A DRESS code for taxi drivers is to be introduced after complainants wearing shorts “displayed their private parts”.
Increased criminal background checks for drivers every six months are also included in a series of tougher new licensing requirements to be introduced by the Bury Council.
Call handlers and other non-driving taxi company personnel are also undergoing periodic reviews of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for the first time under the new “common minimum license standards” due to be adopted by the Council this week.
If the new standards are adopted by city councils, a dress code for drivers will be applied for the first time in Bury.
A report from District Licensing Chief Michael Bridge to Bury Council will be presented to the full council on Thursday.
The report gave the reasons for introducing a dress code.
It says: “Every year, registration authorities receive numerous complaints relating to the clothing standards of drivers and the associated personal hygiene.
“In the worst examples, passengers reported that drivers wearing shorts had their private parts on display.
“The authorities are striving to achieve a higher standard of the licensed driver fleet, and a positive driver image for residents and visitors is part of this professionalism that we want to achieve.
“It’s just about the drivers thinking and reflecting on what they wear as a licensed driver, and not about the uniform.”
The code states: “All clothing worn by people who work as private drivers or coach drivers must be in good condition and the driver must adhere to good personal hygiene standards.
“Men should wear pants and a shirt, t-shirt or polo shirt with a full body and short or long sleeves as the minimum standard at work.
“Knee-length shorts are acceptable.
“Women should wear pants or a knee-length skirt or dress and a shirt, blouse, T-shirt or polo shirt with a full body and short or long sleeves.
“Knee-length shorts are also acceptable.
“Shoes while working as a licensed driver must be safe in the toe and heel area.”
According to the current regulations on background checks, drivers of private rental vehicles and carriage wagons are checked by DBS when they first apply and then every three years.
This means that the driver is currently obliged to report criminal matters to the licensing authority or the police himself in order to inform the licensing authority if he is aware of the driver’s profession.
The new rules would mean that all drivers would have to register with the DBS update service and maintain that registration so that the council can routinely check for new information at least every six months.
The new standards will mean annual criminal records checks for non-driving taxi companies and employees who have access to bookings.
They are DBS checked to ensure that only safe and suitable persons have access to the operator records.
The new rules will also tighten the medical examinations for drivers.
Bury currently accepts doctors up to 12 months of age, but once the new standards are in place, this will be reduced to four months.
The changes come as all 10 Greater Manchester City Councils want to adopt similar rules for the 2,000 Hackney vehicles, 11,500 private rental cars and more than 18,600 drivers currently registered with those authorities.
A public consultation on the new standards was carried out across the Greater Manchester area.
The report concludes: “The ‘golden thread’ of licensing is public protection.
“We saw from the consultation that the public overwhelmingly supports the additional guarantees and protections that this project can offer.”
If the new standards are agreed, they will be introduced from December 1 of this year.