ROUND THE COUNCILS MONMOUTHSHIRE: CRIMINAL RECORDS AND CCTV CHANGES
Monmouthshire County Council is set to consult on a new policy for taxi and private hire drivers that includes stricter rules on criminal record checks for those with overseas residency and clarified guidelines for using CCTV and dash cameras. The proposed changes, which were brought to the council's taxi and regulatory committee, aim to align with updated national standards from the DfT. Under the new rules, anyone applying for a taxi driver's licence who has lived outside the UK for a total of six months or more since the age of 18 will be required to provide a criminal record check from each country they have resided in. Some committee members raised concerns that the policy could disproportionately affect applicants from other countries having to provide paperwork which could create significant barriers. Despite these concerns, the policy outlines a process for applicants who are unable to provide the necessary documents, stating they will be required to appear before a licensing panel for a risk assessment. In addition to the new criminal record checks, the policy clarifies rules surrounding the use of CCTV and dashboard cameras. While not mandatory, the council recommends their use and has established new guidelines for those who choose to install them. These include verbally informing passengers, including those who are visually impaired, that they are being recorded. Audio recording will also be permitted but can only be activated by a “panic button” pressed by either the driver or a passenger. Drivers and firms will be designated as “data controllers,” responsible for the storage of recordings and required to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office. According to licensing officer Taylor Watts, it's not believed that any taxis in Monmouthshire currently have CCTV installed. The committee ultimately approved the policy for a consultation period from September 22 to October 21. A final report will be presented to the committee on December 9, with the intention of adopting the policy on January 1.
PHTM OCTOBER 2025 NORTH EAST LINCS: PROPOSALS TO TACKLE WAVS DECLINE
A council committee in North East Lincolnshire has recommended changes to address the “fast-dropping numbers” of wheelchair-accessible taxis, which have fallen from a peak of 47% to just 16% of the fleet. The committee’s recommendations, which will now be put to a consultation with the taxi trade, include maintaining a cap of 220 total hackney carriages and amending the policy to require that all new taxis and existing accessible vehicles be wheelchair-friendly. “There is a major concern and need to resolve the fast- dropping numbers of WAV vehicles,” a report from officers stated. The report noted that while the demand for these vehicles may be low,
“their
significance to those that use them is very high.” The committee is aiming to reverse a decline that officers largely attribute to a 2013 policy that allowed WAVs to be replaced with standard saloon cars if the driver applied for it on medical exemption grounds. That exemption was removed last November. On another topic, councillors rejected a proposal to limit new taxis to electric or hybrid vehicles due to “high-cost concerns for drivers, and associated infrastructure not being readily available.”
SWINDON: TAXI MARSHALS DEPLOYED AT NIGHT
Swindon has launched a multi-agency effort to enhance public safety at night, introducing taxi marshals, extra police patrols, and a new public spaces protection order. The initiatives are funded by the Home Office’s Anti-Social Behaviour Hotspot Fund and are a joint venture between the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon, Swindon BC’ and Wiltshire Police. Accredited taxi marshals will patrol key pickup points in Old Town, Princes Street, and Town Centre North - areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour - from 10pm to 6am on Fridays and Saturdays, with the scheme set to run until April 2026. The goal is to ensure “safer dispersal and help people get home safely,” according to a statement from the council. Beyond the marshals, the new safety measures include the relaunch of Project Vigilant, which targets predatory behaviour such as harassment and stalking.
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