Calls for stricter checks after Uber fuels record rise in minicabs.

The increase has led to concerns over congestion in the busiest cities.

The number of Uber-style minicabs on the road has risen by almost a quarter in two years and has led to calls for tighter regulation of drivers.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that the number of minicabs is now at record levels, with 205,500 vehicles in England this year.

Pre-booked minicabs have boomed as the number of traditional taxis and black cabs, which can be hailed on the street, have dropped. The figures show that taxi numbers were down by 0.7 per cent to 75,500 over the same period.

The figures underline the boom in popularity of cashless e-hailing apps such as Uber that allow passengers to request journeys via an app and pay electronically.

However, the increase has led to concerns over congestion in the busiest cities. Fears have also been raised about public safety and the rigour of the vetting system. A recent investigation found that hundreds of drivers had been given licences despite convictions for sex offences, burglary and assault.

Yesterday it was reported that Uber faced problems keeping its licence in London because of concerns raised by Sadiq Khan, the mayor, about its conduct. Last week Transport for London banned another app, Taxify, three days after it was launched after ruling that it was not permitted to “accept private hire bookings” in the city.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “We need to strike a balance here, and in some areas minicab numbers have got out of hand. There is an argument to be made that the service has got much better with the introduction of apps but there’s no doubt that this is contributing towards congestion.”

Figures also show the number of drivers. In all 356,300 drivers had a taxi or minicab licence, up by 20 per cent in two years. Again, the big rise was in minicabs, which are officially known as private hire vehicles. Minicab licences increased by 32.2 per cent to 217,000, while dual minicab and taxi licences rose by 10.6 per cent to 78,900.

Fred Jones, of Uber, said: “While more vehicles are now licensed for private hire, this doesn’t necessarily mean there are more cars on the road.

In fact recent polling shows many Brits now see a combination of apps like Uber and public transport as an alternative to owning a car.”

The Department for Transport said: “Public safety is our top priority.”

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