National Register of Revocations, Refusals and Suspensions (NR3S)

Briefly describe the initiative/ project/service; please include your aims and objectives 

The National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) is a public sector not-for-profit organization based at Tameside Council, supporting over 98% of local authorities in the UK. NAFN’s core mission is to provide a center of excellence for public sector data and intelligence, fostering collaboration and innovation to address critical needs in local governance. 

 

In response to challenges faced by local licensing teams, NAFN partnered with the Local Government Association (LGA) to create the National Register of Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Licence Refusals, Revocations, and Suspensions (NR3S). This initiative aims to enhance public safety by providing a national, centralized database where local authorities can check whether an individual’s taxi or PHV license has been refused, revoked, or suspended in any jurisdiction across England and Wales. 

 

The project’s objectives include improving the consistency and transparency of taxi and PHV licensing decisions, ensuring that all local authorities have access to reliable data when assessing the suitability of applicants. This was achieved by developing a memorandum of understanding (MoU), creating guidance, policy, and training materials, and managing the migration of 25 years of historical data to the register. The initiative has revolutionized how local authorities interact with licensing data, contributing to better decision-making and enhanced public safety. 

 

The NR3S aligns with NAFN’s broader goal of supporting the public sector through shared services and data collaboration. This project exemplifies innovation in data-sharing across local authorities, and its success highlights the value of national collaboration in addressing local regulatory challenges. 

 

What are the key achievements? 

• The NR3S initiative has achieved significant success and made a lasting impact on public safety, local authority operations, and community well-being. 
• The NR3S began with over 100 local authorities and has expanded to almost 300 organisations, demonstrating wide adoption and trust in the system across England and Wales. This growth reflects the initiative’s success in meeting a critical need for improved driver vetting. 
• Over 203,000 searches of the NR3S database have been conducted, which indicates the widespread use and importance of the register in daily decision-making by licensing teams. These searches help ensure that only fit and proper drivers are licensed, protecting public safety. 
• With more than 13,000 entries on the NR3S, the register’s effectiveness has grown over time. Local areas have daily access to crucial data, which enhances the decision-making process when licensing drivers and helps prevent unsuitable drivers from operating in new areas. 
• The NR3S has played a vital role in protecting local communities, particularly vulnerable individuals who may be susceptible to fraud, crime, or unsafe drivers. By ensuring that unfit drivers cannot simply move to another area to resume work, the register helps safeguard the public, including preventing serious crimes such as sexual misconduct or financial fraud. 
• The initiative has established a cost-effective central register accessible to all local authorities and licensing bodies, providing a shared resource for improved decision-making. This not only saves individual organisations the cost of developing their own systems but also ensures consistent national standards. 
• The NR3S initiative has delivered broader societal benefits, such as improving national standards for driver vetting, enhancing public awareness of checks and controls, and fostering effective data sharing and intelligence among authorities. 
• The primary benefit has been increased public safety and greater confidence in the licensing process. By ensuring that only licensed drivers who meet national standards are allowed to operate, the NR3S contributes to safer roads and public transportation options. 
• The centralised database and shared access among local authorities have streamlined the licensing process. This has not only improved the speed and accuracy of decisions but also resulted in cost savings for local authorities by reducing administrative overhead and duplication of efforts. 
• The growth in participation and the daily use of the register reflects how it has increased productivity for local authorities, enabling them to make faster, more informed decisions. Moreover, the collaborative nature of the initiative has fostered stronger partnerships between local authorities and other stakeholders, creating a more coordinated approach to public safety. 
• The NR3S has far exceeded its initial aims of improving driver vetting and enhancing public safety. Initially, the goal was to establish a database for sharing information about unsuitable drivers across local authorities. The project not only achieved this but also grew into a widely adopted tool used daily by nearly 300 organisations. The initiative has expanded its reach, effectiveness, and impact, contributing to broader societal benefits, including the potential reduction of various crimes and greater overall public confidence in the licensing process. 
• The NR3S initiative has successfully transformed how local authorities approach driver licensing, resulting in improved public safety, more efficient operations, and significant societal benefits. 
• Most importantly, this voluntary funded development of a database to facilitate secure data sharing across public sector licensing authorities has now become legislation. All licensing authorities are now mandated to use the NR3S under the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (Road Safety and Safeguarding Act 2022. The Welsh Government is now following suit and has indicated the NR3S will also be their choice of database for Welsh licensing authorities. This is massive achievement – it literally changed the law and has supported authorities to assure the safety of passengers in taxi and private hire vehicles. 

 

How Innovative is your initiative? 

The data sharing initiative led by NAFN (National Anti-Fraud Network) is highly innovative due to its proactive approach in addressing issues related to taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing, safeguarding, and road safety. Several aspects demonstrate the creative and boundary-pushing nature of the initiative: 

 

NAFN’s initiative has effectively created a national network of local authorities (LAs), Transport for London (TfL), the Local Government Association (LGA), and the Department for Transport (DfT). The National NR3S User Group, hosted by NAFN, serves as a forum for these stakeholders to collaborate, exchange feedback, and continuously improve the National Register of Refusals, Revocations, and Suspensions (NR3S). This cross-organisational communication not only strengthens the community but helps reduce fraud and enhances public safety. 

 

The NR3S database, which stores 25 years’ worth of data, allows licensing authorities to conduct thorough background checks, ensuring that drivers are “fit and proper” before being granted a license. This extensive historical data gives authorities the necessary tools to make more informed, data-driven decisions, which is crucial in preventing individuals with a history of refusals, revocations, or suspensions from being licensed. 

 

The introduction of the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicle (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022 marked a significant legislative change, mandating that all licensing authorities in England must submit information on refusals, revocations, and suspensions to a central repository. NAFN’s foresight and leadership in ensuring the majority of licensing authorities were already prepared for this legislative change is a testament to its proactive approach. NAFN had already developed and refined the processes necessary for authorities to upload and access data, ensuring that they were ready to meet new regulatory requirements seamlessly. The innovation and success of this initiative challenged the Government to take action and we are delighted that both England and Wales Government’s have either enacted or are in the process of enacting laws to mandate the use of the NR3S. 

 

The ability for licensing authorities to search the central register for data on an applicant’s past behavior means that licensing decisions are more informed. If an applicant’s information matches previous refusals, revocations, or suspensions, authorities can make decisions that prevent unfit individuals from being granted or renewing a license. This significantly reduces the risk of licensing individuals who pose a threat to public safety and promotes a culture of safety and integrity in the sector. 

 

The ongoing nature of the NR3S User Group, with its focus on feedback and technical enhancements, ensures that the system continues to evolve. NAFN’s commitment to continually improving the system guarantees that it adapts to emerging challenges, technological advancements, and legislative changes, making it a dynamic and forward-thinking initiative. 

 

NAFN’s data sharing initiative is highly innovative because it combines cross-organisational collaboration, long-term data usage, proactive legislative adaptation, and a focus on safety and fraud reduction. This initiative not only addresses current issues but also sets a new standard for how data sharing and collaboration can drive improvement in public safety and governance. 

 

What are the key learning points? 

Here are the key learning points and insights from the National Anti-Fraud Network’s (NAFN) NR3S initiative, focusing on its replicability, scalability, and the lessons learned. 

 

The success of the NR3S initiative is rooted in effective collaboration across multiple public sector organisations, including NAFN, the Local Government Association (LGA), and local authorities. This model of shared responsibility and collaboration has proven vital for achieving common goals, particularly in addressing fraud and safeguarding issues in taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. 

 

The creation of a memorandum of understanding and the development of guidance, policy, and training were critical in harmonizing efforts across diverse local authorities with differing practices. 

 

The NR3S register is the first of its kind, enabling local authorities to cross-reference licensing decisions across England and Wales, helping identify whether a driver’s licence has been refused, revoked, or suspended. This kind of data sharing enhances the quality of decision-making and ensures that unfit drivers cannot operate in multiple areas without their past penalties being known. 

 

The development of the NR3S was not without challenges, especially in terms of coordinating different local authorities with varying processes and technical capabilities. The initial complexity of uploading data and integrating historical records was significant. However, once the systems were set up, it became much easier to scale the initiative. 

 

The technical challenges of developing a centralised database, ensuring data security, and facilitating smooth data migration were critical points to address for the initiative’s success. 

 

The NR3S initiative is highly replicable and scalable due to its design as a centralised and cost-effective platform. As evidenced by the increasing participation from nearly 300 local authorities, the system has proven adaptable across diverse regions. The continued growth of the database and expansion of its usage signifies its broad appeal and the potential for replication in other areas of public sector governance. 

 

The system can be expanded to accommodate future data or be adapted for other areas of licensing and safety monitoring, enhancing its scalability. The partnership with the LGA and the ongoing support from NAFN also provide a strong foundation for further national expansion. 

 

The creation of the National NR3S User Group, which includes representatives from local authorities, Transport for London, the Department for Transport, and the LGA, exemplifies a commitment to continuous improvement. This group ensures that the system evolves to meet emerging challenges and that feedback from local authorities is incorporated to enhance the register’s effectiveness. 

 

The commitment to technical improvements, such as the regular review of system functionality and feedback loops, has ensured the longevity and ongoing relevance of the initiative. 

 

The NR3S has played a crucial role by preventing unfit drivers, previously refused or revoked by other local authorities, from obtaining licences in other areas. This national register has significantly increased the accountability and transparency of licensing decisions. 

 

It has also had a direct impact on public safety, particularly for vulnerable individuals who might otherwise be at risk from unscrupulous drivers. With over 203,000 searches of the NR3S database, the initiative is actively contributing to safer transportation options across England and Wales. 

 

The new Taxis and Private Hire Vehicle (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022 mandates that all licensing authorities upload refusals, revocations, and suspensions to a central register. The foresight of NAFN in creating the NR3S has positioned it as a key player in ensuring that local authorities are prepared to comply with this new legislation, minimizing the risk of non-compliance and supporting the effective implementation of the law. 

 

By providing a central repository of data that spans 25 years, the NR3S has empowered licensing authorities to make more informed and evidence-based decisions. This has strengthened the due diligence process when granting or renewing taxi and private hire driver licences, ensuring that only fit and proper individuals are allowed to operate. 

 

The initiative has enhanced public confidence in local transportation systems. By using the NR3S to vet applicants thoroughly, licensing authorities demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding passengers, which is particularly critical in protecting vulnerable members of society from potential harm. 

 

The NR3S has set a precedent for cross-organisational data sharing within the public sector. Its success in tackling fraud and safeguarding issues has highlighted the importance of collaboration, leading to a broader conversation about data sharing across different public services.

 

Additional Comments 

We are now being approached to develop a national licensing register for all personal licences including taxi operators, alcohol, non-surgical cosmetic procedures, vaping, tattoos, scrap metal, gambling and more. Through our digital transformation project, we will include the capability to do this and seek funding from central government to support its effective delivery. Watch this space!