If you have need to complain about a driver who is licensed by Brighton & Hove, the licensing officers have the powers to investigate. If you use a vehicle that is from another licensing authority within the city, and you have need to complain, then the Brighton & Hove licensing officer will not be able to help other than guide you to seek advice elsewhere.

Additionally, all Brighton & Hove licensed vehicles have to reach a set standard and are limited by age. The licensing officers have the power to spot check such vehicles, but have no power to do the same to vehicles from other areas that work within the city.

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With us at Brighton & Hove Streamline, all our vehicles and drivers are on our special data base. All our vehicles are required to have proof of insurance and a "Condition of Fitness" certificate which is issued when the vehicle has had an enhanced mechanical council inspection. When either of these are due the vehicle receives a daily countdown message (via the vehicle data-unit) warning of the impending expiry date. Should these papers not be produced then the vehicle would automatically be barred from receiving work.

The same happens for driver licenses (taxi & private-hire). Should a driver not produce the expected new licence then he or she is barred from receiving work via the data-unit via  the drivers PIN.  Drivers also need to have a regular CRB check (Criminal Records Bureau) and pass a Driving Standards Agency test. The licensing officer also has the power to enforce a driver to undertake a DSA test at anytime.

The following is taken from the Brighton & Hove City Council website for Taxi matters. View Here.

Taxi Safety

When traveling in a licensed taxi or private-hire vehicle in the city of Brighton & Hove you know that the Licensing authority has taken measures to ensure that your driver is a "fit and proper" person to be responsible for your safety and well being.