Taxi and PHV drivers could face INSTANT licence suspensions under new Devolution Bill plans to curb rogue cross-border working
- Perry Richardson
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
Proposed amendments within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill could significantly reshape how taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing is enforced across England, with a clear shift towards stronger national oversight and cross-border compliance.
At the centre of the changes is a new power allowing enforcement officers to suspend taxi and PHV licences with immediate effect where public safety is considered at risk. The bill states that an officer may suspend a driver, vehicle or operator licence if it is “necessary in the interests of public safety to temporarily suspend the licence with immediate effect”. This suspension could apply regardless of which local authority originally issued the licence.
This marks a notable departure from the current system, where licensing enforcement is largely restricted to the issuing authority. Under the proposed framework, enforcement officers would be able to act on vehicles and drivers operating in their area even if licensed elsewhere, addressing long-standing concerns around cross-border hiring.
The bill also introduces a formal structure for “national standards” that licensing authorities would be expected to enforce. Amendments remove references to minimum standards and replace them with national standards, signalling a move towards greater consistency in how drivers and operators are regulated across England.
New licensing measures could strengthen cross-border enforcement and introduce national standards for drivers and operators
In parallel, the duty on licensing authorities to share information about drivers licensed in other areas is expanded. Authorities would be required to report not only safeguarding concerns but also breaches of national standards. The legislation further enables the production and publication of collated data derived from these reports, potentially increasing transparency and oversight across the sector.
The ability for any enforcement officer in England to suspend licences introduces a higher level of compliance risk, particularly for those working outside their licensing area. This would be very much welcomed by a large section of the industry calling for stronger oversight. A suspension would take effect instantly and prevent the licence holder from exercising their rights for at least 48 hours, pending further action.
Local authorities, meanwhile, are likely to see an expanded enforcement role alongside increased administrative responsibilities. The requirement to collect and publish data, combined with the broader reporting obligations, may require investment in systems and coordination between councils.
While the bill does not yet provide full detail on how national standards will be defined or enforced in practice, its direction of travel suggests a more centralised and data-driven approach to taxi and PHV regulation, with safety and accountability positioned as primary drivers of reform.
