Newcastle City Council have decided without consultation with the trade or public to scrap the locality test applicants were required to pass before being granted a Private Hire Drivers Licence.

This is wrong in my opinion as the trade will be inundated with drivers who have no local knowledge. There is also the issue of drivers from abroad with no knowledge of the city now able to obtain licenses much easier, and there is no way of the council checking their criminal history. The governments website states: "As the DBS cannot access criminal records held overseas, a criminal record check may not provide a complete picture of an individual’s criminal record."

This is the wrong decision for the licensed Private Hire drivers, the residents of Newcastle and the many visitors to our great city. I hope the council will see sense and reverse the decision before something seriously goes wrong.

I am passionate about keeping standards high and ensuring the safety of the travelling public, especially the more vulnerable members of our communities.

Please show your support by signing this petition.