Request ID: FOI-0157-2122 Date published: 21 May 2021
You asked
Uber and Bolt are two of your private hire operators. Please can you share their safeguarding policies that have provided to reassure TfL that they have processes and training in place.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0157-2122
Thank you for your request received on 23 April 2021 asking for information about Uber and Bolt’s safeguarding policies.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.
We expect that Operators providing Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) services should actively promote the welfare and working conditions of drivers. Operators providing PHV services should ensure that drivers are treated fairly, ensure drivers have appropriate and reasonable working hours including appropriate breaks throughout their shift and have clear policies and procedures to keep drivers safe. We work with the industry to establish best practice guidance based on our work and experience to improve the terms and working conditions for transport workers such as bus drivers.
Additionally, the safety of passengers using taxis and private hire vehicles continues to be a priority for us and our policing partners. Passengers should expect to be safe - and feel safe - when travelling by taxi or private hire. We have implemented a range of measures to enhance public safety that include:
Police and TfL enforcement activity • Taxi and Private Hire Operational Officers undertake regular checks of licensed operators, drivers and vehicles to identify non-compliant or illegal activity • Targeted plain clothes operations to detect offenders • High visibility operations to deter offenders, for example Operation Safer Travel at Night • Police and TfL investigations of all allegations, whether reported directly, through social media, customer complaints, operators or via a third-party • Licensing and regulatory action • Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on all drivers and applicants when they apply for or renew a licence • TfL licensing action against licensees where appropriate • Regulatory requirement that all private hire operators have to provide their customers with a booking confirmation which could be by text message, app, email or, paper receipt. • Dedicated TfL Taxi and Private Hire customer complaints process, to encourage reporting of inappropriate driver conduct so appropriate action can be taken by TfL and/or the police • Urging the Government for tighter controls on cross border hiring as well as seeking additional enforcement powers
Communications • Safer Travel at Night communications • Encouraging women to report unwanted sexual behaviour to TfL and the police
On 21 July 2020, the Secretary of State for Transport published a new set of Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards. The Standards are a range of measures intended to protect children and vulnerable adults, and by extension the wider public.
All licensing authorities in England and Wales have a legal duty to “have regard” to the Standards and the Secretary of State expects licensing authorities to implement the measures (unless there is a compelling local reason not to) as soon as possible. TfL welcomes the Standards and where they are not already TfL policy, we are committed to introducing them at the earliest opportunity.
Safety is the top priority for TfL and we closely consider an applicant’s approach to safety when reaching a licensing decision for a London PHV Operators (PHV operators) licence. However we do not hold copies of operators’ individual safeguarding policies, but instead work with operators in the normal course of business as part of our regulatory function in relation to safeguarding and any other matters that may arise.
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Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
