Unite supporters look to step up pressure on Ministers over out-of-area taxi licensing as tensions rise at Gatwick and beyond
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Members of Unite are intensifying the campaign for national taxi and private hire licensing reform, with the union warning that out-of-area working is eroding local oversight, distorting competition and weakening passenger safeguards across England.
The intervention follows continued frustration among local drivers at Gatwick Airport, where Transport for London (TfL) licensed private hire drivers operate in large numbers despite the airport falling under Crawley Borough Council’s jurisdiction.
In a statement which asks supporters to contact their local MP to highlight the problem, Unite argued that current legislation allows drivers licensed “hundreds of miles away” to work freely in areas where local authorities have no enforcement reach. The group said this undermines councils’ ability to police standards and leaves passengers exposed to varying levels of regulatory scrutiny depending on where a driver obtained their licence.
The union’s members highlighted Gatwick as a prime example of the pressures created by cross-border operations. Uber’s commercial partnership at the airport has drawn criticism from locally licensed drivers, who say the arrangement attracts large numbers of out-of-area vehicles and has reshaped the supply of private hire work. Unite has said that the issue is no longer confined to any single region and is now symptomatic of a wider structural gap in licensing law.
Union members network renews call for national taxi and private hire standards as operators expand cross-border working
There were pointed reminders to the findings of the independent Casey Report, which flagged risks stemming from inconsistent licensing practice. Although the report examined a specific local authority, Unite says its conclusions reflect broader challenges facing the sector. The Government is still considering reforms under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which would introduce national minimum standards, but ministers have yet to outline a clear timetable.
The union is urging Parliament to adopt a uniform rule that requires private hire bookings to start or finish within the area that issued the driver’s licence. Unite is also calling for stronger enforcement powers, tougher sanctions for serial non-compliance and the retention of fine income by local authorities to bolster frontline regulatory teams. The union argues that these steps would support local operators, improve public confidence and limit opportunities for large platforms to take advantage of weaker licensing regimes.
With sector tensions rising and airport operating models under scrutiny, councils, platforms and trade bodies are watching closely for indications of how far the Government intends to go in reshaping the licensing framework. Stakeholders expect further debate as national standards progress through Parliament, but uncertainty remains over how out-of-area working will be addressed.
