TfL Ref: FOI-2136-1617
Thank you for your email received by us on 3 February 2017 asking for information about taxi licences.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require. You asked:
All vehicles licenced as a taxi or for private hire from December 2005 to January 17th 2017.
Information required:
-Registration number
-Vehicle Make
-Vehicle Model
-VIN Number
-Date vehicle licenced From and To
Please find attached the information you requested. Please note that the dataset provided is the most recent version of the licence for each vehicle licenced since September/October 2013 when the system was upgraded.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) as they are subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 40(2). This exemption to your right of access is applied in accordance with TfL’s obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA).
The exemption applies because disclosure of VIN numbers would enable you to link the information to living individuals. This would be a breach of the DPA, specifically the first principle of the DPA which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you cannot 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,
Melissa Nichols
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London