From 1st April 2020 Officers will use the register to check all new and renewal driver applications to establish whether they have had a licence revoked or an application refused by another authority. From 1 May 2023 this became a mandatory requirement with the addition of Suspensions
The Local Government Association (LGA) has a national register of hackney carriage and private hire licence revocations, suspensions and refusals. It is called NR3.
The register includes hackney carriage driver licences, private hire driver licences and dual driver licences. It does not include vehicle and operator licences.
As the local licensing authority, we're responsible for adding basic details onto the register when we refuse an application or revoke or suspend a licence on the grounds of safeguarding or road safety.
When we receive an application for a licence, we check the applicant's details on the register to see if there is a record of them having being revoked, suspended or refused elsewhere.
The details contained on the register are limited to information that will help to identify an individual to a certain degree of accuracy. It will not give a reason why a licence was revoked, suspended or refused . If we find a match we will contact the relevant authority for more information.
We use the database to ensure the fitness and propriety of licence holders as part of the application process. We do this in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and human rights law.
We might also use the information provided by applicants to prevent or detect crime, to protect public funds, or in other ways as permitted by law. This can include passing information to certain third parties.
We are registered with the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN), who the LGA commissioned to develop and host the register.
We are transferring all of the existing, relevant data that we hold into the database.
The National Register of Taxi and Private Hire Licence Revocations and Refusals (NR3) has been developed to improve public safety and confidence in hackney carriage and private hire 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 in that area by failing to disclose their previous history.
This undermines public safety, if there are legitimate reasons why a licence was refused or revoked, and damages confidence in the hackney carriage and private hire licensing regime and trade.
This is why the initiative has been widely supported by reputable drivers and firms, as it will provide a mechanism for ensuring information about refusals and revocations can be shared between all licensing authorities in a safe and secure way, removing this potential loophole.
When an authority revokes or suspends a licence, or refuses an application for one, it will record this information on NR3. The information recorded will be limited to:
Licensing authorities will then search the register when they are processing new applications or renewals. Where an authority finds a match for their applicant on NR3, it will contact the licensing authority that recorded the entry to seek more information, which, if shared, will then be used to help reach a decision on the application.
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 NR3.
The purpose of NR3 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 NR3, it may be appropriate for another authority to award a licence.
Individuals whose details are added to NR3 will be notified of this at the point at which they are advised of the decision to refuse or revoke a licence.
Outside of these times, an individual can make a subject access request (SAR) for any of their personal data held on NR3.
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', that 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.
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 NR3 for 11 years.