Uber will not be issued a new private operators licence, when their current licence expires, Transport for London (TfL) said today.
Their current licence expires at the 30th of September and then they will have 21 days to appeal, during which time it can continue to operate.
TfL concluded the ride-hailing app firm was not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence after a number of contributory scandals hit the media earlier this year.
Also FOI requests from members of the Taxi trade representative group The London Taxi Drivers Club (LCDC), exposed a mass of emails which showed an unsavoury relationship between Uber executives and senior TfL staff. Evidence was also given to the Sunday Times by the LCDC regarding the authenticity of 13,000 DBS certificates after TfL tried to sweep the problem under the carpet.
Uber's approach and conduct demonstrated a lack of corporate responsibility which could have potential public safety and security implications, it said.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said in a statement: "I fully support TfL's decision - it would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is anyway that this could pose a threat to Londoners' safety and security. This is not an anti Minicab app decision, this is a anti not playing by the rules decision."
Current statistics have shown that in London alone, Uber drivers were responsible for committing one serious sexual assaults including rape of vulnerable passengers every eleven days. Last year showed a 50% rise in passenger attacks from Uber drivers.
London Cabby Gerald Coba said:
"This decision from TfL will almost certainly make traveling on London streets much safer. Bus drivers will no longer be doing uber shifts before starting work driving buses.
"It should also make driving along one way streets safer too. But this isn't the end. Uber will try to carry on using PHVs registered by other licensing authorities. Cross-boarder hiring needs to be dealt with ASAP, as its become a major problem across the UK.
"But now TfL have refused to relicense, I strongly believe other authorities around the country will now follow suit."
