Taxi & PHV drivers now have 48 hours to notify Licensing if arrested or convicted of sexual offences

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Taxi and private hire drivers licensed by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead will now only have 48 hours to notify the council’s licensing department of a number of offences including any kind of a sexual nature.

A number of changes, which the council say are intended to make passengers and drivers safer, have been approved by members of the Licensing Committee during a meeting held on 13 October.

Councillors agreed to make several changes to the Royal Borough’s hackney carriage and private hire policies, based on recommendations made by the Department for Transport.

Some of the changes include requiring drivers to notify the Royal Borough within 48 hours if they are arrested and released, charged or convicted of any sexual offence, or an offence involving dishonesty, violence or motoring.

Previously drivers had up to seven days to disclose such offences to the licensing board.

Other areas of the policy which have been updated are requirements for drivers or applicants to disclose if they have previously had a licence refused, revoked or suspended. Licences will also no longer be granted to drivers whose name is on the children and adult barred list.

Cllr David Cannon said: “We are here to protect the public, our drivers are here to protect the public, of which they do a very good job.

“They provide a safe, secure transportation service for our residents and what we need to do is ensure that this continues.”