There have been some significant criminal cases in recent years involving taxi drivers. It prompted us to conduct some research into the crimes and offences committed by drivers.
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How We Conducted Our Research
There has been a multitude of taxi drivers across the UK who have recently been convicted for criminal offences including sexual assault, drink-driving, possession of drugs, threats to kill and rape.
The news has sparked an influx of inquiries to LegalExpert about how to pursue legal action if you have been the victim of a crime in a taxi or at the hands of a taxi driver.
As a taxi passenger, there is a level of safety and security expected to be upheld – particularly when travelling alone or in vulnerable circumstances.
However, the laws and guidelines by which taxi driver licences are issued in the UK have long been shrouded in controversy with many advocating for tighter regulations around licensing.
The government issued ‘Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards’ in 2020 for the first time, in an effort to safeguard the most vulnerable in society.
In most UK areas, licences for taxis and private hire vehicles – or minicabs – are issued by unitary, borough or district councils. In London, the system is managed by Transport for London.
The Department for Transport has issued guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing since 2006, to “assist local authorities that have responsibility for the regulation of the taxi and private hire vehicle trades.”
But why then are criminals slipping through the net? The vulnerability of a taxi passenger and the ‘privacy’ of a taxi vehicle can make them prime settings for more sinister crimes such as rape of sexual assaults to take place.
In 2020 the government issued, for the first time, Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards to safeguard the most vulnerable in society.
The latest update published in November 2020 says: “There is evidence to support the view that taxis and private hire vehicles (PHV) are a high-risk environment.
“In terms of risks to passengers, this can be seen in abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults facilitated and in some cases perpetrated by the trade and the number of sexual crimes reported which involve taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.
“Links between the trade and child sexual abuse and exploitation have been established in many areas and other investigations continue.”
LegalExpert set out to investigate the level of criminality among the UKs city taxi drivers to gain an understanding of the current landscape and gauge whether the 2020 safeguarding standards have impacted taxi driver crime levels and subsequently, passenger safety.
We sent out Freedom of Information requests to the 36 Metropolitan Councils in England asking for the number of taxi drivers (those that hold a licence issued UK Metropolitan Councils) who have been arrested, convicted or issued with a caution for both non-sexual and sexual offences.
See your area’s results below.
Results
Coventry City Council
Non-Sexual Offences
6 April 2021 – 5 April 2022
| Offence | Police Action | Number |
| Child Neglect | Arrested | 1 |
| Assault ABH | Arrested – victim withdrawn support | 1 |
| Drink Driving | DVLA licence suspended | 2 |
| Assault, Threats to Kill | NFA | 1 |
| Possession with intent to supply cannabis
£375k at Belfast |
One served six months. Unknown about other driver | 2 |
6 April 2022 – 5 April 2022
| Offence | Police Action | Number |
| Assault | NFA as Victim stated lied to the Police | 1 |
| Drink Driving & assault on two Police officers | DVLA licence suspended | 1 |
| Possession with intent to supply cocaine and of an offensive weapon | Unknown | 1 |
| Failure to display
Private Hire Vehicle plate |
Taxi Licensing Office Caution | 7 (not Coventry licensed drivers) |
| Failure to display
Private Hire Vehicle plate |
Taxi Licensing Office Conviction | 2 (not Coventry licensed drivers) |
6 April 2023 – 5 April 2024
| Offence | Police Action | Number |
| Assault GBH | Arrested – unknown | 1 |
| Assault GBH & ABH | Arrested – unknown | 2 |
| Failure to display
Private Hire Vehicle Plate |
Taxi Licensing Office
Caution |
20 (not Coventry
licensed drivers) |
| Failure to display
Private Hire Vehicle Plate |
Taxi Licensing Office
Conviction |
1 (not Coventry
licensed drivers) |
Sexual Offences
6 April 2021 – 5 April 2022
| Offence | Police Action | Number |
| Rape
Rape |
Sentenced 8 yrs 4 mths
Arrester |
1
1 |
6 April 2022 – 5 April 2022
| Offence | Police Action | Number |
| Assault | NFA as Victim stated lied to the Police | 1 |
| Take/Distribute child
sexual photographs |
Unknown | 1 |
| Historic sexual abuse 1980s | Unknown With niece aged 7-11 years old | 1 |
| Sexual assault | On bail | 1 |
6 April 2023 – 5 April 2024
None.
Sandwell
Non-sexual offences
| Description | April 21 – Mar 22 | Apr 22 – Mar 23 | Apr 23 – Mar 24 |
| Arrest | 1. Threats to kill and Assault
2. Assault 3. Assault |
1. Drink Driving 2. Drink Driving 3. Assault
4. Drugs |
1. Assault
2. Assault |
| Caution | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Conviction | 0 | 1. Breach of
Molestation Order |
0 |
| Total for that
year |
3 | 5 | 2 |
Sexual Offence
| Description | April 21 – Mar 22 | Apr 22 – Mar 23 | Apr 23 – Mar 24 |
| Arrest | 1. Rape | 1. Sexual
Assault 2. Rape |
1. Sexual
Assault 2. Sexual Assault 3. Rape 4. Indecent Images |
| Caution | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Conviction
Total for that year |
0
1 |
0
2 |
0
4 |
Metropolitan Police
A total of 79 rape offences were connceted with London taxi drivers last year alone, according to the Met Police – a 41% increase on previous years.
A total of 179 sexual offences by private hire and taxi drivers in London were recorded by police last year.
This includes 79 rapes and 100 other sexual offences, which include assault.
The highest number of these sexual offences took place in November 2022 and more offences were shown to have taken place between 5-6pm than at any other time of day.
What’s more, figures could be higher because only data where the occupation of the sexual offender was recorded by police have been counted.
This includes; taxi-driver, mini-cab driver and chauffeur but there may have been instances where the occupation of the person committing the sexual offence was not included – however criminal processes would continue as usual.
