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| London taxi and private hire cab sex attacks 'at 14-year high' | London taxi and private hire cab sex attacks 'at 14-year high' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The number of rapes and sex assaults of taxi and private hire passengers in London reached a 14-year high in 2016, figures show. | The number of rapes and sex assaults of taxi and private hire passengers in London reached a 14-year high in 2016, figures show. |
| Transport for London (TfL) and the Met Police revealed a 21% rise on the previous year. | Transport for London (TfL) and the Met Police revealed a 21% rise on the previous year. |
| In 2016, 164 offences were reported to police compared with 136 offences in 2015. Figures were only higher in 2002, when there were 189 sex attacks. | In 2016, 164 offences were reported to police compared with 136 offences in 2015. Figures were only higher in 2002, when there were 189 sex attacks. |
| There were no attacks by licensed black cab taxi drivers in 2016, figures show. | There were no attacks by licensed black cab taxi drivers in 2016, figures show. |
| The figures take into account incidents of rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault. | The figures take into account incidents of rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault. |
| A total of 25 private hire drivers were charged with sexual assault in 2016, with 12 of them being convicted, figures show. | A total of 25 private hire drivers were charged with sexual assault in 2016, with 12 of them being convicted, figures show. |
| Of those charged, eight were found not guilty and five are awaiting trial. | Of those charged, eight were found not guilty and five are awaiting trial. |
| The convictions related to pre-booked private hire journeys with five of them booked through the online hailing app Uber. | The convictions related to pre-booked private hire journeys with five of them booked through the online hailing app Uber. |
| Two of the five convictions related to the same driver. | Two of the five convictions related to the same driver. |
| A further five Uber drivers were found not guilty and three more are awaiting a court hearing or outcome, the figures showed. | A further five Uber drivers were found not guilty and three more are awaiting a court hearing or outcome, the figures showed. |
| A substantial share of London's private hire drivers get work through Uber - with 40,000 drivers in the capital believed to be using it. | A substantial share of London's private hire drivers get work through Uber - with 40,000 drivers in the capital believed to be using it. |
| That is equivalent to about half of the city's active licensed private hire drivers. | |
| An Uber spokesperson said: "We take any allegations of this nature very seriously, immediately preventing drivers from using our app and supporting the police with their investigations. | An Uber spokesperson said: "We take any allegations of this nature very seriously, immediately preventing drivers from using our app and supporting the police with their investigations. |
| "All drivers who use our app in London are licensed by Transport for London and have gone through the same enhanced DBS checks as black cab drivers. | "All drivers who use our app in London are licensed by Transport for London and have gone through the same enhanced DBS checks as black cab drivers. |
| "Our GPS technology also means that every trip is electronically tracked and recorded." | "Our GPS technology also means that every trip is electronically tracked and recorded." |
| TfL said the safety of its passengers using black taxis and private hire vehicles was its top priority. | TfL said the safety of its passengers using black taxis and private hire vehicles was its top priority. |
| "Passengers should expect to be safe - and feel safe - when travelling by taxi or private hire and no one should ever be subject to sexual behaviour by a driver", it said. | "Passengers should expect to be safe - and feel safe - when travelling by taxi or private hire and no one should ever be subject to sexual behaviour by a driver", it said. |
| None of the drivers who were charged with an offence currently hold an active private hire driver's licence, TfL added. | None of the drivers who were charged with an offence currently hold an active private hire driver's licence, TfL added. |
| What is the difference between a taxi and a private hire vehicle? | What is the difference between a taxi and a private hire vehicle? |
| Taxi's can be hailed from the street, can operate from taxi ranks and must have a meter and a fare table displayed. | Taxi's can be hailed from the street, can operate from taxi ranks and must have a meter and a fare table displayed. |
| Private hire vehicles cannot be hailed in the street, cannot use taxi ranks and must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. | Private hire vehicles cannot be hailed in the street, cannot use taxi ranks and must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. |