Licensing officers from South Gloucestershire Council recently joined police and licensing teams from Bristol, Wolverhampton, Newport and Tewkesbury for a major cross-border compliance operation aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers using licensed taxis and private hire vehicles.
The joint operation took place on the morning of 12 August and focused on vehicles and drivers operating across local authority boundaries.
A total of 108 licensed vehicles and drivers from 26 different licensing authorities were stopped and inspected during the operation. Checks carried out included looking at vehicle condition, licensing documentation and driver compliance with licensing requirements.
The operation resulted in two immediate stop notices being issued, preventing vehicles from continuing to operate until the identified safety concerns are addressed. Several other licensing matters were identified and are being investigated by the relevant licensing authorities.
The checks also produced a positive outcome, with overall compliance rates found to be very high. Officers were particularly encouraged by the good standards of vehicle condition seen throughout the operation.
Councillor John Bradbury, cabinet member responsible for licensing at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Licensed taxi and private hire drivers play an important role in helping residents and visitors travel safely around our communities. Operations such as this allow the council and the police to work together to ensure that vehicles and drivers meet the standards expected of them and that passenger safety remains a priority. It is particularly pleasing that the vast majority of drivers and vehicles checked were fully compliant, demonstrating the professionalism of the licensed trade across the region.”
Licensing authorities routinely work together to carry out compliance and enforcement activity, helping to maintain public confidence in licensed transport services and ensuring that drivers and operators continue to meet the standards required to protect the travelling public.
For more information on licensing at South Gloucestershire Council visit www.southglos.gov.uk/licensing
