Request ID: FOI-0942-2324 Date published: 21 July 2023
You asked
Good morning. Could you please send me the sexual assault data for taxis and private hire, separated as before, for whatever there is available post-2019. They were the last figures and showed c80% rise year on year in private hire vehicles. Safe to say its long overdue for an update. Thank you.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0942-2324/GH Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 29 June 2023 asking for sexual assault data for Taxi & Private Hire. Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.
TfL and the police carry out regular checks checks/inspections of licensed operators, drivers, and vehicles to ensure compliance and identify and deal with any non-compliant or illegal activity. TfL and the police also carry out regular inspections at operator centres to ensure all licensed operators are adhering to their legal obligations.
TfL works with the police to investigate reports, bring offenders to justice and push for the toughest penalties possible. Every single report is taken seriously and investigated by both TfL and the police. The police notify TfL of any allegations of crime made against a TfL licensed taxi or private hire driver.Any driver who poses a risk to public safety will have their licence suspended or revoked immediately.
The 2020 and 2021 Taxi and Private Hire journey-related sexual offence data has now been published and is available on our website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/security-on-the-network/tph-related-sexual-offences The 2022 figures will be published in winter once the incident and prosecution data has been compiled and verified for publication. Therefore in accordance with the FOI Act, TfL is not obliged to supply you with the information you have requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information, under Section 22 of the Act. In this instance the exemption has been applied as the information you have requested is intended for future publication.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
