Derby MPs want 'loophole' closed for good to make city taxis saferAlmost 2,000 private hire taxis in Derby have a Wolverhampton City Council plateView 2 Images Derby South MP Baggy Shanker at Westminster (Image: Derby Telegraph)Major changes to improve taxi passenger safety in Derby are one step closer after MPs lobbied for “unfair” loopholes in the system to be closed for good. ‌Labour MPs Baggy Shanker and Catherine Atkinson are in support of Government proposals to tighten taxi licensing rules after calling for vital improvements in Derby and beyond. ‌It means, for example, Derby City Council is not able to test, regulate or carry out enforcement on vehicles licensed elsewhere – potentially leading to safety concerns and it being powerless to tackle. ‌The government is proposing a change in legislation to significantly reduce the number of licensed authorities for taxi licensing. The reduction would limit taxi licensing control to only authorities who manage local transport planning – such as county councils and city councils.

Source: Daily Mirror March 24, 2026 12:59 UTC