Sexual offences against passengers by London taxi drivers on rise

Almost 2,000 taxi drivers in London have been reported for sexual offences against passengers in the past 15 years, and 352 of the allegations were for rape, a report by Transport for London (TfL) has revealed.

TfL's latest figures for 2016 show 164 drivers of private hire taxis were reported for sexual crimes, including 30 allegations of rape. This represented a 21 percent rise compared with the previous year, and the highest total since 2002.

No reports of sexual assaults by drivers of traditional London hackney cabs were received during the year, added TfL.

The figures for sexual crimes were gathered by the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police.

Sexual offences, apart from rape, include intentional sexual touching of another person without their consent, a driver attempting to kiss or grope a passenger, or a driver grabbing a passenger's hand to kiss it.

Of the 31 drivers charged with offences last year, 28 were licensed private hire drivers and 3 were unlicensed minicab drivers. A total of 14 drivers were convicted and no longer hold an active licence, 9 were found not guilty and the rest are suspended while awaiting court trials. Five of those convicted were Uber drivers.

In its annual report TfL said: "With more than 100,000 licensed private hire drivers and more than 24,000 licensed taxi drivers in London, millions of taxi and private hire journeys are made every year.

"The vast majority pass without incident. However, we are working with the police to crackdown on the minority who look to offend. We always push for the toughest penalties possible."

Private taxi operators in London are now required to give passengers a booking confirmation by text message, app, email or paper receipt.

The booking confirmation has to include details of the driver and vehicle that has been booked for the journey. Passengers are urged not to enter the taxi if it is not the same as in the booking confirmation.

Passengers are encouraged to file a report if they experience any behavior of a sexual nature, including if drivers comment on the appearance or look at a passenger in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Victims of serious sexual and indecent assaults are urged to call the police emergency number.