Gatwick Airport taxi drivers are calling on the government to enforce tougher rules for all private hire drivers and vehicles to help keep women and children safe.

They want a national standard for driver vetting, company conduct, safeguarding and vehicle safety, as well as an end to drivers operating freely outside their licensed area.

Michael Jones, the leader of Crawley Borough Council, which covers Gatwick, has brought a motion calling on the government to end a “postcode lottery” of licensing requirements.

The Department for Transport said it was consulting with local authorities.