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Posted on the 3rd June 2025 in PHTM News
120 BURY DRIVERS FACE IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OVER UNCHECKED CRIMINAL RECORDS
Up to 120 taxi drivers in Bury are on the brink of having their licences suspended immediately for failing to consent to enhanced criminal record checks, a move the council says is crucial for public safety.
This drastic measure comes after numerous attempts by the local authority to get drivers to agree to register for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service.
The council has been attempting to secure consent from all licensed private hire and hackney carriage drivers to check their registration with the DBS update service.
This online subscription allows the council to monitor any changes to a driver's criminal record in real-time, without the need for repeated, full DBS applications. The enhanced checks are vital for the council to determine whether to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew licenses for drivers convicted of offences involving dishonesty, indecency, or violence.
Despite "several emails being sent to all drivers to obtain their consent," a significant number, 120 as of May 21, 2025, have failed to respond.
This represents approximately 15 per cent of the estimated 785 taxi drivers licensed in Bury in 2023.
Michael Bridge, Bury Council's licensing chief, has published a report requesting new powers to enforce these suspensions.
He stated: "Members may recall that the licensing service has conducted a procurement exercise in relation to the checking of applicants and existing licence holders of hackney carriage and private hire criminal records."
He further elaborated: "The service has been requested to obtain the consent of every licensed driver to undertake a check to see if the licence holder is registered for the DBS update service… We have received consent for a large proportion of the drivers, however there are still 120 outstanding as at May 21, 2025."
Mr. Bridge concluded: "Therefore, the service is requesting delegation to immediately suspend under the Road Safety Act those hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licences until the consent has been given."
The council's licensing and safety committee is set to meet on Friday, June 6, to consider granting these powers.
If approved, the suspensions will take effect immediately for non-compliant drivers, with potential financial implications arising only from legal appeals.
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