Freedom of information response
Vehicle registrations of all licensed private and hackney taxi hire vehicles
I would like to submit a Freedom of Information. I am seeking the vehicle registrations of all licensed private and hackney taxi hire vehicles for which a license has been approved. This should include vehicles with and without wheelchair access.
Many councils and local authorities have this online. A search of your website has not revealed this. My apologies if I have missed it.
I do not wish to be a burden. Providing a website link, electronic document such as PDF or a data extract such as CSV file will be fine. Whatever is easiest for yourselves. A response by email would be appreciated.
Here are examples of other councils which provide this information online. I hope it helps offer additional clarity.
- Allerdale Borough Council - https://ipa.allerdale.gov.uk/PAforLalpacLIVE/1/Vehicle/Search/37
- Bedfordshire Council - https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/59/licensing/49/taxi_licence/10
- New Forest Council - https://forms.newforest.gov.uk/ufs/PRIVATE_HIRE_REGISTER.eb?ebd=0&ebz=2_1715865570569
- London Borough of Harrow - https://tph.tfl.gov.uk/TfL/lg2/TPHLicensing/pubregsearch/home.page?menuId=5
The council’s Public register of licensed vehicles is available at Applications Search (thurrock.gov.uk) and selecting the appropriate licence type.
You will note however, that registration numbers do not form part of the public register as this information is not legally required.
When considering your request for disclosure the registration numbers, the Council has decided to withhold the information under section 40(2), by way of section 40(3A)(a) as it considers the registration number to be Personal Information.
Furthermore, the Council has also decided to withhold the information under section 31(1)(a) for the prevention and detection of crime.
S31 (1)(a) Law Enforcement Exemption of the Freedom of Information Act.
Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice various law enforcement purposes including preventing crime, administering justice, and collecting tax. We are unable to provide the level of detail requested at the current time as we believe that releasing the names of the companies/individuals that have received funds could potentially invite fraudulent or criminal activity.
S40 (2) Data Protection
Personal data of any person (third party data) is exempt under section 40(2) if disclosure would breach one of the data protection principles. This aspect of Section 40 is an Absolute Exemption and is therefore not subject to the Public Interest Test. It is therefore subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act (1998). The information published could contain details of sole traders. There is no prior expectation on the part of individuals that the premises that they own would be published into the wider public domain under FOI. A disclosure made under FOI constitutes a publication to the world at large. We believe that to disclose this would be likely to breach the first Principle of the Data Protection Act by unfairly contravening their right to privacy and confidentiality.