Miscellaneous and General Protection of children and vulnerable adults
Local authorities in England and Wales (and, in London, Transport for London) are responsible for licensing taxi and private hire vehicle ("PHV") operators and drivers.
	When issuing taxi licences, local authorities must ensure that anybody who holds a licence is deemed a 'fit and proper person'. This will typically involve a criminal record check, a medical check, a driving test, a comprehensive topographical examination, and a check on the financial standing of the prospective proprietor. There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to carry out a criminal record check before issuing a licence to a taxi driver. As they are, however, required to ensure that the applicant is a 'fit and proper person', many authorities do, in fact, undertake such a check. Most councils have also adopted provisions that subject PHV drivers and operators to licensing.
	Both the Jay34 and Casey Reports35 into child sexual exploitation noted the prominent role played by taxi and PHV drivers in a large number of cases of abuse. The Casey Report in particular uncovered what was described as "weak and ineffective arrangements for taxi licensing which leave the public at risk."
	To assist local authorities in undertaking their licensing functions, the Department for Transport has published, most recently in 2010, Best Practice Guidance for local authorities on taxi and PHV licensing36.
	To help reduce the risk posed to children and vulnerable individuals from harm by taxi and PHV drivers who seek to abuse their position of trust, section 177 confers a power on the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to licensing authorities on the exercise of their taxi and PHV licensing functions.