Private hire drivers at Gatwick Airport, organised by Unite the union, are today staging a protest at the South Terminal roundabout, claiming that Uber is "destroying local livelihoods" by circumventing local licensing rules in Crawley.
The drivers claim that London-registered Uber cars are operating in Crawley and picking up fares from Gatwick passengers without being subject to the town's licensing restrictions, which they say are stricter for local drivers.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, accused Gatwick Airport of "partnering with a race-to-the-bottom firm like Uber, which is destroying local livelihoods and damaging Crawley’s economy." She said: "Unite will not rest until Gatwick takes action to address our members’ concerns."
Ms Graham urged the government to "close the loopholes in the legislation," stating: "Uber’s sidestepping of local licensing laws is hurting workers and putting passengers at risk across the country."
Unite is also campaigning for the government to implement the 2020 Casey Report recommendations to strengthen council taxi licensing powers.
Responses to the Protest
Crawley Borough Council previously dismissed a similar complaint in March 2025, concluding after legal advice that there was “no wrongdoing” and that the claims “lacked any legal substance,” a finding that drivers rejected.
A London Gatwick spokesperson stated they "recognise the importance of fair competition" and mentioned that their official taxi partner, Airport Cars, operates from dedicated bays directly outside the terminals, while Uber and other private hire vehicles use designated pick-up zones.
An Uber spokesperson asserted that the company "operates according to the high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as all other private hire operators," adding this was "supported by a thorough independent review by Crawley Borough Council."
A petition launched by Cllr Simon Ball is calling for taxis and private hire vehicles to be allowed to use bus lanes in Rotherham, a request that will go before the council.
Thames Valley Police is investigating an alleged assault by a taxi driver that occurred on Cowley Road in Oxford around 12:37 am on October 8.
Cleveland Police has launched a hunt for a thief after a string of thefts from taxis in the central and Park wards of Middlesbrough.
Concerns have been raised about an allegedly unlicensed taxi driver operating illegally in the Sleaford area, driving a silver Skoda Kodiak with registration EU22 AYM.
This support comes after a new report commissioned by DVS found overwhelmingly negative feedback on the island's taxi service, with 78% of respondents offering negative feedback.
Jamie Love (25) of Killyleagh was handed a three-year sentence at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, October 6, for assaulting a taxi driver.
Pensioner and taxi driver Geoffrey Thomas Albery was fined and disqualified from driving after being found behind the wheel over the legal alcohol limit and wearing "only his boxer shorts".
Police Scotland objected to the application, with an officer telling councillors that the applicant had driven without “due care and attention or without reasonable consideration” for others.
The full integration of the two companies is anticipated to be complete by "around Monday, October 19."
The initiative focuses on providing anti-spiking guidance for Veezu drivers, training them to "recognise the warning signs of spiking and respond appropriately to help keep passengers safe."
While the driver was reported as "uninjured," the "taxi was damaged" during the event.
According to new accounts filed with Companies House, the company's pre-tax loss ballooned to £179.4m, significantly up from the £75.5m loss reported in 2023.
The committee heard that the driver, who was not named, had failed to notify the council of her initial arrest and charges within the required 48 hours.
Jaymie Wilson, 35, has been ordered to pay a total of £770 after he became aggressive toward a taxi driver, uttered homophobic slurs, and threw a glass at him.
The details of the allegation stated that the passenger woke up to a horrifying situation: "The passenger passed out in the vehicle, upon coming around, the driver was licking her breasts.
The officials voiced fears that drivers licensed in other areas can operate in Rotherham, about whom local authorities have "no information."
South Wales Police and licensing teams from Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Newport councils conducted two operations, stopping over 50 taxis and private hire vehicles to ensure safety.
A private hire vehicle driver in Blackburn recounted the moment a tree came crashing down onto his car during heavy wind and rain on the afternoon of Friday, October 3.
A Fife taxi driver, Kay Rooney, has spoken out about the lasting trauma following a knifepoint robbery by an attacker who was on bail for a similar offence.
Thomas Llewellyn, 38, of Warrington, appeared before Preston Magistrates’ Court after admitting to a string of offences committed in Burnley on January 8 this year.