TfL Ref: FOI-0589-1718

Thank you for your email received on 06 June 2017 asking about guidance given to taxi and private hire drivers.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

“On January 2013 TfL produced an Abstract of Laws in relation to PHV. On page 8 at para 14 it states 'It should also be stressed that where a passenger refuses to pay the agreed fare for the journey, the appropriate course of action is to make a call and await the arrival of the police as it is not permissible for a PHV driver to lock a passenger in a PHV against their will. Anyone who behaves in this manner may be committing the offence of false imprisonment'.
This paragraph is not repeated in the Abstract of Laws relating to holders of Hackney Carriage Licences. Is it TfL's position that the same policy equally applies to both PHV and to holders of Hackney Carriage Licenses?”

It is not permitted for either taxi or private hire drivers to lock passengers in vehicles against their will. The specific guidance for taxi drivers regarding this scenario can be found on pages 10 and 11 of the Taxi Drivers Handbook. Please find a copy of this document attached.

Further details can be found by visiting our website www.tfl.gov.uk/tph.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer 

FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London