SNP MSP Stuart McMillan has today called for a cap on licenses for the private hire taxi industry after increasing reports of private hire taxis in the west of Scotland being used as a front for criminal activities.
Mr McMillan is asking the Scottish Government to look into the licensing system with a view to tightening regulations on private hire licences and giving local authorities more powers to limit the number of licenses.
Speaking as he published a paper looking into the lack of controls on taxi licensing Mr McMillan said;
"There are real concerns amongst genuine taxi drivers, particularly in the west of Scotland, that the regulations are too lenient and that criminal gangs are infiltrating the taxi trade, using it as a cover for illegal activities.
"There is very little in the way of regulation for private hire taxis and I will be writing to the Justice Secretary asking him to look into introducing a cap on private hire licenses just as there is for black cab licenses.
"It is not the fault of local authorities or the police that taxis are being targeted. They do not have the powers needed to operate effectively against illegalities in this area.
"If Government gave local authorities the power to cap the number of licenses in their area it would at least be harder for those trying to exploit the industry to do so and a first step in tackling problems faced by the industry."
ENDS
Notes:
1. Mr McMillan's letter to the Justice Cabinet Secretary follows:
Stuart McMillan MSP
Scottish Parliament
Holyrood
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Dear Kenny,
I am writing to express my concern over the use of private hire taxi firms being used as 'fronts' for organised crime.
It has been brought to my attention that criminal gangs are applying for and being granted private hirle taxi licences, and using them to set up businesses through which to conduct illegal activities, such as drug dealing and money laundering.
I understand that as things stand Local Authorities have no powers to limit the number of private hire taxi licences, as they can do in the general hire taxi trade. I feel allowing Local Authorities to 'cap' the number of private hire licences that are available would be an important first step in tackling the scourge of organised crime in Scotland.
I urge you to look carefully at the option of granting Local Authorities the power to limit the number of licences available in the private hire trade.
Your sincerely
Stuart McMillan
2. Mr McMillan's paper is in pdf format below.
Click here to download pdf
Click here for source |