New rules to tackle 'increase' in out-of-town private taxi drivers in Rotherham

Taxi drivers in Rotherham were said to have played a prominent role in the abuse of hundreds of girls between 1997 and 2013

Rotherham Council has proposed new rules to tackle a "proliferation" of out-of-town private taxi drivers operating in the borough.

The authority is to review its licensing policy so there are "no unacceptable risks to public safety".

It wants to introduce measures such as informing customers when bookings will be sub-contracted to another operator.

A report said drivers licensed elsewhere were benefiting due to a decrease in numbers of local drivers.

In its report, the council said drivers were moving away from local firms and working for rivals that have licences to operate in a number of different districts, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The proliferation of out-of-town vehicles is concerning, not least because this activity undermines the standards that are set by the council's hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy," it said.

Taxi firms in the town were reporting "a decrease in the number of drivers, and they are looking at other options to enable them to fulfil bookings".

A 2014 report revealed 1,400 children had been abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 and taxi drivers played a "prominent role"

Drivers licensed elsewhere were benefiting from an "unfair commercial advantage due to lower operational costs", the report added.

Obtaining a licence outside the borough could save a driver up to £3,000.

Other measures being suggested by the council include taxi firms keeping detailed records of each booking and drivers being required to use newer vehicles and CCTV.

The council said it would attach additional conditions to operator licenses for private hire vehicles and also take into account a wider range of an applicant's previous convictions.

In 2015, the authority introduced tighter regulations for drivers to install CCTV cameras in the wake of a 2014 report by Professor Alexis Jay, which revealed 1,400 children had been abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 and taxi drivers played a "prominent role".

The new policy will be presented to the cabinet in December and implemented immediately if approved.