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THE UK’S #1 TAXI NEWS SOURCE
Edition 89| SEPTEMBER 2026
DFT REVEALS LATEST
PLUS
DEBATE
COMPLETE CHOICE OR UNIFORM VEHICLES?
TOO HOT TO RIDE: SHOULD AC BE CONDITION OF FITNESS?
BUSINESS, REGIONAL, LONDON AND ENFORCEMENT NEWS ROUND-UP
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FROM THE EDITOR PERRY RICHARDSON
TaxiPoint Chief Editor: Perry Richardson TaxiPoint Publishing & Advertising Manager:
THE TRADE WILL NEVER BE MORE INTELLIGENT
Lindsey Richardson Visit us online at: www.taxi-point.co.uk Write to us at: contact@taxi-point.co.uk Advertising enquiries at: advertising@taxi-point.co.uk The publishers reserve the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisers must comply with the British Code of Advertising practice. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. All written and image rights are reserved by the author as displayed. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Copyright brand TaxiPoint 2026. Creative Common image licences displayed where applicable.
new offering designed to provide decision-makers with deeper industry data and insight. Readers The schools are back, demand is may already have noticed returning and taxi drivers will be elements being introduced within some of our daily regional hoping for a strong run through to Christmas. The months ahead reporting, and we look forward to launching this further over the also promise significant developments for the trade, with coming weeks. the Government expected to We are hugely optimistic about reveal more about its plans for the next six months and the taxi and private hire licensing opportunities ahead. If you are an reform, including the longindustry decision-maker or running issue of cross-border organisational leader, we would hiring. With Andy Burnham now like to hear from you and share in place as PM and historically more about our plans. But for vocal on the subject, the direction now, welcome to Edition 89 of of travel remains unknown but TaxiPoint Magazine. likely to move forward. Many thanks and be lucky, It’s an exciting time at TaxiPoint too as we have turned our attention to several new business developments which will benefit readers and the industry. One of which is TaxiPoint Intelligence, a
Perry Richardson
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WOULD YOU RATHER: COMPLETE TAXI CHOICE OR ONE UNIFORM VEHICLE?
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ould you rather operate in a taxi market choose an electric vehicle. Those serving larger where almost any compliant vehicle groups could invest in a multi-seat vehicle without could be licensed, regardless of colour, forcing the same expense on every licence holder. age, fuel type or seating capacity, or work in one A wider choice could also help operators keep where every driver used the same vehicle model and vehicles on the road. Replacement models, spare livery? parts and servicing may be easier to source when the At one end of the scale is a broadly open vehicle trade is not dependent on a single manufacturer. market. Drivers could choose between new and used Older vehicles could remain licensed where they cars, electric, petrol or diesel models, and vehicles of continue to pass strict inspections, reducing the different sizes. Licensing authorities would retain pressure to replace a serviceable taxi solely because essential safety and accessibility standards, but it has reached an arbitrary age. would impose fewer rules governing appearance, age The trade-off is inconsistency. Passengers may find it and vehicle type. harder to recognise licensed taxis, particularly where The main advantage would be cost and flexibility. vehicles have no common colour or body style. Drivers could select a vehicle suited to their workload Standards of luggage space, accessibility and comfort and finances, rather than paying for a specialist or could vary considerably. An open market could also prescribed model. A rural taxi operator might favour weaken the visual identity that distinguishes taxis a fuel-efficient estate car, while a city driver could from private hire vehicles and ordinary cars.
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At the opposite extreme, complete uniformity would require every taxi to use the same model and colour. The result would be a highly visible fleet with a strong local or national identity. Passengers could immediately recognise a taxi and know broadly what to expect in terms of space, accessibility, seating and payment facilities. Uniformity could support accessibility if the chosen model were wheelchair accessible and designed for frequent passenger use. Authorities could set one consistent specification, while drivers, enforcement officers and passengers would all understand the standard being applied.
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or the withdrawal of the selected model could affect the entire fleet. A compulsory electric model could also create difficulties for drivers without reliable charging, while one fixed seating configuration might not suit every local market. Uniformity provides identity, but it achieves that consistency by removing commercial choice from individual operators. Neither scenario is without compromise. A free vehicle market offers lower barriers and greater flexibility but risks producing an anonymous and uneven fleet. A single-model system delivers recognition and common standards but could increase costs and leave the trade exposed to one vehicle supply chain.
However, mandating one vehicle would concentrate the market around a single product and potentially one manufacturer. Drivers would have little ability to In this hypothetical question… which one would you shop around, negotiate on price or choose a vehicle choose? matching their own operating pattern. Purchase costs could rise, while production delays, parts shortages
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DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT FIGURES REVEAL A RAPIDLY EXPANDING PHV MARKET, A SHRINKING TAXI FLEET AND WIDENING CONCERNS OVER ACCESSIBILITY, CROSS-BORDER WORKING AND VEHICLE AGE POLICIES.
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ngland’s licensed The capital had around 93,300 private hire vehicle fleet licensed PHVs, up just 1% from grew by 13% between 2024, while its taxi fleet fell by April 2024 and April 2026, while 7% to 13,700. Outside London, taxi numbers fell by 7%, the shift was considerably according to Department for stronger: PHV numbers jumped Transport (DfT) data showing an by 20% to 196,600, while taxis increasingly divided passenger declined by 7% to 38,600. transport market. Those figures suggest the centre There were approximately of PHV expansion has moved 342,300 licensed taxis and PHVs beyond London and into in England on 1 April 2026, an licensing areas serving England’s overall increase of 9% in two regional towns and cities. years. However, that growth was Approximately two-thirds of driven entirely by private hire, England’s PHVs are now licensed with PHV numbers reaching outside the capital, compared 290,000 while the taxi fleet with a market once more heavily dropped to 52,300. PHVs associated with London’s large now account for almost app-based sector. 85% of all licensed Driver licensing figures are vehicles. moving in the same direction. The shift in opposite directions was recorded both inside and outside London.
England had 417,300 taxi and PHV driver licences, 9% more than in 2024. PHV-only licences increased by 13% to 296,800, while taxi-only licences fell by 11% to 30,400. Taxi-only licences represented just 7% of the total, down from 9% two years earlier. The number of licensed PHV operators also rose. The DfT
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recorded approximately 19,000 operator licences, up 17% from 16,300 in 2024. The total does not represent 19,000 separate businesses because some operators hold licences in more than one authority, but it indicates continued commercial interest in accepting and dispatching private hire bookings.
Wheelchair access concerns
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vehicle sector whose replacement costs are typically higher because many wheelchair-accessible taxis are purposebuilt or specially converted.
Seven licensing authorities reported having no wheelchair-accessible taxi or PHV: Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, Rutland, Blaby, Epping Forest, Elmbridge and West Devon. Those authorities licensed 1,113 vehicles between them, but none was recorded as wheelchair accessible.
The contraction carries wider implications than just a reduction in vehicle numbers as it also affects wheelchair-accessible provision. Only Cross-border 34,500 of England’s licensed taxis and PHVs were wheelchair accessible in April working means a wheelchair2026, a fall of 4% since 2024, despite accessible the combined fleet growing by 9%. Accessible vehicles represented just 10% of the national licensed fleet. The gap between the two sectors remains substantial. Approximately 28,000 taxis, or 54% of the taxi fleet, were wheelchair accessible. By comparison, only around 6,400 PHVs, equivalent to 2% of the private hire fleet, could carry a passenger while seated in a wheelchair. Wheelchair-accessible PHV numbers increased by 15%, slightly faster than the overall PHV market. However, the accessibility rate remained at 2%, meaning the addition of tens of thousands of private hire vehicles has done little to alter the proportion suitable for wheelchair users. At the same time, the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis fell by 8%, faster than the 7% reduction in the wider taxi fleet. This leaves accessibility increasingly dependent on a declining
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vehicle licensed elsewhere could still accept a prebooked journey in those districts, but that does not amount to dependable local provision. Passengers may face longer waits, higher positioning costs or no available vehicle, particularly during evenings, weekends and school transport periods.
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increase, rising from 163 PHVs to 2,785, while South Cambridgeshire reached 2,251 after growth of 50%.
The figures are warning indicators rather than direct proof of cross-border activity. The DfT records where vehicles are licensed, not where they normally undertake journeys. Airport demand, operator bases, Cross border licence shopping booming university populations, night-time economies and local administrative changes can all produce The national data also exposes extreme licensing unusually high licensing totals. concentrations hinting heavily towards cross border Nevertheless, the scale of the disparities strengthens licence shopping. Wolverhampton licensed 37,967 PHVs, around 13.1% of the entire English private hire concerns that some authorities are licensing fleets far beyond likely demand among their own residents. fleet, despite accounting for less than 0.5% of The council issuing a licence may be distant from the England’s population. Its total was equivalent to area where a driver predominantly works, leaving about 135 licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents, local officers responsible for complaints and roadside compared with an English average of 4.9 PHVs per enforcement involving vehicles they did not license. 1,000. Wolverhampton’s PHV fleet grew by 8,794 vehicles, The Government consulted in early 2026 on transferring licensing responsibility from 263 bodies or 30%, between 2024 and 2026. East Cambridgeshire recorded an even larger percentage to around 70 local transport authorities. Ministers said larger licensing areas could reduce out-of-area
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working, limit opportunities to seek less demanding local requirements and improve enforcement. Greater Manchester, for example, could move from ten separate licensing authorities to one.
The proposed restructuring may reduce some boundaries, but it will not by itself establish where vehicles are working. Reliable journey and operatinglocation data would still be needed to determine whether licensing totals reflect local demand or fleets working predominantly elsewhere.
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that age limits can raise costs for the trade and passengers, and may obstruct the transition to cleaner vehicles. A five-year-old electric vehicle, for example, will produce fewer tailpipe emissions than a new Euro 6 petrol or diesel vehicle.
For taxi owners, mandatory retirement dates can shorten the period over which the cost of an expensive purpose-built or wheelchair-accessible vehicle can be recovered. Leicester has responded by increasing its taxi entry-age limit from five to nine years and its maximum licensing age from 11 to 15 Vehicle age limit lottery years. Vehicles must meet Euro 6 standards, with Vehicle age limits present another part of the policy those aged over 11 subject to three inspections a divide. Our analysis of the DfT returns found that four year. in ten councils retained combined vehicle-age and That approach shifts attention from registration date emissions requirements for taxis, despite to emissions, maintenance and roadworthiness. It government guidance advising authorities against can also improve the economics of buying an electric arbitrary age limits. or accessible vehicle by allowing it to remain licensed The DfT says councils should instead use targeted requirements covering emissions, safety ratings and wheelchair-accessible provision. Its guidance warns
for longer, provided it continues to pass enhanced inspections.
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IMAGE CREDIT: LEVC
TOO HOT TO RIDE: SHOULD CABBIES BE FORCED TO PROVIDE WORKING AIR CONDITIONING?
step into an air-conditioned cab. Some had come from hot Underground platforms or had been walking through the city. Others were travelling with young children, luggage or elderly relatives. For them, a cool taxi was one of the reasons they chose a cab.
The uncomfortable part of those conversations was hearing that not every driver offered the same experience he Met Office says the UK recorded a during the long hot summer. A small percentage of mean temperature of 16.5C during passengers described being told that the air summer 2026, beating the previous record conditioning was broken, needed re-gassing, used set only last year. England, Wales and Northern too much fuel or drained the vehicle’s battery. Ireland all recorded their warmest summers, while Those explanations make my heart sink. A taxi driver temperatures reached 38.1C at Kew Gardens in cannot control the traffic, the weather or every London. delay on the road. But when a passenger makes a During my shifts as a London taxi driver, passengers reasonable request that can easily be met, the regularly spoke about how pleased they were to
T
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driver should do everything possible to meet it. For me, that’s a basic professional service.
making it available when a passenger reasonably requests it.
The most common objection for cabbies is cost. Air conditioning consumes energy, whether that comes from fuel or an electric vehicle battery. But concentrating only on that additional energy use misses the wider commercial calculation. A comfortable driver can work in better conditions for longer. Keeping the windows closed reduces traffic noise, fumes and the constant roar of the city. The passenger receives a calmer journey, and the driver is less exposed to heat and distraction.
The rule would need sensible allowances for faults arising during a shift. A driver should not automatically lose the use of a vehicle because a system failed without warning. However, the defect should be repaired within a defined period rather than being allowed to continue indefinitely.
In my experience, the financial argument against using air conditioning does not stand up particularly well either. Passengers notice when a cab is already cool. They appreciate the driver making the effort, and that appreciation is often reflected in the tip.
general vehicle condition. Climate control is becoming another part of maintaining a vehicle that is suitable for public hire.
Inspection standards would also need to measure more than whether a fan produces air. A system that blows warm air into a hot passenger compartment is not functioning as air conditioning. There is also evidence that excessive cabin Licensing authorities would need a straightforward temperatures can affect concentration, comfort and test and an appropriate minimum performance cognitive performance. For professional drivers standard. spending eight, ten or twelve hours behind the There would be a cost to maintaining that wheel, the temperature inside the vehicle is a requirement, but licensed vehicle owners already workplace issue as well as a customer-service accept obligations covering tyres, lights, brakes, consideration. accessibility equipment, payment systems and
The world is getting warmer and British summers are changing. The Met Office says a summer like 2026 has become far more likely because of humaninduced climate change, with even hotter conditions expected as the climate continues to warm.
Not every journey results in a gratuity, of course. But a driver who saves a tiny amount of energy while leaving passengers uncomfortable may lose more through poorer tips and damage to the trade’s Should the taxi trade respond before another record reputation. -breaking summer arrives? Working air conditioning Poor service can lead a passenger to decide never to certainly improves passenger comfort, driver use a taxi again and it’s worth remembering each welfare and the quality of the service being sold. driver represents more than one vehicle. A Passengers paying for a licensed taxi should not passenger who receives a bad experience rarely have to negotiate for relief from extreme heat or blames only the individual cabbie. The judgement is listen to excuses about fuel and battery use. If the sometimes applied to the entire taxi trade. vehicle has air conditioning, it should work. If a So, should licensing authorities now consider passenger asks for it, the making functional air conditioning a condition of driver should switch it on. licensing where it is fitted or specified as part of the ARTICLE BY: vehicle’s approved design? That might not mean PERRY RICHARDSON forcing drivers to run it throughout every shift, but it TaxiPoint Editor and London Black Cab Driver might mean requiring the system to work and
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SP30
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR TAXI LICENCE IF YOU GET AN SP30 SPEEDING CONVICTION?
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taxi or private hire driver who receives of an existing driver’s licence, provided the an SP30 endorsement is unlikely to lose authority remains satisfied that the driver is fit and their professional licence solely because proper. Multiple offences can be treated as of one routine speeding offence, particularly where evidence that the driver does not behave as a safe three penalty points are imposed and the driver has professional road user. an otherwise clean record. An isolated three-point SP30 will commonly result SP30 is the endorsement code for exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road. It normally attracts between three and six penalty points, although a court can impose a driving disqualification in more serious cases. The endorsement remains on the DVLA driving record for four years from the date of the offence. The effect on a taxi or private hire driver licence is separate from the DVLA penalty. Councils and licensing authorities must decide whether the person remains fit and proper to carry passengers. That means a driver can retain a full DVLA licence but still face a warning, suspension, refusal at renewal or, in serious cases, revocation by the licensing authority.
in no licensing action beyond the offence being recorded. The outcome becomes less predictable where the offence attracts six points, occurred while carrying passengers, involved a licensed vehicle, forms part of a wider pattern or takes the driver close to a council’s intervention threshold. There is no single nationwide penalty system governing how existing taxi and private hire licences are treated. Local policies vary considerably. Some authorities use seven points as the point at which applications or existing licences receive closer scrutiny, while others distinguish between new applicants and current drivers.
Leeds City Council, for example, says new applications will not be granted where seven or Department for Transport (DfT) more points for minor motoring convictions appear on the applicant’s DVLA licence. Existing drivers guidance accepts that motoring offences can be reaching seven points receive a warning and committed unintentionally. It says a single minor traffic offence would not prevent an applicant from training, while those reaching nine or more points being licensed and may not require the revocation after previously completing training may face refusal or revocation, depending on their
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Drivers must also check their reporting obligations. The DfT recommends that licence holders notify their issuing authority within 48 hours of an arrest and release, charge or conviction involving any motoring offence. Failure to disclose an incident may create a separate concern about the driver’s honesty, even where the original speeding matter would not have justified serious licensing action.
presence, previous endorsements and any disqualification imposed. Speeding around schools, roadworks or other vulnerable road users is also likely to be regarded more seriously.
The circumstances behind the speeding remain important as a routine three-point disposal is different from a high-speed offence sent to court. A licensing authority may examine the recorded speed, road conditions, location, passenger
check their licensing authority’s convictions policy. Concealing three points can create a more serious licensing problem than the original speeding offence.
Accumulated points create the greater threat. A motorist who reaches 12 or more points within three years will normally face a minimum six-month totting-up disqualification. Losing the underlying A driver who challenges a fixed penalty does not DVLA entitlement prevents the driver from legally have to report an SP30 to TfL as an accepted notice. working and is likely to result in suspension or If the challenge ends in a court conviction, the revocation of the taxi or private hire licence. notification period begins from that outcome. The short answer is that one ordinary SP30 will not Drivers licensed elsewhere must follow the normally end a taxi driving career. However, drivers timescale and wording in their own council’s policy should report it within the required period, retain and licence conditions. confirmation that the disclosure was made and
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ADVERTORIAL ARTICLE
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LONDON'S BACK IN MOTION. MAKE SURE YOUR EARNINGS KEEP UP. London Fashion Week returns to the capital later this month, corporate calendars fill back up, and the pavements fill with visitors before autumn sets in. For a licensed cabbie, this run of the calendar brings some of the busiest, best-paid weeks of the year. It's also a season where every fare needs to count: commission rates on some e-hail platforms have been climbing, cutting further into what cabbies take home. The Curb System was built to help week before midday, so Saturday make sure more of what you earn night's takings are in the account stays with you. by Sunday morning.
Making the Busy Season Count
"With everything coming through one system, the day runs a lot smoother," says Scott Jerome, a London black cab driver.
A full diary only pays off if what lands in the account matches the hours on the road. On a typical £24 When the Streets Get Loud, fare, cabbies using Curb save the System Stays Quiet 21.6% on card processing fees Busier streets bring their own compared to standard competitor headaches: patchy signal, more rates,** savings that add up fast devices to juggle, less patience for across a week of Fashion Week anything that slows a job down. traffic. The Curb System folds the meter, Timing matters just as much: ask a cabbie who's worked three weekends straight what the worst part is, and waiting until Monday for the money usually wins. Cabbies on Curb who opt into next -day payments skip that wait, with earnings landing seven days a
payments, smart tipping, receipt printing and an 8.7-inch driver tablet into one TfL-compliant setup, plus a FREE CCTV system and a year's FREE meter rental. A dropped signal doesn't mean a dropped fare: the transaction is
IMAGE CREDIT: CURB
captured locally and settles once connectivity returns. As Stephen Jay, another London black cab driver, puts it: "It feels like this system was built for cab drivers." And when something needs sorting, Curb's support team is there around the clock, seven days a week.
Sign Up Now, Earn More Act Fast: Sign Up Today and Get a £500 Sign Up Bonus!* Visit www.gocurb.co.uk/driversign-up to get started. For any questions, call 0333 666 1000 or email DriverServicesUK@gocurb.com. *Offer subject to change. Terms and conditions apply. **Savings based on competitor card processing rate of 3.75% + 20p per transaction.
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MOBILE LONDON TAXI WASH ON TWO WHEELS CLEANS BLACK CABS BETWEEN FARES
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London mobile car wash is targeting licensed taxi drivers among other motorists with a scooter-based service designed to clean cabs at the kerb while reducing downtime between fares. Washello transports its entire operation on scooters and electric scooters. Water is carried in an insulated cooler behind the rider, while a battery-powered pressure washer, vacuum,
polisher, waxes and cleaning products are stored on the vehicle. The company cleans taxis where they are parked, removing the need for drivers to travel to a conventional car wash and wait for a cleaning bay. For working cabbies, that model could reduce unproductive mileage and time spent away from passengers. IMAGE CREDIT: WASHELLO
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Washello founder James Allen said: “I clean the cab Allen continued working as a Deliveroo rider where it’s parked, between fares, because a driver between bookings while developing the sitting in a forecourt queue for forty minutes isn’t equipment. The original delivery box was replaced earning.” with a larger container capable of carrying a Dyson vacuum, cleaning products, The business began in 2016 after waxes and a polisher, with Allen fitted a 12V Sealey further equipment stored pressure washer to a beneath the scooter seat. Honda Vision 125 previously used as a pizza delivery scooter. Exterior washes were initially priced at £5, although Allen said the unfamiliar operating model struggled to gain customers.
Ten years later, Washello says it has cleaned more than 5,000 vehicles and is handling up to five cars a day. Its customer base includes households, businesses and licensed London taxi drivers, including drivers operating electric black “Nobody in my area really trusted IMAGE CREDIT: WASHELLO cabs through Freenow. The company me, especially at £5 a wash,” Allen said. “There were plenty of lessons to learn, and I had to currently has two riders, including one using an electric scooter in Central London. prove the idea could actually work.”
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PARENTS REVEAL WHY LONDON BLACK CABS ARE THE GO-TO OPTION WHEN TRAVELLING WITH BABIES
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ondon black cabs are four months. The parent asked being recommended as a whether a travel stroller could be practical transport option taken inside a black cab or for families travelling with babies whether hiring a child car seat and young children, particularly would be necessary. when navigating the capital with a Although many contributors pushchair, luggage and other recommended combining walking childcare equipment. and public transport, black cabs
cabs, door to door, loads of space.” Another said an accessible Tube or bus journey should usually work, but added that a black cab was useful “for when you’re really tired”.
The ability to board with a pushchair intact was repeatedly The advantages were raised in an emerged as an important option identified as a major benefit. One online discussion started by a when a direct journey was London parent said: “I feel fine visitor planning to travel around needed. One respondent about using black cabs as you can London with an infant aged under summarised the appeal as: “Black take the whole pram on with the
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baby in it.” Another contributor said black cabs were attractive because parents could “just keep baby in pram” rather than folding it before boarding.
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The Underground presents a infant travelling unsecured different set of operational without child seating, despite the challenges. Contributors advised legal exemption and professional parents to check step-free routes service provided. before travelling because not Overall though the discussion every station has lift access. That feature can remove one of showed why the black cab Stairs, escalators, crowded trains the most difficult parts of remains valuable to families: it and interchange distances can travelling with a young child. On offers immediate availability, make journeys more demanding buses, pushchairs may have to be generous passenger space and a with a pushchair, even when folded if the priority space is direct journey when carrying a assistance from other passengers required by a wheelchair user or child, pushchair and luggage is available. Older Tube lines were the vehicle is busy. Several makes other modes difficult. also described as sufficiently noisy contributors noted the practical difficulty of holding a baby while for some parents to recommend infant ear defenders. simultaneously folding a buggy and managing nappies, milk, There were a small number of clothing and other equipment. contributors to the discussion that were uncomfortable with an
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TAXI
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HEROES ACORN INSURANCE KICKS OFF NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR BRITAIN’S BEST CABBIES
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nationwide award has been launched to recognise taxi and private hire drivers who go beyond their
everyday duties to support passengers and local communities.
receiving a £1,000 Amazon gift card and a dedicated trophy.
Nominations can recognise an Acorn Insurance is inviting extraordinary act of kindness, members of the public to support for vulnerable nominate drivers for passengers, charity or voluntary its inaugural work, long service to a Britain’s Taxi Hero community, or other occasions award, with when a driver has provided help the beyond transporting a passenger. winner The competition is open to all licensed taxi and private hire drivers in Britain, regardless of whether they are insured by Acorn. Nominations open on Tuesday 8 September and close at midnight on Sunday 4 October 2026. The winner is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday 20 October. Acorn said the campaign was prompted by research it
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commissioned earlier in 2026 examining public attitudes towards the trade. The study found that 82% of UK adults considered taxi drivers vital to their local communities, while 44% believed drivers did not receive sufficient recognition.
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serving smaller towns and rural areas.
Ash Coakley, Head of Taxi Insurance at Acorn Group, said: “Almost everyone has a story about a taxi driver who has gone the extra mile. It might be getting someone home safely late at Three in five respondents also night, helping an elderly said they had relied on a taxi passenger with their shopping, driver during a difficult or returning a lost wallet or phone, important moment in their lives, supporting a local charity, or according to the insurer. being a familiar and trusted face The award covers drivers working in their community. across different sections of the “Those moments often happen licensed transport industry, without any recognition and we including London black cabs, want to help change that. private hire vehicles and taxis “That’s why we’re searching for Britain’s Taxi Heroes. We’re
encouraging people across the country to tell us about the drivers who have made a difference to them and give those drivers the recognition they deserve.” Coakley added: “If you think your town or city has Britain’s best cabbies, now’s the chance to prove it. Tell us who your local taxi hero is and why they deserve to win.” Members of the public will be able to submit nominations through the Acorn Insurance website, explaining what the driver did and why they should receive national recognition.
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PRIVATE HIRE OPERATORS FACE LEGAL DUTY TO CARRY OUT DRIVER RIGHT TO WORK CHECKS FROM OCTOBER
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rivate hire operators will face a clearer legal responsibility to prevent illegal working when changes to the Government’s Right to Work Scheme take effect on 1 October 2026.
She added: “The approach being taken provides clarity and consistency, ensuring that responsibility sits with the organisation engaging the individual to provide work or services.”
The Home Office confirmed the position in response The response did not provide figures showing the to a question from Shivani Raja, Conservative MP number of illegal-working cases involving taxi or for Leicester East. Raja asked the department to private hire drivers. Instead, the Home Office explain the evidential basis for requiring private hire referred to assessments published during and operators to conduct right to work checks on following the passage of the Border Security, drivers. Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, alongside its consultation response and wider enforcement data. Jo White, Home Office Minister, said the changes would apply to organisations engaging people to provide work or services under their company name, including operators in the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. White said: “Historically, these labour market models have presented challenges for enforcement because accountability for compliance of the legal requirement to prevent illegal working has not been clearly defined and instance of illegal working have been identified.” The Government’s position is that existing licensing checks have not, on their own, established The publications cited include impact assessments sufficiently clear responsibility when illegal working for the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is discovered. This has been identified as a and Act 2025, the Government’s response on particular concern where drivers provide services extending the Right to Work Scheme, and through an intermediary or platform-based business information covering returns from the UK and model. enforcement activity. White said: “While local authority licensing checks form an important part of the existing system, reliance on these checks alone has created ambiguity as to where accountability rests if illegal working is identified, particularly where services are provided through intermediary or platform-based models.”
The change means operators will need to ensure their driver onboarding and compliance procedures meet the expanded statutory requirements from 1 October. The Home Office said it would continue monitoring the effect of the measures and publish further assessments and data on illegal working and enforcement activity.
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BUSINESS NEWS VEEZU EXPANDS WEST MIDLANDS NETWORK WITH TRIPLE 20 TAXIS AND BROOKFLEET CARS ACQUISITION
GLASGOW TAXIS DISTRIBUTES 15,000 ‘WEE YELLOW GUIDES’ DURING COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Veezu has expanded its West Midlands private hire operations after acquiring Triple 20 Taxi Cars Ltd, the company behind the Triple 20 Taxis and Brookfleet Cars brands in Dudley and Sandwell.
Jon Martin, Managing Director at Veezu, said: “Triple 20 Taxis and Brookfleet Cars are highly respected local brands with strong ties to communities across Dudley and Sandwell. We are delighted to welcome them into our West Midlands network as we continue to expand our series of local transport hubs across the UK. “This next joint chapter means even better support for people’s travel needs around the clock, bringing together the trusted local service people know and enjoy, now supported by Veezu’s technology and wider network.”
Glasgow Taxis handed out more than 15,000 free city guides during the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as part of a new visitor initiative backed by local businesses. The Wee Yellow Guide was launched earlier this summer to help tourists, delegates and other visitors navigate Glasgow. A street team distributed the maps to international guests during the Games after the first edition was released on the eve of the event. Glasgow Taxis said its bespoke QR code on the guide achieved a conversion rate of 2%, providing the operator with a measurable response from the distribution campaign. Dougie McPherson, Glasgow Taxis Chairman, said: “The Wee Yellow Guide is a completely new initiative, and we are thrilled with the response of our first run. It was really well received throughout the Games, the free pocket-sized map giving visitors a positive and helpful start to their time in the city. “We’re now getting ready for our next print run for the autumn and would love to hear from any other Glasgow businesses who’d like to get involved.”
IMAGE CREDIT: VEEZU
IMAGE CREDIT: GLASGOW TAXIS
The deal extends Veezu’s regional presence beyond its existing operations across Birmingham, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford. No financial terms for the acquisition were disclosed in the company’s announcement.
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COMCAB EXTENDS 17YEAR TFL PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR NEW FIVEYEAR DIAL-A-RIDE TAXI CONTRACT
IMAGE CREDIT: COMCAB
UNIQUE GOOD TAXI NETWORK OPENS PLATFORM TO HELP CAB DRIVERS BUILD REPEAT BOOKINGS Good Taxi Network has opened its platform to licensed taxi drivers across London and the wider UK, offering tools intended to help cabbies develop their own customer bases. Participating drivers receive a personalised booking page and QR code that can be displayed on promotional stickers inside their taxi. Passengers can scan the code after a journey and use the page to contact or book the same driver again.
ComCab London has been awarded the London Dial-aRide Consolidator Contract for another five years, extending a relationship with Transport for London (TfL) that dates back to 2009.
Alan McDonald, Strategic Account Manager for Public Sector at ComCab, said: “Retaining this contract for another five years is a significant achievement and reflects the strength of our partnership with Transport for London.
“It is testament to the commitment of our people and the consistently high standards they deliver. We ComCab’s role provides look forward to continuing to additional transport capacity support accessible travel for eligible passengers across across London and helping the capital. The arrangement thousands of service users allows TfL to call on licensed maintain their taxi capacity when its independence.” dedicated Dial-a-Ride vehicles
A spokesperson for Good Taxi Network said: “Good drivers sell themselves every day without necessarily realising it. Being reliable, knowledgeable, friendly and professional is what makes a passenger think, ‘I’d use that driver again.’ Good Taxi Network simply gives that passenger an easy way to do it.”
IMAGE CREDIT: GOOD TAXI NETWORK
The new contract commenced on 1 September 2026 and will see ComCab continue as the sole supplier supporting the service when journeys cannot be accommodated by the main Dial-a-Ride bus operation.
are unable to meet journey requirements.
The service is based on encouraging drivers to create what Good Taxi Network calls their own “circuit” of repeat customers. This could include airport passengers, business travellers, tourists, families and local residents who want to retain the details of a driver they have used previously.
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UBER CUTS MORE THAN 3,000 JOBS IN GLOBAL RESTRUCTURING TO FUND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OPERATIONS Uber is cutting more than 3,000 jobs worldwide as part of a major restructuring intended to simplify the business and refocus investment on its core operations. The reductions represent roughly 10% of Uber’s global workforce and will leave the company with just under 30,000 employees, returning staffing to levels last seen in 2021. Both managerial and non-managerial roles will be affected, although Uber has not confirmed which locations will face the largest cuts. Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi told employees that Uber had expanded rapidly but accumulated too many management layers and small teams, slowing decision-making. Many smaller units will now be folded into larger groups to make the company “simpler” and “faster”. Khosrowshahi said the changes would place Uber in a better position for its “biggest opportunities ahead of us”, while releasing money for areas considered central to its future. The restructuring comes as Uber increases investment in autonomous vehicle partnerships and expands its ride-hailing, delivery and robotaxi operations. Analysts said the job cuts could generate annual savings of up to $2bn. Uber is also tightening its workplace policy, requiring nearly all employees to work in person at designated hubs and restricting remote positions to about 1% of roles. Shares rose nearly 2% following the announcement.
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TAXI DRIVERS OFFERED PAY-AS-YOU-GO INSURANCE AS INSURD AND GOSHORTY LAUNCH SHORT-TERM HIRE AND
REWARD COVER
Digital insurance broker insurd has partnered with temporary vehicle insurance provider GoShorty to launch short-term cover for licensed taxi and private hire drivers. The product offers standalone, fully comprehensive hire and reward insurance for fixed periods of seven, 14, 21 or 28 days. It is aimed at drivers who do not require a conventional annual policy, including seasonal and part-time workers and people entering the licensed trade. Annual taxi insurance will remain part of insurd’s core offering. The North Wales-based broker said the temporary product was designed to address separate operational requirements rather than replace year-round policies held by regular fulltime drivers.
Cover applies to both public hire and private hire work under the same policy. Drivers can also undertake food and parcel deliveries for hire and reward, potentially allowing them to move between passenger and courier work without purchasing separate delivery insurance. No black box or dashcam installation is required as a condition of the policy. According to insurd, taking temporary cover will also have no effect on the no-claims bonus attached to a driver’s existing annual policy.
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LONDON NEWS
“THE TRADE IS RETIRING”:
LONDON TAXI RETIREMENT TIMEBOMB AS SIX IN TEN CABBIES ARE NOW AGED 56 OR OVER
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warning has been echoed for years by drivers watching ranks thin out and familiar faces retire, but the available official data now gives the concern much greater weight. The traditional taxi workforce is heavily concentrated in older age groups, while the number of younger people choosing the occupation remains exceptionally low. As reported earlier in this edition, the latest Department for Transport (DfT) statistics show that taxi-only driver licences fell by 11% between 2024 and 2026 to approximately 30,400. PHV-only licences rose by 13% to 296,800, while the number of licences allowing drivers to work in both sectors increased by 9% to 84,700. Over the same period, England’s licensed taxi fleet contracted by 7% to 52,300 vehicles, while the PHV fleet expanded by 13% to 290,000. The figures describe two markets moving in different directions.
The DfT’s 2026 release does not include a new national driver-age breakdown, but London’s January 2026 licensing records provide a more current and detailed picture, and they show that the demographic age risk is concentrated overwhelmingly in the taxi trade rather than private hire. Transport for London (TfL) recorded 16,172 licensed taxi drivers. Just 64 were aged between 21 and 30, equivalent to 0.4% of the total. Only 1,033, or 6.4%, were aged 40 or below. At the other end of the distribution, 9,568 London taxi drivers were aged 56 or older. That is 59.2% of the licensed workforce. More than 5,800 were already aged 61 or above, while the largest single group was the 56 to 60 bracket, containing 3,729 drivers. Nearly one in four London taxi drivers therefore sits in an age group that will move beyond 60 during the next five years.
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That does not mean every one of those drivers will There does however remain a few sticking points retire within five years. Taxi drivers frequently putting off even more required applicants joining remain in the industry beyond the conventional the ranks. Taxi driving usually requires an applicant retirement age, either through choice or financial to absorb costs before earning anything. These may necessity. However, it does mean the trade is include the driver application, an enhanced DBS carrying an unusually large cohort that could reduce check, a Group 2 medical examination, knowledge its hours, surrender its licence or leave or competency testing, safeguarding and disability unexpectedly because of ill health. There is no training, driving assessments and vehicle-related comparably large younger cohort moving through expenditure. behind it. The vehicle is seen as a big barrier. A younger Private hire has a healthier, though still mature, profile. TfL recorded 104,776 PHV drivers in January 2026, of whom 31,572, or 30.1%, were aged 40 or below. A total of 5,912 were aged between 21 and 30, representing 5.6%. Its largest groups were drivers aged 41 to 45 and 46 to 50, together accounting for almost 36,400 licences. About 19.9% of PHV drivers were 56 or older, compared with more than 59% of taxi drivers.
Why does that contrast matter? Because PHV growth cannot automatically replace the functions lost when taxi capacity disappears. Taxis can be hailed in the street and hired from ranks, and a significant share of the fleet is wheelchair accessible. According to the DfT, 54% of English taxis were wheelchair accessible in 2026, compared with only 2% of PHVs. A fall in taxi-driver numbers therefore carries consequences for rank availability, accessible transport, late-night coverage and passengers unable or unwilling to use app-based booking services. Why are younger workers staying away? First up it must be noted that London has seen a recent uptick in the numbers applying to become a taxi driver. It takes time to get through the process so whether we see that number offset the number leaving the industry is yet to be seen.
entrant who wants to own a taxi may need access to a significant cash deposit, with financing costs, insurance, maintenance, licensing and depreciation all landing before a reliable income has been established. Renting lowers the initial capital requirement but converts it into a high weekly fixed cost at around £400 per week. Younger motorists also tend to face more expensive hire-andreward insurance because they have shorter driving histories and less commercial experience. Age rules can create an immediate barrier. TfL requires a PHV applicant to be at least 21 and to have held a full driving licence for at least three years. That effectively excludes most school and college leavers from moving directly into the occupation. By the time they become eligible, many will already have entered another career. Working conditions are another factor. Taxi and PHV driving often demands evenings, nights, weekends and long periods sitting in traffic or waiting for work. Income is seasonal, operating costs can move sharply, and self-employment transfers much of the financial risk to the driver. Some younger drivers do not want that level of responsibility whilst just entering the world of work.
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CABBIE FINED FOR CARING: can’t interfere with the ticketing process once you LONDON CABBIE have a ticket. Be aware!” HIT WITH £60 PARKING CHARGE WHILE HELPING ELDERLY PASSENGER OUTSIDE HOME It states: “Parking Permits are required or you risk a parking ticket. Get a parking permit from the Concierge Desk. Ticketing is contracted out so we
However, the concierge office is only open daily between 7am and 7pm. The website says residents should be able to open the development’s gates remotely when the concierge is closed, but its parking guidance does not explain on the page how a taxi arriving outside those hours should obtain a permit.
A London taxi driver has been issued with a £60 private parking charge after stopping outside an elderly passenger’s home at Brentford Lock Island.
A Brentford Lock Island information document for tenants says drivers of taxis, minicabs and vans must not leave their vehicles unattended unless they are in a visitor space with a valid permit. It also says vehicles failing to comply with the development’s regulations will incur a parking charge.
Taylor’s case raises a wider problem for taxi drivers entering privately managed residential roads. Restrictions on private land can differ substantially from the rules cabbies encounter on Gary Taylor said he was dropping the resident outside her flat in Tallow Road, Brentford, when the public highway, while the boundary between the charge was recorded. An image shared by the the two is not always immediately apparent from cabbie appears to show the taxi stationary while the driver’s seat. the passenger is being assisted from the vehicle. Taylor said: “Got a parking charge of £60 for dropping off an elderly resident outside her flat in Tallow Road Brentford. “I’ve had my appeal rejected even though clearly not parked, was clearly assisting a passenger. “Never saw any signage explaining no parking on private land.” The Brentford Lock Island website warns visitors that parking permits are required and that enforcement is handled by an outside contractor.
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REGIONAL NEWS
NORTHERN IRELAND SCHOOL TAXI RATES FALL 15% AFTER 1,200 ROUTES RETENDERED, BUT SOME ‘EXCESSIVE RATES’ REMAIN, SAYS EDUCATION AUTHORITY
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ileage rates submitted for school taxi contracts in Northern Ireland have fallen by around 15% after the Education Authority retendered more than 1,200 routes ahead of the new academic year. Early analysis of the procurement exercise suggests the authority has secured substantial savings across much of its school transport network. The Education Authority, known as EA, credited taxi operators that worked with it to reduce contract costs. However, the public body said several routes had not delivered equivalent savings and alleged that some operators were continuing to charge “excessive rates”.
from school, while accepting it would place further pressure on a fixed budget and potentially affect other services. EA attempted to lower prices through further retendering during August. With the school year now under way, it has decided to award the remaining runs to the lowest bidding operators to protect continuity of transport for the children involved. In its update, EA said: “Improving the cost effectiveness of taxi provision remains a priority, and we will continue to focus attention on the smaller number of routes that are in this position to determine what further action can be taken throughout the school year.”
Further discussions with taxi operators are EA cited one route covering just under 20 miles for expected. The authority has warned that families which the lowest bid was approximately £250 per could instead receive parental payments if it day. It said the proposed charge was equivalent to cannot secure more cost-effective transport arrangements on the affected routes. £42,000 annually and more than three times the value calculated using established Department for EA said: “Looking to the future, unless we can Infrastructure taxi rates. secure arrangements that improve cost effectiveness, EA may have no option other than to The authority said the bids created a difficult provide transport assistance in the form of a operational choice because rejecting a costly tender could leave a child without transport to and parental payment.”
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TAXI AND PHV DRIVERS URGED TO HELP SHAPE MAJOR LICENSING REFORMS AS BOURNEMOUTH MP LAUNCHES TRADE SURVEY
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‘GRANDFATHER’ RIGHTS TO GO: PETERBOROUGH TAXI LICENSING OVERHAUL COULD REMOVE OLDER VEHICLE RIGHTS AND INTRODUCE OPERATOR FINANCIAL CHECKS Peterborough City Council is set to consider a wide-ranging overhaul of its taxi and private hire licensing policy which could remove existing rights protecting older licensed vehicles and introduce financial checks for private hire operators. The proposals are due before the council’s Licensing Committee on 10 September, with members being asked to approve a onemonth statutory public consultation on a draft Taxi and Private Hire Policy covering 2026 to 2031.
IMAGE CREDIT: TOM HAYES MP
Taxi and private hire drivers are being invited to put forward their priorities for licensing reform as MPs begin engaging with the trade ahead of the Government’s planned Draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill.
Tom Hayes, Labour MP for Bournemouth East, said he recently hosted taxi and private hire drivers at St Saviour’s Church to discuss changes they would like to see as ministers develop new legislation. Hayes said: “I recently hosted a meeting with taxi and private hire drivers at St Saviour’s Church to hear about the reforms they would recommend as the Government brings forward a draft law.” He has also launched an online survey aimed at local licence holders, adding: “If you’re a local taxi or private hire driver, I’d like to hear from you. Your views will help shape my work in Parliament.”
One of the most significant changes for vehicle owners would be the proposed removal of acquired, or grandfather, rights currently applying to vehicles licensed before 26 July 2022. The council says the policy changes are likely to have a significant impact on the licensed trade, specifically identifying the removal of grandfather rights for older vehicles as one of the main areas affected. The council also wants to revise vehicle age and emissions requirements as it looks to reduce the time petrol and diesel vehicles remain within the licensed fleet. The proposed approach would introduce incremental measures intended to encourage a transition towards hybrid and zero-emission vehicles ahead of 2040. Under the proposals, zero-emission vehicles would be permitted to remain licensed up to a maximum age of 18 years. The existing maximum CO2 emissions limit would be removed, while the current ultra-lowemission vehicle category would be replaced by a broader hybrid category covering mild hybrids, full hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
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NO COOPERATION: LUTON PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER HIT WITH £1,596 BILL AFTER DRIVING AWAY FROM COUNCIL OFFICER
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Luton-licensed private hire driver was prosecuted after refusing to provide his badge details during checks at Milton Keynes Central Station.
He was subsequently convicted of obstructing an authorised officer. The court imposed a £770 fine, a £308 victim surcharge and £518 in prosecution costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £1,596.
A private hire driver licensed by Luton Borough Council has been ordered to pay £1,596 after being Luton Borough Council has been informed of the found guilty of obstructing an authorised licensing conviction and is considering whether further enforcement officer. action should be taken against Kazmi’s private hire The incident took place at Milton Keynes Central driver licence. Any licensing action would be Station on 9 December 2025, when a Milton Keynes separate from the penalty imposed by the City Council enforcement officer approached a magistrates. private hire vehicle during routine licensing checks. Councillor Sam Crooks, Cabinet Member for Driver Mohsin Kazmi, from Luton, was asked to provide details of his private hire driver badge. He failed to supply the information and drove away from the officer. Milton Keynes City Council launched an investigation, identified Kazmi and brought the matter before Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court.
Regulatory Services, said: “Drivers are expected to cooperate regardless of where their licence was issued.” He added: “If drivers obstruct our officers or fail to follow the rules, we will investigate and take action. Public safety will always come first.”
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ENFORCEMENT NEWS
MAJOR CROSS-BORDER TAXI ENFORCEMENT OPERATION CHECKS 108 VEHICLES LICENSED BY 26 COUNCILS
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icensing officers have inspected 108 taxis and private hire vehicles during a major cross-border enforcement operation involving vehicles licensed by 26 different local authorities.
Despite the enforcement action, officials reported a high overall compliance rate. Licensing officers said they were particularly encouraged by the standard of vehicle condition found among those inspected.
The operation took place on the morning of 12 August and brought together South Gloucestershire Council licensing officers with police and licensing teams from Bristol, Wolverhampton, Newport and Tewkesbury. The scale of the licensing spread was wide, with the 108 vehicles and drivers stopped holding licences issued by 26 separate authorities. The exercise focused specifically on vehicles and drivers working across council boundaries, an increasingly important area of enforcement for licensing teams.
IMAGE CREDIT: GLOUCESTERSHIRE POLICE
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. Two immediate stop notices were issued during the Operations such as this allow the council and the police to work together to ensure that vehicles and operation. The notices prevented the affected vehicles from continuing to operate until the safety drivers meet the standards expected of them and concerns identified by officers had been addressed. that passenger safety remains a priority. Officers checked vehicle condition, licensing documentation and whether drivers were complying with the requirements attached to their licences.
Several other licensing matters were also identified. These have been referred to the relevant licensing authorities for further investigation, although South Gloucestershire Council did not disclose the nature of those issues or which authorities licensed the drivers or vehicles concerned.
“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.”
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‘GHOST PLATES’ CRACKDOWN SEES PHV LICENCE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED AFTER POLICE CAMERA WARNING
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WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL JOINS HMRC, IMMIGRATION AND POLICE OFFICERS IN LATEST TAXI AND PHV COMPLIANCE OPERATION HELD AT NEC IMAGE CREDIT: WV PUBLIC PROTECTION
Police have taken action against a locally licensed private hire vehicle after its registration plates were identified as “ghost plates”, raising concerns over attempts to defeat camera-based road enforcement. PC Patrick Quinton, Taxi Cop for Avon and Somerset Police, said the PHV licence was immediately suspended and the number plates seized after officers established that they could not be read by some cameras.
IMAGE CREDIT: PC PATRICK QUINTON
Quinton said: “Today, a PHV licence was immediately suspended and the number plates seized as they were ‘ghost plates’ cannot be read by some cameras.
“This locally licensed PHV will need to get road legal plates before it can take further PH work.” Plates designed or altered in a way that prevents cameras correctly recording a vehicle registration can create enforcement problems where authorities rely on automated systems to identify vehicles.
Wolverhampton taxi and private hire compliance officers have taken part in a multi-agency enforcement operation at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Solihull.
officers carrying out checks on vehicles at the site.
Images published by WV Public Protection show police motorcycles and
licence breaches or other enforcement action were recorded.
The involvement of several agencies allows different aspects of driver and vehicle compliance to be examined during the same operation, City of Wolverhampton including matters falling Council’s Public Protection within licensing, team said the operation was roadworthiness, immigration led by police and involved and taxation enforcement West Midlands Police, the responsibilities. Driver and Vehicle Standards WV Public Protection did not Agency (DVSA), Immigration, disclose how many vehicles HM Revenue and Customs or drivers were checked (HMRC) and Solihull licensing during the NEC operation, or officers. whether any offences,
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FOUR TAXI AND PHV LICENCES SUSPENDED AFTER BRADFORD ROADSIDE ENFORCEMENT CHECKS IMAGE CREDIT: WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
LIVERPOOL TAXI RANK CRACKDOWN SEES 64 PARKING FINES ISSUED IN LATEST JOINT COUNCIL OPERATION
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IMAGE CREDIT: LCC LICENSING
Four taxi and private hire vehicle licences were suspended after Bradford Council carried out roadside compliance checks as part of Operation Steerside. Liverpool City Council officers issued 64 penalty charge notices during an enforcement operation targeting unauthorised vehicles parked on appointed taxi ranks. The recent operation was conducted jointly by the council’s Licensing and Parking Services teams. The authority did not disclose which ranks were visited or how long the enforcement activity lasted. Liverpool City Council Licensing said: “Joint operation with Parking Services last night, resulting in 64 PCNs being issued to unauthorised vehicles parked on Liverpool City Council-appointed taxi [ranks].” Officials said the action was intended to keep designated ranks clear and available exclusively for licensed hackney carriages. Unauthorised parking at taxi ranks can prevent licensed cab drivers from legally waiting for passengers. It can also reduce the number of taxis immediately available at recognised pickup points, particularly during busy evening and late-night periods.
Licensing officers inspected 21 vehicles during the enforcement operation on Saturday 15 August. One vehicle was recorded as requiring “ratification”, while five drivers received words of advice. West Yorkshire Police did not provide details of the defects or licensing breaches behind the four suspensions. It is therefore not known whether the action related to vehicle condition, documentation or another licensing requirement.
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