THE crimes of the likes of John Worboys and Terence Collins were shocking. They were both licensed and legitimate (in the legal sense) taxi drivers.

Now plans going through Parliament to deregulate the taxi and private hire industries could make it easier for criminals to join the trade and use it as an opportunity to steal, attack and abuse.

A charter for thieves, rapists and paedophiles according to taxi association chairman, John Tye.

Police and numerous campaign groups are also worried. This is already looking like a bad piece of legislation that shouldn’t get anywhere near the statute books.