Uber has been granted a 15-month probationary licence to operate in London after making changes to its practices.

Uber has been given a 15-month probationary licence for London after introducing wide-ranging changes

Last September saw Transport for London (TfL) announce it was stripping Uber London Limited of its licence to operate in the capital after concluding that it was “not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence”.

In a statement at the time, TfL said it considered that Uber’s approach and conduct demonstrated “a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications”. These included its approaches to how medical certificates and DBS checks are obtained and to reporting serious criminal offences.

A two-day hearing in Westminster magistrates court saw the ride-hailing firm outline a number of changes it has made as a result, including completely changing its global governance structures and implementing new systems for reporting alleged crimes.

The chief magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot, said she found Uber fit and proper to hold a licence and the court granted a 15-month probationary licence. Uber was also ordered to pay TfL’s legal costs of £425,000.

Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in the UK, has also said Uber will “continue to work with TfL to address their concerns and earn their trust, while providing the best possible service for our customers”.

In response, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I fully supported Transport for London’s decision not to renew Uber’s operating licence last September – I believe everyone must play by the same rules, no matter how big or powerful they are.

“Uber has been put on probation – their 15-month licence has a clear set of conditions that TfL will thoroughly monitor and enforce. As a result of us standing up for Londoners, Uber has been forced to overhaul the way it operates not just in London but across the world.”