Transport for LondonPublic Carriage Office
Skip to navigationFollowing the licensing of 2,300 private hire minicab operators, the Public Carriage Office (PCO) started licensing London's 40,000 private hire drivers.
In the next financial year (2004/05), all private hire vehicles will have to meet strict licensing safety standards. This is a real and concerted effort to improve the quality of service and safety for passengers.
The PCO and the Transport Policing Enforcement Directorate have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Transport Operational Command Unit and other agencies, to target minicab touts, undertaking regular operations to arrest illegal drivers and check on vehicle roadworthiness.
The PCO has also continued to focus on the "Safer Travel at Night" campaign aimed at women passengers and the "Know what you're getting into?" advertising campaign promoted at bars and clubs. This has successfully raised awareness of the risk of being sexually assaulted in illegal minicabs.
The campaign has also encouraged use of taxis and Night buses and has informed people how to find out about licensed private hire operators.
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