Overview

• Wolverhampton council issued more than one in 10 of England’s private hire licences in 2025, making it the leading authority for taxi approvals across the UK.
• A 2015 law allows private hire drivers to operate nationwide regardless of their licensing authority, enabling applicants to bypass stricter local checks.
• Baroness Casey of Blackstock warned that these loopholes pose serious safeguarding risks for children vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
• The UK government has pledged to implement all 12 of Casey’s recommendations swiftly, including measures to standardise background checks and training.
• Fees and safety requirements vary widely among councils, with Wolverhampton charging £49 and performing daily DBS updates compared with Rotherham’s £210 fee and mandatory in-cab CCTV.