Bury Taxi and PHV Drivers Warned: DBS consent deadline or face licence suspension
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 7
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 9
Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers in Bury who fail to give consent for background checks risk immediate licence suspension, following a decision by the Licensing and Safety Committee.
The committee has agreed to give licensing officers the power to suspend Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers’ licences if drivers have not granted permission for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. This move aims to ensure all drivers are registered on the DBS update service or have provided a valid enhanced DBS certificate.
As of 21 May 2025, 120 drivers had still not provided the required consent, despite receiving multiple emails from the council. Licensing officer Mr M Bridge explained that a final opportunity will be offered. If no response is received, suspension will follow until consent is received. Reinstatement will occur immediately once the proper authorisation is provided, particularly in cases where drivers may have been abroad or unwell.
During the meeting, councillors debated whether further efforts should be made to contact non-responsive drivers. Committee Chair, Cllr Tahir Rafiq, argued that letters should be sent to home addresses in case some drivers do not regularly access email. However, Cllr Gareth Staples-Jones noted that repeated email contact had already occurred and questioned the cost to the council of sending letters by post.
Ultimately, the committee agreed to proceed with sending letters as a final reminder and backed the suspension powers for officers.
This measure falls under the Road Safety Act and seeks to prioritise public safety. The decision also reflects legal requirements under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, allowing suspension for failure to comply with reasonable licensing conditions.
