The Institute of Licensing taxi and PH suitability guidance has been referenced in the national press reporting on the DfT’s statutory guidance.

In the article by the Sunday Mirror, Geraldine McKelvie wrote: “James Button, president of the Institute of Licensing, has helped devise a set of guidelines he wants the Government to make law.

“The body recommends lifetime bans for those guilty of crimes resulting in death, such as murder and manslaughter, sex offences or exploitation. It adds that those with convictions for violence or drugs should not get a licence for at least 10 years after their sentence ends.

“Mr Button said local authorities should be allowed to deviate from these rules only in exceptional circumstances and they should be legally obliged to make these decisions public.

“He said: “There is no statutory prohibition on anyone being granted a licence.

““In most authorities, when someone has previous convictions which fall outside that council’s policy, the decision is made by councillors. They can be swayed by sob stories.

““It has always surprised me why there is acceptance of a level of criminality among a significant minority of the taxi trade.””