Posted on the 21st May 2026 in PHTM News

WYRE MP BACKS NEW POWERS HANDED TO LOCAL COUNCILS TO CRACK DOWN ON OUT OF AREA TAXIS

Lancaster and Wyre MP Cat Smith has thrown her support behind a new law that allows local councils to immediately suspend taxi licences issued by other authorities.

The change, introduced under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, aims to crack down on drivers operating outside their home areas and to boost passenger safety.

Under the new rules, enforcement officers can step in and temporarily pause a taxi's licence if a driver or vehicle is operating away from their licensed area and a suspension is deemed necessary.

The law also slashes the number of licensing bodies in England from 263 down to 70 Local Transport Authorities. This massive shake-up is designed to simplify the system, make enforcement easier, and stop drivers from hunting around for areas with less strict licensing rules.

The move follows a consultation earlier this year and forms part of the government's response to an audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, which flagged "out-of-area" taxi working as a major concern.

The changes, which introduce robust background checks and national minimum standards, have been welcomed by personal safety charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Ms Smith praised the legislation, stating: "The act has created new national standards for taxi drivers so passengers can feel safe in knowing their taxi meets strict national standards, no matter where they are in the country."

However, the MP wants to see regulations go even further. After meeting with representatives from the Unite union, Ms Smith expressed support for their campaign to introduce a "start or finish rule." This would legally require every private hire journey to begin or end in the area where the driver is licensed, with reasonable exceptions made for NHS and school transport.

While the new Act also introduces community rights to buy local buildings and powers to tackle pavement parking and high street gambling harms, Ms Smith expressed frustration over political resistance to the bill. She noted that she was "disappointed that The Green Party, Reform, Conservatives and Lib Dems all voted against it."


Read another story