A Belfast taxi boss has warned of driver shortage as figures show dramatic decline in operational licences.

The number of operational taxis in Northern Ireland has plummeted by over 2,000 since 2020, according to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI). This represents a 20% decline from the 9,164 registered three years ago.

Belfast has seen the most significant drop, with the number of registered taxis falling from 3,597 to 2,854 in just six months.

Derry & Strabane has also experienced a substantial decline, with 1,294 taxis registered in 2020 compared to 929 this year.

SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole expressed concern over the issue, highlighting the impact on public transportation and the economy. 

He daid: "There are many reasons for the fall in licence holders, with many drivers leaving the profession during the pandemic, while others have cited the difficulty in obtaining licences, alongside the cost of vehicle upkeep, pay, and safety concerns.

"It's clear the lack of available taxis is having an impact on our economy, putting people off going into the city and also on the lives of many people who struggle to access other forms of transport, including the elderly and those with disabilities.

"I would urge the Infrastructure Minister to revisit the application process to examine ways the profession could be more accessible, without compromising on the rigorous vetting process needed for taxi drivers.

"The Minister and his department should work with the sector and listen to the concern of drivers and businesses to ensure we have the drivers we need on the roads."

Stephen Anton, of fonaCAB (Belfast) Ltd, and spokesperson for the Licensed Taxi Operators Association, echoed these concerns. While acknowledging the decline in taxi licences, he emphasised the more pressing issue of the dwindling number of active drivers.

He warned that while the number of active licences was around 7,000 last year - "the number of active drivers was 5,791".

"That's to cover the whole of Northern Ireland, seven days a week, 24 hours a day."

But Stephen said around 300 of those are limo drivers, while holidays and sick days need to be factored in - so in reality you're left with around 4,750 drivers operating over a week which translates as "1,500 drivers operating across Northern Ireland at any one time" when shifts are factored in.

"The number of active drivers is the problem," Stephen added.

He warned that the current number of active drivers is insufficient to meet the demand, particularly during peak times.

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A Glasgow man has spoken out about the discrimination faced by visually impaired people and their guide dogs after being refused a taxi ride to a funeral.

Colin Hetherington, a director of Deafblind Scotland, was left outraged when a taxi driver refused to take him and his guide dog to a funeral on November 20th.

The driver cited allergies as the reason for the refusal, despite not possessing the required exemption certificate.

Colin explained: "I asked to see his certificate of exemption, which is legally required.

"He claimed it was in the office, then that his son was the one that had allergies while refusing to take me.

"I eventually told him he can either take me or I'll take him to court and report him to the taxi board."

The incident highlights a wider issue. A recent Guide Dogs survey revealed that 72% of guide dog owners faced access refusals in the past year, including being turned away from food and drink establishments.

Many reported negative impacts on their social lives and mental well-being.

Hetherington, who has previously taken legal action against taxi drivers in Newcastle and South Shields for similar incidents, emphasised the ongoing discrimination faced by visually impaired people.

Colin added: "Black hackney cabs aren't that bad but private hire will hit you with every excuse under the sun not to take the dog. It's common for them to claim they have allergies.

He called for greater awareness and enforcement of equality laws to ensure equal access for all.

"It's 2024, and discrimination against the visually impaired is still common," he said. "I refuse to be treated like a second-class citizen."

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Stirling taxi users could face higher fares in the coming year, as a recent tariff review recommends a price increase of around 3%.

The proposed changes aim to reflect rising costs, with the new rates rounded to the nearest 10 pence.

Under the new structure, a 10-mile journey would cost approximately £23.60, up from the current £22.90. A 20-mile trip would increase to £44.70, compared to the current £43.40.

Key proposed changes:

• Base rates:
  • Tariff 1 (standard): £3.50 (up from £3.40)
  • Tariff 2 (nighttime): £4.10 (up from £4.00)
  • Tariff 3 (5 or more passengers): £5.60 (up from £5.40)
• Distance increments:
  • Reduced for all tariffs
• Waiting time, extra charges, and booking fees: Remain unchanged

The review, conducted by Licensed Vehicle Surveys and Assessment (LSVA), suggests the increase is justified given rising costs and the need to maintain a viable service. However, the final decision rests with Stirling Council, which will consider public feedback before implementing any changes.

The council aims to finalise the decision in February 2025, with the new fares potentially coming into effect shortly after.

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A man who falsely posed as a private hire driver in Bury has been handed a suspended sentence.

Faisal Hussain, 31, from Bolton, forged a private hire driver's licence to continue operating after his genuine licence had expired.

The deception was uncovered by Bury Council licensing officers when a vehicle he was driving failed a routine inspection at a test centre.

Hussain pleaded guilty to offences under the Fraud Act and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 when he appeared before Stockport Magistrates’ Court on 11 September.

At his sentencing hearing in November, Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court sentenced him to 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 100 hours of unpaid work, and pay £454 in costs and surcharges.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, Cabinet Member for Culture, Skills and the Economy, warned of the dangers of unlicensed drivers and praised the work of local authorities in ensuring public safety.

She stated: "Thankfully, Hussain's deception was uncovered after just one month.

"This case highlights the importance of licensing taxi drivers locally, where rigorous checks and ongoing enforcement can be carried out."

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Hotel staff, taxi drivers, bar staff and others are being asked to play their part in protecting children from exploitation and abuse.

Officers from Nottinghamshire Police’s Child at Risk of Exploitation Team are visiting hotels across the county as part of Operation Makesafe – a nationwide initiative to protect vulnerable young people from harm.

Hotel workers, who are being spoken to in person and left with printed materials, are being urged to follow their instincts and report personal interactions that look or feel wrong.

Taxi drivers – often involved in transporting abusers and victims to these locations – are also being spoken to about these classic warning signs of abuse.

Key warning signs, also shared with licensed venues, include nervous looking young people in the company of older men, short notice bookings, guests with no luggage and suspicious activity in and around bedrooms.

Detective Sergeant Adam Taylor, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I believe that people generally have very good instincts about situations that don’t look or feel right, so this initiative is mainly about empowering them to act on those feelings by sharing some of the key warning signs with them.

“Things we urge them to look out for include older men in the company of teenage girls, or boys, who are clearly not related to them; children who may be intoxicated or uncomfortable in the company of adults; late-notice check-ins with no luggage, and multiple visitors going to and from the same room.

“These are all classic signs of child exploitation and it’s important that our hotel workers, taxi drivers, bar staff and others likely to come into contact with exploited children are aware of them and feel confident to act.

“We really can’t have too much information so I encourage anyone who has concerns to call us immediately via 101 or 999 so we can investigate.

“Sometimes there may be a perfectly innocent explanation, but if we can protect even one vulnerable young person from harm this initiative will have been worthwhile.”

Hotels, drivers and other venues are also being advised of the importance of retaining CCTV, incident logs and refusal records for further investigation.”

Above all they are being asked to report suspicious behaviour to the police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.

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