More frequent CSE training and vehicle age limit for taxi drivers in South Staffordshire

The role of taxi drivers in safeguarding vulnerable children has become more recognised in recent years in the wake of grooming incidents elsewhere in the country.

Currently in South Staffordshire drivers must undertake CSE (child sexual exploitation) training and assessment when first applying for their Hackney Carriage or private hire licence. But as part of proposed changes to the authority’s taxi and private hire licensing policy this training would be also be required when a licence is renewed.

There are also new standards covering criminal record (DBS) checks, South Staffordshire Council’s licensing and regulatory committee heard at its latest meeting.

A report to the committee said: “The new standards advise that all drivers should undergo an enhanced DBS check at least every six months. Currently, drivers are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check every three years in line with the renewal of their driver licence.

“Most vehicle licence holders are driver licence holders, as the vehicles cannot be driven without a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver Licence. However, the standards recommend conducting annual basic DBS checks on all vehicle licence holders. This will have implications for vehicle leasing and accident management companies, who own licensed drivers but do not drive nor undertake licensed work themselves.

Major

“It is proposed that vehicle licence holders who do not have a driver licence are required to provide a basic DBS certificate to Licensing Services every 12 months. Where the licence holder is a limited company, all the directors would be required to undergo a basic check every 12 months and if a new director joined, a new basic DBS certificate would need to be provided. This would be included on the vehicle licence conditions.”

The council’s latest taxi and private hire licensing policy, which would cover the 2021-24 period, is set to go out to public consultation so that residents, members of the trade and other interested parties can have their say.

An upper age limit for vehicles is being proposed of 12 years – and any vehicle over 10 years old would not be granted a licence.

Environmental health and licensing manager John Gerring told the committee meeting that older vehicles were more likely to experience issues.

“By bringing in the limit they will have two years in which to replace that vehicle. That will be a major change for us,” he added.

“There will be an extensive period of consultation and we will be consulting with operators, drivers and vehicle owners. I would imagine we will go out to consultation in early November for a minimum period of eight weeks.”

But Councillor Mike Lawrence said: “Getting rid of vehicles when they are 10 or 12 years old is probably going to be very contentious.”