety standards. The taxis are able to operate in Portsmouth due to Wolverhampton Council's cheaper and simpler application process.
The review examines the requirements placed on private hire drivers, operators and hackney carriage vehicles licensed by each council.
Under Portsmouth’s rules, drivers must have held a full driving licence for at least two years and be at least 21 years old before applying.
The council also requires enhanced DBS checks every six months and mandatory safeguarding training, including written and oral English tests.
The report notes that some requirements in Wolverhampton differ. For example, drivers there must hold a DVLA category B licence for at least 12 months, and there is no minimum age requirement.
Vehicle standards also vary between the two councils. In Portsmouth, hackney carriage vehicles must be no more than six years old when first licensed and can operate until they are 12 years old.
By contrast, Wolverhampton allows new applications only for brand new vehicles but permits renewals until vehicles are around 15 and a half years old.
Portsmouth also requires CCTV to be installed in licensed vehicles, with recordings kept for 31 days, while CCTV in Wolverhampton vehicles is voluntary.
In Portsmouth, all drivers are required to undertake a driving assessment, while in Wolverhampton this is only required for hackney carriage drivers.
The report also outlines differences in enforcement approaches and how past criminal convictions are considered when assessing whether a driver is fit and proper to hold a licence.
In late February, the council’s licensing committee met to discuss resident feedback on private hire vehicles and taxis in the city.
Cllr Emily Strudwick stated that she has refused in the past to get into Wolverhampton plated taxis, advising residents that “if it’s not Portsmouth, don’t get in it.”
Councillors will meet on March 23 to discuss the report.
