Out-of-town taxi concerns after woman harassed

Police said they were investigating the incident

Portsmouth councillors are calling for urgent action to stop out-of-town taxis operating in the city after a woman alleged she was sexually harassed by a driver licensed in Wolverhampton.

The 44-year-old woman said the man made sexualised remarks, delayed unlocking the door and hovered his hand over her leg as she tried to leave the vehicle on Wednesday.

The taxi was licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council, which said it was illegal to reject applicants based on where they live or limit the number of private hire licences.

The government has said it plans to pass laws to tackle inconsistent taxi and private hire standards amid safety fears.

The woman reported the incident to the taxi firm and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, which confirmed it was investigating.

Emily Strudwick, chair of Portsmouth's licensing committee, said: "We're seeing dozens of these cars every month. We have no enforcement power over them, and it puts the public at risk."

Councillor Lee Hunt said current laws "frustrate our ability to apply local safety standards", while councillor George Madgwick warned the lack of CCTV in Wolverhampton-plated taxis was a failure in "deterrent, protection, and accountability".

A City of Wolverhampton Council spokesperson said it was the only local authority running daily DBS checks and the first to introduce smartphone licence verification.

"We take enforcement responsibilities seriously and our officers are out across the country, every Friday and Saturday night, working to protect the public," the spokesperson added.

Last month, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government wanted to improve taxi licensing standards.

"We will work as quickly as possible and consider all options including out-of-area working, national standards and enforcement, seeking the best overall outcome for passenger safety," she added.

The taxi firm has been approached for comment.