Uber loses license to operate in London for security reasons

A user with the Uber application in central London. TOBY MELVILLE REUTERS

Uber CEO in London Tom Elvidge has announced that the company will appeal the decision "immediately" in court "to defend the livelihoods of all drivers and the freedom of choice of the millions of Londoners using the application". The decision, when firm, will leave out of service more than 40,000 drivers currently working in the city for the company.

In just a few years Uber has become a hugely popular means of transport in the British capital. "The 3.5 million Londoners using our app and the more than 40,000 professional drivers who rely on Uber for a living must be stunned by this decision," adds Elvidge. "With the intention of banning our application, Transport for London and the city's mayor give in to a small group of people who want to limit consumers' freedom of choice.If this decision is confirmed, the more than 40,000 professional drivers today operate in London will lose their jobs and Londoners will lose a practical and accessible transportation alternative. "

TfL explained, through a statement, that "Uber's conduct demonstrates lack of corporate responsibility in relation to several issues that have potential implications for public safety." Among these issues, the public entity cites "its attitude when reporting serious crimes"; "his attitude in the way of obtaining medical certificates": "his attitude about how he obtains the DBS [Disclosure and Prohibition Service] certificates, a body that extends certificates to workers at the request of employers" , and "his attitude in explaining the use of Greyball in London,

That is to say, the body reproaches Uber for failing to explain how its drivers obtain the necessary medical or criminal certificates for the granting of licenses and even some obstruction to the work of those who must ensure compliance with the law. TfL therefore concludes that "Uber London Limited is not appropriate and correct to hold a rental operator license," the statement said.

Mayor support

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has declared that he supports "totally" the decision of TfL. "Providing an innovative service can not be expense of the safety of Londoners," has written into their Twitter account. "I want London to be at the forefront of innovation and new technology and to be the natural home to new and exciting companies," he added. "But all businesses in London must adhere to the rules, particularly when it comes to consumer safety."

From Uber London, Tom Elvidge argues that "drivers using Uber have a license granted by Transport for London and have passed the same criminal background checks as taxi drivers." "Our technology has managed to improve the safety conditions of our routes, which are recorded through GPS," he says. "We have always followed TfL's indications of reporting serious incidents and we have a dedicated team working closely with the Metropolitan Police. As we have already indicated to TfL, an independent inspection showed that Greyball has never been used for the stated purposes by TfL ".

License since 2012

Uber's license to operate as a car rental company in London was dated 2012, according to the London regulator on its website. On May 26, TfL granted Uber a four-month extension of its PH license (private hire) while reviewing the five-year license for 2012. The extension expires on September 30 and will not be renewed unless the decision is reconsidered following an appeal. Uber has 21 days to file, TfL said in the statement. It further clarifies that "Uber London Limited can continue to operate until any appeals process has been exhausted."

Uber, worth about 57 billion euros, is one of the new technology giants of Silicon Valley. It offers a taxi service managed through a mobile application, and has recently also entered the home delivery market. "Uber operates in more than 600 cities around the world, including more than 40 in the UK, which would show the world that London is closing its doors to innovation that brings economic opportunities for millions of people and new alternatives for citizens, defends Elvidge.

BY: EL PAIS