Taxis or Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicles are licensed to ensure that they are suitable and safe for the carriage of the public.
The legislation covering the Private Hire and Hackney carriage is quite different.
In brief, a taxi (Hackney) can stand on a rank, can be flagged down in the street, or can be booked through one of the many licensed operators.
A Private Hire vehicle can accept pre-booked calls only, cannot rank, and cannot be flagged down.
If a Private Hire driver does either of the latter, you may find that not only do they commit an offence, but their insurance may also be invalid.
Taxi or Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers and operators are licensed to ensure public safety and that they are safe and suitable persons to carry members of the public.
The Government have also introduced a National Register of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Revocations (NR3). For further information please view the Council’s NR3 Policy
Licensing Department
Scaitcliffe House
Ormerod Street
Accrington
Lancashire
BB5 0PF
Tel.: 01254 388111 (between 11.00am – 4.00pm Monday to Thursday, between 9.30 am to 2.30 pm Friday)
email: licensing@hyndburnbc.gov.uk
