Uber has had its licence to operate in London revoked over the company’s failure to ensure passenger safety.

Transport for London deemed the ride-hailing giant “not fit and proper” to hold a licence because it has not properly vetted unlicensed and uninsured drivers.

Uber showed a “pattern of failures” TFI officials said.

Failures

Unauthorised drivers were able to upload their own photos to other drivers’ accounts, and carry passengers under the ID of the authorised driver.

This led to 14,000 uninsured trips by unlicensed drivers, one of whom had their license previously revoked, TFI said.

Uber got a 15-month licence to operate in the city in June 2018.

“Safety is our absolute top priority,” Helen Chapman of TFI said. “While we recognise Uber has made improvements, it is unacceptable that Uber has allowed passengers to get into minicabs with drivers who are potentially unlicensed and uninsured.”

Uber called the decision “extraordinary and wrong” and said it will appeal within the three-week window it has to keep its fleet on the streets.

Meanwhile, New York city has imposed a freeze on most new for-hire vehicles and set a pay floor for drivers.