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Uber will stop operating in London from the end of September 2017, it has been reported.
A press release from TfL confirms:
Transport for London (TfL) has today (Friday 22 September) informed Uber London Limited that it will not be issued with a private hire operator licence after expiry of its current licence on 30 September.
TfL’s regulation of London's taxi and private hire trades is designed to ensure passenger safety. Private hire operators must meet rigorous regulations, and demonstrate to TfL that they do so, in order to operate. TfL must also be satisfied that an operator is fit and proper to hold a licence.
TfL has concluded that Uber London Limited is not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence.
The most damning part of the TfL statement, is the claim that the company lacks corporate responsibility in "its approach to reporting serious criminal offences."
Uber has been given a 21 day period in which to lodge an appeal against the decision, which it is expected to do. Says TfL, "Uber London Limited can continue to operate until any appeal processes have been exhausted."
Depending on the length of these potential appeal proceedings, then, you may still be able to hail an Uber beyond 30 September.
Uber launched in London in July 2012, and has since grown to employ approximately 40,000 drivers in London. The news comes, after a potential Uber rival, Taxify, was ordered by TfL to stop taking bookings on 8 September.
Tom Elvidge, General Manager of Uber in London has responded to the news in a statement to Digital Spy.
By wanting to ban our app from the capital Transport for London and the Mayor have caved in to a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice. If this decision stands, it will put more than 40,000 licensed drivers out of work and deprive Londoners of a convenient and affordable form of transport.
To defend the livelihoods of all those drivers, and the consumer choice of millions of Londoners who use our app, we intend to immediately challenge this in the courts.
We'll update this article as we learn more.
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