FOI Request - Taxi Licensing

Request 101003983107

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025.

1. Licensed drivers

a) The total number of licensed:
b)Taxi (hackney carriage) drivers
c) Private hire drivers.

2. Applications and licensing decisions - The number of driver licence applications:

a) Received
b) Granted
c) Refused

3. Suspensions and revocations - The number of driver licences:

a) Suspended
b) Revoked
c) Where recorded, please indicate how many were related to:

i. Sexual offences
ii. Violent offences

4. Safeguarding and adverse information decisions - For the purposes of this request, “adverse information” includes: criminal convictions, police intelligence, safeguarding referrals and any other information considered relevant to the “fit and proper person” assessment

a) Please provide the number of cases where a taxi or private hire driver licence was granted, or renewed, where adverse information was known to the authority at the time of the decision.
b) Where possible, please also indicate:
How many of these cases involved sexual or violent offences (convicted or otherwise, where recorded)
c) If exact categorisation is not held, please provide any internal category used to record such decisions.

5. Background checks and safeguarding systems

Please confirm:

a) Whether your authority uses the NR3 register when assessing applicants (Yes/No)

b) Whether your authority subscribes to the DBS Update Service for ongoing monitoring (Yes/No)

c) How frequently enhanced DBS checks are required for licensed drivers:

i. At application only
ii. At renewal
iii. Other (please specify)

6. Private hire operators (including app-based services)

a) The number of licensed private hire operators under your authority, including app-based booking platforms such as Uber, Bolt or similar services where licensed locally.

b) Where available, please provide:

i. Number of operator licences granted
ii. Refused
iii. Suspended or revoked
iv. Any enforcement action taken against operators