National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals, Revocations and Suspensions (NR3S)

West Oxfordshire District Council signed up to the National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations from 1st October 2021, which was known as NR3. From 1st May 2023, this became a mandatory requirement with the addition of suspensions and is now known as the National Register of Refusals, Revocations and Suspensions (NR3S). Officers will use the register to check all new and renewal driver applications to establish whether an applicant has had a licence refused, revoked or suspended.

The data held on NR3S helps licensing authorities to fulfil their statutory duty to be satisfied that an applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

This register is for hackney carriage, private hire and dual driver licences and does not include vehicle and operator licences.

How we will use the register

All applications for a new or renewal licence will automatically be checked on NR3S to see if there is a record of the applicant having been refused, revoked or suspended on the grounds of safeguarding or road safety.

If we find a match with an applicant, we will contact the licensing authority that recorded the entry for further information, as the data contained on the register is limited to information that will help identify an individual and does not give the reason why the licence was refused, revoked or suspended. Any information received as a result of the search will only be used in respect of the specific licence application and will not be held beyond the determination of that application.

If we refuse, revoke or suspend a licence we will automatically record this on NR3S.

The information recorded will be limited to:

• name
• date of birth
• address and contact details
• National Insurance Number
• driving licence number
• decision taken
• date of decision
• date decision effective.

Information will be retained for 25 years.

Privacy notice

Read our privacy notice for information about what we do with any personal.

NR3 policy

Our NR3S policy provides the approach we will take to processing requests by other authorities, further information about entries on the register, and how we will use further information provided to us.

Why has the register been set up?

NR3S has been developed to improve public safety and confidence in hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licensing.

There have been numerous high profile cases where drivers who have been refused licences or had a licence revoked in one area have gone to another area and received a licence by failing to disclose their previous history. This undermines public safety, if there are legitimate reasons why a licence was refused, revoked or suspended and damages confidence in the hackney carriage/private hire licensing regime and trade.

This is why the initiative has been widely supported by reputable drivers and firms and will provide a mechanism for ensuring information about refusals, revocations and suspensions can be shared between all licensing authorities, in a safe and secure way, removing this potential loophole.

How will the register work – what information will be recorded?

When an authority refuses, revokes or suspends a licence, it will record this information on NR3S. The information recorded will be limited to:

• name
• date of birth
• address and contact details
• national insurance number
• driving licence number
• decision taken
• date of decision
• date decision effective

Licensing authorities will then search the register when they are processing new or renewal applications. Where an authority finds a match for the applicant on NR3S, it will contact the licensing authority that recorded the entry to seek more information. If shared, this will then be used to help reach a decision on the application.

Will I automatically be refused a licence if I am on the register?

No. Licensing authorities are legally required to consider each licence application on its own merits, and cannot refuse an application simply because an applicant may be recorded on NR3S. The purpose of NR3S is to ensure that authorities have the full information necessary to help them reach a decision on whether an individual is fit and proper.

If circumstances have materially changed since the decision that has been recorded on NR3S, it may be appropriate for another authority to award a licence.

What if my licence is suspended?

Suspensions of a licence will be recorded on NR3S, whether it is immediate (e.g. safeguarding/public safety) or standard/time-limited.

Can I find out if my details are on the NR3?

Individuals whose details are added to NR3S will be notified and advised of the decision to refuse, revoke or suspend a licence.

Outside of these times, an individual can make a subject access request (SAR) for any of their personal data held on NR3S.

The ‘data controller’ in respect of this data is this licensing authority, to whom a SAR should be submitted in the first instance.  As the ‘data processor’, is the organisation storing the data, the National Anti-Fraud Network will fulfil this request.  Similarly, the exercise of any other rights provided under data protection legislation should be made to this authority in the first instance. See our privacy notice page for more information.

How long will details be held on NR3 for?

Data will be retained on the register to help licensing authorities fulfil their statutory duty.  To be satisfied that a person is a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage or private hire licence.  In accordance with this purpose, data will remain on NR3S for 25 years.