System for background checks on Victorian rideshare drivers was broken for two years

Nearly 3000 rideshare drivers in Victoria may have been allowed to operate despite having a criminal record because of a system failure.

Nearly 3000 Victorian rideshare drivers and instructors may have criminal records but authorities are only now looking into their pasts as the system used to conduct background checks was broken for more than two years.

An internal probe conducted by Victorian Police and Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV) recently discovered the system had been dysfunctional since November 2018 according to the Herald Sun.

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Background checks are supposed to be conducted before you can drive for Uber, drive a bus or teach someone else how to drive. Picture: AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan

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Victorian Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said it was “completely unacceptable” and promised action.

“I’ve asked the Secretary of the Department of Transport to carry out an ­independent assurance review into how this occurred to ensure it can never happen again,” he said.

CPVV chief executive Aaron de Rozario said it had “investigated and fixed a technical issue with our operating system to ensure this cannot happen again”.

Bus drivers, driving instructors, rideshare and taxi drivers need to be accredited by CPVV, a process which includes a police check.

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Close to 3000 names were similar to those in the system and now need to be checked. Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

The investigation found a total 2950 names similar to people with criminal records, which the CPVV hadn’t been informed of due to the system error.

Authorities now have to check every name.

Someone’s name appearing in police records doesn’t mean they’ve committed a crime, but it’s still supposed to be checked.

Mr Carroll said a review will now ensure the CPVV puts in place a thorough and rigorous process and fixes the system.

Originally published as System for background checks on Victorian rideshare drivers was broken for two years