CALLS to modernise laws around taxis and minicabs have been welcomed in Bradford.

The Local Government Association has today said that hackney carriage and private hire legislation - some of which dates back to 1847 - needs strengthening to improve passenger safety.

This is in the light of an increase in app-based taxi and private hire companies and increased cross-border hiring.

The LGA, which represents councils, says that authorities cannot take enforcement action against the rising numbers of taxi drivers licensed by other authorities operating in their area.

This is causing frustration to councils and drivers who may have had to comply with more rigorous local licensing standards.

The Government has set up a working group to look at the issue over the autumn and the LGA wants it to look at the issue of national minimum licensing standards for drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles, a national database of all licensed drivers, and cross border hiring.

This would improve passenger safety and create a level playing field for drivers, they say.

Bradford Council welcomed the move to update the legislation as did the Bradford Hackney Carriage Owners and Drivers Association.

A spokesman for the Council said: “Bradford Council would welcome any change in legislation which increases safety for taxi passengers.”

Shabbir Master of the industry body in Bradford agreed that”The laws are very archaic and do need changing to reflect the modern way of doing things.

“In Bradford we have issues with cross-border working, vehicles licensed elsewhere like Rossendale working here, and then there is Uber, which is more of an issue for private hire firms.

“You’ve got an authority like Rossendale issuing licences like confetti not thinking about where those drivers are going to work and who is going to have to do the enforcement.”

The LGA says the best way to strengthen safeguarding measures is for Government to update taxi laws.

Cllr Clive Woodbridge, deputy chairman of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Councils have long argued that there is a need for the existing outdated taxi laws to be updated.

“The legislation governing aspects of taxis and private hire vehicles pre-dates the motor car and is simply not fit for purpose in an era when mobile phone technology is significantly changing the way people access private hire vehicles.

“In recent years, we’ve seen a number of child sexual exploitation cases that have involved taxi and PHV holders abusing the trust that has been placed in them, so there are strong safeguarding reasons for strengthening current legislation.

“The onset of mobile phone booking apps for PHVs is causing concern about whether drivers are able to compete on a level playing field and has led to numerous and costly legal challenges which local licensing authorities are being forced to spend public money on.”