New National Standards Proposed to Strengthen Taxi Licensing and Passenger Protection
New national standards have been proposed to ensure taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, vehicles and operators undergo consistent safety and accessibility checks across the UK. Ministers plan to update legislation to enhance protections for passengers using taxis and private hire vehicles.
Proposal Linked to Recent Audit Findings
The initiative follows Baroness Casey’s audit into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, released in June of this year. In response, the government has moved quickly to safeguard passengers and young people. Under rules debated in Parliament on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, the Transport Secretary would gain authority to set national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. These measures would ensure uniform requirements for drivers, vehicles and operators.
The standards would give passengers confidence that taxis and private hire vehicles meet strict national criteria regardless of location. An amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, tabled on 18 November 2025, would enable these new powers.
Recommendations and Government Actions
Baroness Casey’s report provided 12 recommendations, including tackling inconsistent licensing standards for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers. The amendment aims to protect passengers from individuals seeking to cause harm while maintaining the reputation of the majority of drivers described by Baroness Casey as law-abiding and providing an important public service.
Government and Industry Responses
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said the majority of taxi and private hire vehicle drivers act responsibly, but that passenger safety remains the government’s priority. She said the government is acting promptly to address concerns raised in Baroness Casey’s report and that the amendment marks the initial step toward establishing robust national minimum standards to ensure passenger confidence. The standards will undergo consultation and will focus on safety and accessibility.
The progress has been acknowledged by Baroness Casey, safety advocates and the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. Baroness Casey said most taxi drivers are law-abiding and provide a vital public service, yet long-standing weaknesses in the licensing system have made it vulnerable to exploitation by individuals seeking to sexually exploit children. She welcomed the announcement as an important first step toward implementing new, rigorous standards aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals.
Future Reform Options
The government is considering broader reforms, including issues related to out of area working. The Department for Transport will soon open a consultation on assigning responsibility for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing to all local transport authorities. This change would reduce the current number of licensing authorities from 263 to 70 to further improve consistency in standards.
Industry and Safety Group Statements
Patrick Gallagher, Chief Operating Officer at Addison Lee, said the organisation supports the government’s move to introduce national minimum standards. He said passengers expect a reliable service across the country, but the existing system affects both passenger safety and fairness for responsible operators. Gallagher said a clear legal baseline across all local authorities is necessary to maintain consistent safety standards and address operators who exploit current regulations. He added that the company looks forward to working with the government on these reforms.
Suky Bhaker, CEO of The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said the trust supports the announcement that new legislation would allow the introduction of national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. She said the trust has campaigned for decades to strengthen driver safety checks and close loopholes that allow drivers with convictions for violent and sexual offences to be knowingly licensed.