🟥 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐓𝐟𝐋𝐓𝐏𝐇 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

In a recent FOI request it was discovered that approximately 22,000 PHD are licensed by the Black Country council, but only 1200 actually live there. 

So not only have we got 106115 private hire drivers currently licensed by TfLTPH (expanding by approx 400 every week), we also have the potential of thousands of vehicles licensed by Wolverhampton council, coming into London to find work. 

This is not just a London problem. It’s reported these PH vehicles licensed in Wolverhampton, have also been spotted regularly in Liverpool. 

TfLTPH appear to be turning a blind eye and doing absolutely nothing about this illegality…they seem to be more concerned with Licensed Taxi drivers that are using unauthorised hand held credit card units, in the front of their Taxis to clear payments from passengers. 

TfLTPH have been notified numerous times of the issue, but have made no reply to Tweets or emails and have so far made no statement on their website or social media. 

We’ve lost our road space, we’ve seen our work given en masse to PH apps and now we are seeing droves of PH vehicles registered outside of London, working in our city. 

𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓:

We’ve all known for years now that TfLTPH are really not up to the job of regulating the best Taxi service in the world. The job they are highly paid to do. 

Is it now time for the whole of our trade’s representative orgs and Unions, to be calling for the job of regulating Taxis and Private Hire in London to be taken away from TfL and given to a body who can actually do the job properly and efficiently?