Neighbourhood officers join forces with district council for taxi enforcement operation

Taxi drivers and their vehicles were put under the spotlight during stop checks to ensure they were complying with their licence conditions

Only two drivers and their vehicles had no issues - the rest were sent either an advisory letter or issued with penalty points against their Council issued licence.

The stop checks were carried out in a joint operation by licensing officers from South Cambridgeshire District Council and neighbourhood officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary earlier this month.

A total of 17 vehicles were stopped in and around Cambridge and checks made including driver badge displayed, door signage, first aid kit and fire extinguisher, in the second day of its type arranged so far this year.

Patrols found:

• Various issues with two vehicles parked on double yellow lines. One was on double red lines at Addenbrookes Hospital next to a ‘no parking at any time’ sign, identity badges not on display or missing and door signage not displayed.
• One driver was issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) by Police for not wearing a seatbelt. Private hire drivers do not have to wear one if fare paying passengers are in the vehicle, but once a customer has left the vehicle, the driver must use the seatbelt.
• One licensed vehicle had aftermarket window tints, not allowed under the South Cambridgeshire Hackney Carriage and Private Hire policy. UK law states windscreen glass must allow a minimum of 75% of light through, but the reading was 49.6 %. The vehicle licence was immediately suspended, and the driver given 14 days to resolve the issue.
• One licensed vehicle had aftermarket tints on the rear windows, a breach of policy and licence conditions. The vehicle was issued with a delayed suspension notice with 48hrs to comply.

Most drivers were cooperative, but two had a poor attitude towards Council and Police officers, leading to one driver being cautioned by the Police. Their suitability to continue to hold a licence may lead to a referral to the Taxi Licensing Sub-Committee.

South Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Sergeant, Rob Taylor, said: “It was disappointing to see the majority of taxis checked during the operation were not meeting the required standards. Checking drivers are using a safe, approved vehicle with the correct equipment when carrying members of the public and following all laws and regulations will undoubtedly help improve road safety and reduce the risk of collisions.

“Checking the taxi driver documentation also helps reduce the risk to vulnerable people who may fall prey to unlicensed drivers in the nighttime economy. We would like to remind people to use reputable companies and apps when booking a taxi. When the taxi arrives, the driver should be wearing photographic identification as well as having their private hire licence displayed within the vehicle. These checks will continue throughout the year to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Cllr Natalie Warren Green, Lead Cabinet Member for Licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “The recent taxi checks have revealed that too many vehicles were not meeting the required standards. Ensuring the safety of passengers is our top priority, and these checks play a critical role in maintaining that trust. We will continue working closely with local operators to make sure all taxis are compliant and safe for every journey in our district.”

Another operation of this type will be taking place during the run up to the Christmas and New Year period.