North Lincolnshire Council is exploring ways to enhance its taxi licensing safeguards, including the potential for mandatory CCTV, following recommendations from a major national report.
The discussion was prompted by The Casey Report, which audited practices for preventing child sexual exploitation and suggested making CCTV compulsory in all taxis.
The council's place scrutiny panel reviewed the authority's current approach, which officials say already surpasses national DfT guidelines. Existing measures include:
Enhanced DBS checks every six months.
Clearly defined "fit and proper person" guidance for licensing decisions.
Immediate licence suspension or revocation for drivers accused of a serious offence.
A required safeguarding and knowledge test every three years, first introduced after the 2014 Jay Report into the Rotherham grooming scandal.
Council officials expressed concerns about The Casey Report's recommendation for a 100% pass mark on the safeguarding test.
According to Richard Cropley, the council's head of trading and standards, a 100% pass mark on the multiple-choice section of their current test would result in no one passing.
Cropley stated: "Whilst the report recommends it's 100 per cent, we feel it's quite hard to pass." The council will continue to use its current test and pass mark while the National Institute of Licensing works on a standardised version.
Regarding mandatory CCTV, Cropley noted the council previously rejected it due to legal concerns over data protection responsibility. The council currently permits voluntary CCTV, though take-up is "nominal."
However, panel chair, Cllr Ian Bint, argued that protecting children "has to be a higher priority than the theoretical risk of the data controller" and encouraged a re-evaluation of the policy.
Council officers were praised for their existing efforts and were asked to provide an update in six months, specifically on the issues of CCTV and data protection.
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The committee was presented with a history of misconduct, including a recent assault charge involving the driver’s daughter.
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