6th Edition Blue Book – Updates Summary

The 6^th Edition of the Blue Book has been updated to include all changes previously agreed by Members since November 2018

In July the Government published the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards. These Standards were published as there is evidence to support the view that taxis and private hire vehicles are a high-risk environment. In terms of risks to passengers, this can be seen in abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults facilitated and, in some cases, perpetrated by the trade and the number of sexual crimes reported which involve taxi and private hire vehicle drivers. Links between the trade and child sexual abuse and exploitation have been established in many areas and other investigations continue

The Council already has many of the standards incorporated into the current Blue Book for Hackney Carriage & Private Hire, Drivers, Vehicles and Operators with many of the recommendations are already in place.

The changes focus on those around Child Sexual Exploitation & Abuse which have been included in updates to Guidelines on Convictions and Driver Training every 3 years.

A major change is that Drivers will need to sign up to the DBS update Service so that a DBS check can be carried out every 6 months. Non licenced Proprietors of vehicles also need a Basic Check every year.

CCTV requirements have been updated and the Council will now be the Data Controller. Following consultation with the trade the proposal regarding a cut off switch was amended to ‘The CCTV system may incorporate a cut out system located in the boot/rear area of the vehicle which may be activated when being used for personal use. A visual indication must be fitted and maintained in working order in the cabin in clear view of the driver to alert the driver that the CCTV is switched off should a cut out system be fitted to the vehicle’.

Following a request from the Trade a MOT certificate will be required in addition to the current Compliance Certificate. The Council will review the current compliance testing requirements at a future date.

A second driver badge will not be required to display in the windscreen.

Operators must record more information around bookings including who took and dispatched a booking, provide a register of staff taking bookings and DBS these staff every 6 months

The Accessibility Policy and Intended Use Policy for Hackney Carriages is now incorporated into the Blue Book