Disturbing Surge: Sexual Offences Linked to London’s Taxi and Private Hire Drivers Triple in Three Years
New data obtained from the Metropolitan Police reveals a stark and alarming escalation in sexual offences connected to taxi and private hire drivers in London. Figures from a Freedom of Information request, analysed by sexualabusecompensationadvice.org.uk, show that recorded charges have more than tripled between 2023 and 2025.
Year-on-Year Climb in Charges
The total number of charges against drivers over this three-year period stands at 70. The annual progression is particularly concerning, jumping from 10 charges in the first year to 34 in the most recent year, indicating a rapidly worsening trend rather than a static issue.
Crimes Against Passengers and the On-Duty/Off-Duty Divide
The data exposes a specific and severe risk to passengers during journeys. While no such offences were recorded in 2023, 11 incidents were logged in the following year. These included the rape of a woman aged 16 or older, seven counts of sexual assault, and instances of sexual penetration.
A critical breakdown of the 70 total charges shows a complex picture. Only 17 of these offences occurred while the driver was officially on duty. The majority, 52 charges, were committed by drivers outside of their working hours. This distinction is crucial for understanding the full scope of the problem, which extends beyond the immediate passenger-driver interaction.
Targeting of Children: A Particularly Heinous Dimension
The report uncovers a deeply troubling pattern of
Image Credit: www.phtm.co.uk
