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| - US ride-hailing giant Uber began an appeal hearing in Britain on Monday after London's transport authority refused to renew its operating licence on safety grounds. Transport for London (TfL) had revoked Uber's London licence late last year, blaming "unacceptable" safety risks for passengers. However, Uber -- which has 3.5 million customers and 45,000 drives in the British capital -- was allowed to continue operating pending the appeal. TfL had argued in November there were a "pattern of failures", including the use of unauthorised drivers on other drivers' accounts, allowing them to pick up passengers. Some trips took place with unlicensed, suspended or dismissed drivers, it added. "We have worked hard to address TfL's concerns over the last few months, rolled out real time ID checks for drivers, and are committed to keeping people moving safely around the city," said Jamie Heywood, Uber's regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe, in a statement ahead of the appeal. The four-day hearing is taking place at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London. TfL's rejection was the latest set-back to the firm's London operation, which has suffered previous licence suspensions in addition to protests from the capital's traditional black cab drivers. rfj/wai
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