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25 January 2012 11:28
local news
Council wins battle for taxi driver enhanced CRB checks
Councillors and licensing and legal officials at City Hall, Lincoln are celebrating the withdrawal of a policy forbidding enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks on taxi and private hire drivers.
The City of Lincoln Council was one of just a handful of local authorities who spoke out against the guidance, maintaining the stance that enhanced CRB checks were needed to ensure the safety of the public when using Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.
A standard check reveals only a record of previous criminal convictions, cautions and warnings, whereas an enhanced check can give any relevant information that local police and other agencies may hold on an individual, such as whether they are prevented from working with children or vulnerable adults.
Introduced in March 2011, the Home Office guidance stated that only standard checks could be used as evidence when deciding whether or not an individual was ‘fit and proper’ to be granted a licence. This will be revoked, with councils now able to carry out enhanced checks once again.
The City Council lobbied Parliament, the CRB and the Local Government Associated to bring about the change in guidance. The council was challenged on its approach, but stood firm to protect the public, and felt that it was justified in taking that stance – this has now been proven by the government’s decision to change the guidance.
Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, said: “The vast majority of those who want to hold taxi licences are honest people who provide a valuable service and keep people safe. However, as the licensing authority, we are responsible for ensuring the safety of people using licensed vehicles and it is recognised that there could be a small number of people not suitable to hold licences. Enhanced checks reveal relevant information, which helps our Licensing Committee to make well-informed decisions on whether or not to give licences to potential drivers.
“The council was brave to stand against the guidance. I am very pleased that, with added pressure from groups such as the Local Government Association and Transport for London, the government has resolved that the guidance should be removed, and we can continue with enhanced CRB checks without the risk of a legal challenge.”
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