UBER has lost its licence to operate private hire services in London after regulators ruled that the app was not “fit and proper” to operate in the capital.

Transport for London (TfL) refused to renew the company’s licence today, saying that it had identified a “pattern of failures” by Uber.

Investigators found that over 14,000 trips had been made by more than 40 drivers who had faked their identity on the app, raising serious concerns over Uber’s commitment to passenger safety.

In a statement, TfL said: “Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL does not have confidence that similar issues will not recur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time.”

Uber had already lost its licence in 2017 but was granted two extensions, the most recent of which expired on Sunday.

TfL licensing director Helen Chapman said that it was “unacceptable” that Uber allowed unlicensed and uninsured drivers to pick up passengers for trips.

Unite London and Eastern cab section chairman Jim Kelly welcomed the news, saying: “There remain fundamental problems in the way the company operates, particularly issues around passenger safety.

“Uber’s DNA is about driving down standards and creating a race to the bottom, which is not in the best interests of professional drivers or customers.

“In order to protect the public and to ensure standards are maintained, it is essential that TfL follows this decision with stricter licencing of private hire operators and apps.”

Labour’s shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: “Innovative technologies have an important role to play in our transport networks, but endangering passengers, tax avoidance and a crisis of low pay is not a price worth paying.

“It’s important that giant multinational companies like Uber are not allowed to flout the rules and put passengers at risk.

“Labour will reform taxi and private hire services to set minimum standards on safety and accessibility, updating regulations to keep pace with technological change and to close loopholes to ensure a level playing field between all taxi operators.”

The app’s 45,000 drivers are allowed to continue working across the capital while Uber appeals against the ruling.