New rules to help passengers feel even safer when they catch a taxi in Worcester are being considered – and city residents are urged to have their say on the plans.
The City Council is proposing to launch a range of changes to taxi policies, including making it compulsory for drivers to do safeguarding training and to be registered with the national Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Customers, residents and taxi drivers are all being asked to give their views on the proposed new rules.
Councillor Allah Ditta, Chair of Worcester City Council's Licensing and Environmental Health Committee, said: "The last 20 months have been difficult for our city's taxi drivers and I want to thank them for continuing to operate through such a challenging time. These new rules are good news for them and their customers, helping passengers to feel safe and helping drivers to report their concerns if they spot vulnerable people who might be at risk of exploitation.
"This is an important consultation which we are contacting operators and the trade about directly, and I hope as many residents and passengers as possible will also give us their views"
The City Council has drawn up the proposed changes to its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy in response to new national guidance published by the Government.
Introducing DBS checks for drivers would make it easier to stop criminals applying for a taxi licence, while the proposed mandatory safeguarding training would ensure drivers know how to report concerns about vulnerable people who they come into contact with through their work.
The consultation on the proposed new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy is open until 7 January 2022.
