Sandwell taxi drivers must prove they're not criminals

Drivers applying for licences will be have to provide evidence from their country of birth that they don't have criminal convictions.

Council bosses say the decision has been made so people can be confident they are safe travelling in taxis.

Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling said he had taken 'immediate action' after it appeared existing drivers who had been working in the borough for decades would also be affected.

There had been concerns drivers who have lived in Britain the majority of their lives they will face difficulties gaining the information they need to prove they have no convictions.

Councillor Eling said: "People in Sandwell want to know we are licensing people who are safe and feel confident they are not getting into a taxi driven by someone with criminal convictions."

He added: "It is all about these CSE (child sexual exploitation) links to taxi drivers which, nationally, has been a big issue."

Private hire drivers held a meeting on Monday over concerns the new policy would impact drivers who have worked in the UK for years when they come to renew their licences.

But Councillor Eling said: "The way the policy was interpreted affected a small number of people but I have taken action immediately after it came to light.

"Those who have been driving taxis for 30 years but were born in India and Pakistan and came here when they were 18, they were looking to get something from a long time ago. There were a handful who found themselves in trouble for this very reason."

Mohammad Niwaz, who represents private hire drivers in Sandwell, said a meeting was planned with the council next week to 'iron things out' over the new policy but said he welcomed more stringent checks on new drivers.

He said: "You don't know who's going to be a taxi driver, they could be criminals, they could be anyone. It will be safe for passengers."

Councillor Elaine Costigan, cabinet member for public health and protection, insisted the authority had a responsibility to ensure people using taxis were in safe hands.

She said: “Our priority is to make sure people using taxis in Sandwell are safe and that we don’t licence drivers with serious criminal convictions.

“We have introduced a new licensing policy that requires more thorough checks on all drivers’ backgrounds as well as tests on their knowledge of the law and understanding of the Highway Code.

“Drivers who were born abroad or who have lived outside the UK are required to prove that they didn’t commit any serious offences in the country where they previously lived."