Disclosure of convictions

There is important guidance available for existing and prospective taxi drivers on completion of the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) form.

You must have a DBS disclosure certificate before you can be licensed to drive a hackney carriage or private-hire vehicle. New or renewal applications for taxi licences will not be processed without one.

Disclosure and barring service (DBS) 

A Guide to applying for Disclosure Information for new applicants and existing drivers.

Runnymede submits your DBS application through Surrey County Council who are a 'Registered Body' with the DBS. They are also what is termed an' umbrella organisation', meaning they can submit forms on behalf of local authorities.

The DBS procedure will involve you coming to the Civic Centre and completing an online application form.

The DBS check will be carried out on appointment with the licensing officer, the whole process should take around 20 minutes. When you arrive at the Civic Centre, please make the reception staff aware that you have come for a taxi licence DBS check.

You must bring with you: (only original identity documents will be accepted - no photocopies), driving licence, (note if you only have a paper licence and no passport you will need more than one item from group 2a or 2b below), passport or birth certificate, and a utility bill, bank statement or similar.

These are generally sufficient but a full list of acceptable documents can be seen below.                                            

Please note: It is essential that you also have a note of your National Insurance numberand five full years of address history information, the form cannot be completed without these.

The licensing officer will verify your identity and complete their part of the online DBS application form.

You then have to complete and submit the online application (there is no provision for a paper form). You can do this in two ways:

1) You can remain at the Civic Centre and complete the online form in the presence of the licensing officer. The licensing officer will remain with you to assist.

2) The licensing officer can obtain a password for you to access the application and you can then leave the Civic Centre to complete and submit the application at another location.

The payment must be made with your application; the amount is made up of three parts as follows;

1) The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) charge of £40 for the DBS service,

2) Surrey County Council charge £9 to cover their administration costs.

3) A processing charge of £17.00 is made by Runnymede Borough Council.

You can pay the total amount of £66.00 by Cash, Debit/Credit card or cheque if paying by cheque this should be made payable to Runnymede Borough Council, We will then pay Surrey County Council their admin fee of £9 and the £40 DBS fee which they in turn pay to the DBS.

PLEASE NOTE IT IS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT OF LICENSING THAT YOU REGISTER FOR THE DBS UPDATE SERVICE SEE THE DBS UPDATE SERVICE INFORMATION LINK

A code of practice exists to govern the disclosure of information

• Disclosure of information code of practice

Please note - A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to your application but will be taken into account in the decision making process.

The applicant must produce valid original documents (not copies) to prove their identity. The applicable document list will be sent to you with your reminder for a DBS or if you are a new applicant with your drivers information pack.