Shocking new data shows that reported sexual offences by taxi or minicab drivers in London have more than tripled in three years.
Figures revealed by a Freedom of Information request submitted by Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice show that Metropolitan Police recorded 70 arrests resulting in charges against taxi or minicab drivers between January 2023 and December 2025 in Greater London.
Of those, 17 offences were committed against passengers during journeys.
The offences recorded by the Met included sexual assault, rape, and assault by penetration, with numbers rising sharply over the three-year period.
In 2023, there were 10 total offences. This jumped to 26 in 2024 and 34 in 2025.
Ellie Lamey, a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority specialist at Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice, said: “These disclosures highlight a deeply concerning breach of public trust. Passengers place their physical safety entirely in the hands of drivers within an isolated, enclosed environment.
“To see licensed professionals exploiting this dynamic is unacceptable. The trauma of an assault in a taxi can be devastating, yet many survivors feel too intimidated or frightened to report the abuse.
“This data must be a wake-up call for licensing boards. We need universally stringent vetting and robust safeguarding measures so passengers can travel without fear, and perpetrators face absolute accountability.”
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Sexual Violence Against Passengers by Licensed Taxi Drivers in Greater London (Between 2023 and 2025) (Image: Billion Media)
Passenger-related offences rose from zero in 2023 to six in 2024, then nearly doubled to 11 in 2025.
Of the 70 offences, 52 were committed while the driver was off duty, including 31 rapes and three attempted rapes.
The Met also recorded 19 offences against children. This included two rapes of girls aged 13 to 15, both in 2024.
Other off-duty offences from 2025 included sexual communication with a child, attempted rape, and sharing of intimate images intended to cause distress or humiliation.
Taxi Driver Sexual Offence Arrests Resulting in Charges in Greater London (Between 2023 and 2025) (Image: Billion Media)
Several cases involved gross indecency with a child, indecent assault on a girl under 14, and assaulting a boy under 13 by touching.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “The Met is committed to tackling sexual violence and abuse across the city. We are delivering major improvements in how we support victims of sexual offences throughout active investigations, providing more than 23,000 officers and staff with bespoke training and rolling out enhanced victim services to increase the quality of our communications.
“Providing better support for victims, while expanding specialist teams to relentlessly pursue the highest risk predatory men, has seen stronger outcomes for victims and survivors, with the Met tripling charges for rape and serious sexual offences. As part of our work under Operation Soteria, we are working tirelessly to build confidence and encourage victim survivors to come forward and report sexual offending to us.
“We will continue to work closely with TfL (Transport for London), BTP (British Transport Police) and local partners, recognising that lasting safety on all aspects of the capital’s transport network requires a coordinated, city-wide response.”
The data has raised fresh questions about the adequacy of current taxi licensing and vetting procedures.
Ms Lamey said: “What these figures show is a pattern that cannot be ignored. When a passenger enters a vehicle, they are in a position of extreme vulnerability.
Taxi driver Sexual Offences Against Children (2023-2025) (Image: Billion Media)
“These statistics suggest that for dozens of people in London, that trust was met with life-changing trauma.”
Licensing standards for taxi and private hire drivers currently vary between local authorities, leading to calls for a single, rigorous national approach.
Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice provides expert legal support and advice for those affected by sexual abuse anyone seeking for information or support should visit https://www.sexualabusecompensationadvice.org.uk/.