Plans approved to crack down on unlicensed taxis

Politicians on Jersey have approved plans that would make it easier for the government to crack down on illegal taxi services.

The plans were approved by 36 politicians and, while non voted against, four politicians abstained.

In her proposal, Deputy Catherine Curtis said unregulated, uninsured services such as Jersey Lifts posed risks to passengers and drivers.

Despite approving the plans, some politicians criticised the island's regulated taxi services for being too expensive and not meeting local needs.

Speaking to the BBC ahead of the debate, Curtis said she was worried about unlicensed services which advertised on Facebook groups but were unregulated and required no DBS checks for drivers.

Curtis said Facebook groups known as Jersey Lifts had been offering unregulated services to thousands of members.

Curtis said: "It seems like a friendly way to do things, and it probably often is, but there are huge risks involved and at some point something is going to go terribly wrong if we don't stop it."

"The cost-of-living crisis is not helped by a population who is not paying tax or social security contributions which is something that is growing through these."

However, there were criticisms around the cost and availability of regulated taxis on the island.

Research by Policy Centre Jersey, found that a two-mile daytime journey cost almost 20% more compared to the UK national average.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf said: "Half the public are sitting around and thinking why don't we have an Uber or an equivalent, we should be responding to that, we need to deliver a service that works for people."

Deputy Kirsten Morel, minister for sustainable economic development, said: "This proposition does not deal with market failure, people have moved away from using regulated taxis because it's not meeting their needs."

However, Mick Tostevin, secretary of the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association, defended the cost of regulated taxi providers in Jersey.

"Taxis aren't cheap in Jersey, they are quite expensive, but the regulation that surrounds the taxis that the drivers have to go through to be taxi drivers includes garage bills, insurance, the expense of running a taxi is a lot," he said.

"We live in a very expensive place to do business, going to the pub now you can pay £7, £8 for a pint, and yet I can take a customer from Weighbridge to Georgetown for the price of a beer."

"Its unfair to compare us to other jurisdictions."

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan also defended the costs of taxis in Jersey.

He said: "When I was young to get a taxi was the equivalent of a round of drinks and my age now the cost of a taxi is a round of drinks so I think costs have increased on par with other costs."

The decision means the next government will be required to update the island's motor law or bring in a new law to make prosecuting illegal taxi services easier.

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