Uber has won support from police to keep its licence because it hands over thousands of pieces of intelligence on drivers, passengers and journeys each year, The Times has learnt.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) claims that its ability to tackle drug dealing, human trafficking and child sexual exploitation would be hindered if it lost such “data and support”.

A court has been told that senior officers want it to continue operating because of the “vital” information, amounting to 2,000 pieces of intelligence a year in the capital alone.