Private Hire mini cab info and history

he Public Carriage Office (PCO) is the body responsible for licencing taxicabs within Greater London. The PCO is part of Transport For London and is responsible for licensing the familiar London Taxicab or "black cab" and also licenses private hire or minicab services. Since 30 March 2007 the actual processing of licences has been outsourced to a private company called SGS.

Since 2001, minicabs have been regulated in London and most other local authorities. London minicabs are now licensed by the Public Carriage Office, the same body that regulates London black taxicabs. However, the difference is that minicab drivers do not have to complete the Knowledge. All vehicles available for hire by London minicab drivers must also hold a Public Carriage Office licence showing that they are fit for purpose. This is updated twice a year after an inspection at a licensed garage.

Private hire ('Minicabs') are passenger vehicles which can be either a 4 door saloon/hatchback, carrying up to four passengers or MPVs that are licensed to carry between 5 and 8 passengers. These cannot be hailed in the street and must be pre-booked.

In the UK, the term minicab is used to refer to a private hire car; this is a car with a driver which is only available for hire on a pre-booked basis. They began operating in the 1960s in competition to hackney carriages after a loophole in the law was spotted (although in some areas it is possible to hold a dual hackney/private hire licence). A minicab must be pre-booked, either by telephone, internet, or fax; or in person at the registered minicab office. It is possible to book a car to be be picked up immediately, but only with a company registered to accept bookings.

History

Since 1600 public carriages for hire have been a feature of London life. The discarded coaches of aristocratic families, complete with their coat of arms, were among the first hackney carriages to ply for hire. They were the forerunners of the French Hackney Carriage or cab (cabriolet) which first appeared in London around 1820. The first horseless cab was the Bersey electric powered vehicle, which appeared in 1897. This was followed by the first internal combustion engine cab in 1903. At that time London still had more than 11,000 horse drawn cabs. The last horse drawn cab was removed from service in 1947. There are now over 20,000 licensed vehicles on London's roads. Regulation of the trade passed to the Metropolitan in 1850 and was undertaken by the Public Carriage Office, which was originally in an annex to New Scotland Yard in Whitehall called "the Bungalow". It moved to 109 Lambeth Road in 1919, remaining there until 1966, when it moved to its present home, 15 Penton Street, Islington N1.

Present

On the formation of Transport for London on 3 July 2000, the licensing authority changed, however the day-to-day licensing function remained with the Public Carriage Office. With the introduction of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 the role of the PCO has been expanded to include the licensing of private hire operators, drivers and vehicles, bringing the capital into line with the rest of England and Wales. The purpose of regulation is to give passengers confidence, when they use a licensed private-hire operator, that they are dealing with an honest, professional organisation with reliable drivers and safe vehicles.