Transport for London’s (TfL) Taxi and Private Hire Compliance Officers have been given sweeping new powers to carry out roadside stops without an accompanying police presence.
TfL Taxi and Private Hire Compliance Officers previously undertook roadside inspections and checks in conjunction with the Met Police because they lacked the legal authority to demand vehicles to pull over. However, under the new powers, Taxi and Private Hire Compliance Officers have been granted new powers by the Metropolitan Police to carry out road stops without police presence for the first time.
This means that for the first time compliance officers will have the powers to pull a driver off the road and stop them driving if they’re breaching their licence.
With the enhanced powers, six or more TPH Compliance Officers can cordon off a ‘stop’ area to pull over a vehicle and undertake safety checks. Stops are carried out as quickly as possible so if there are any passengers on board, they are not held up unnecessarily according to the TfL.
Of particular importance is the fact that it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act if a driver a fails to stop when directed by a CSAS-accredited officer (Community Safety and Accreditation Scheme), which may lead to a criminal conviction and TPH licensing action being taken including revoking licences.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“The safety of Londoners is my number-one priority, and with the growth of the private hire industry in London it is essential we give our compliance officers real powers to clamp down on illegal activity, and take action against unsafe and unlicensed vehicles. The majority of taxi and private hire drivers provide a good and safe service for Londoners, but drivers who haven’t got a valid licence or are breaching the terms of their licence shouldn’t be on London’s streets.
“Having increased the number of compliance officers across London last year, I’m delighted they will now have the powers to pull over vehicles and take action against drivers breaking the rules and putting the safety of Londoners at risk.”
Steve Burton, TfL’s Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: “Our Compliance Officers are at the forefront of combatting unsafe and unlicensed taxi and private hire drivers, who not only pose a serious risk to passenger safety, but undermine licensed, law abiding drivers. These new powers will allow officers to stop and check vehicles without the police present, which will significantly increase levels of enforcement so we can robustly deal with dangerous drivers and vehicles.”
IF YOU ARE FACING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR TfL LICENCE AS A RESULT OF THE NEW TfL POWERS GIVE US A CALL: 020 7060 1775 or contact us for a free initial case assessment.
