150 TAXIS AND PHV CHECKED: Blitz in Preston as cop pulls unsafe cab off the road during festive crackdown
- Perry Richardson
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
A multi agency enforcement team inspected about 150 licensed taxis in Preston on Friday as part of an intensified seasonal safety operation aimed at tackling unlicensed activity and checking vehicle compliance.
Preston Police worked alongside Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, Sefton Council and City of Wolverhampton Council during Operation Parkin. The exercise focused on identifying licensing breaches and ensuring vehicles carrying passengers met required safety standards as the night time economy picked up ahead of the Christmas period.
Officers reported a range of low level standards and licensing issues during the checks. One taxi was suspended after inspectors found an illegal tyre tread depth while a passenger was on board. A ticket was issued in relation to the defect. Police said further compliance concerns identified during the evening will be dealt with by the relevant licensing authorities.
Passenger engagement formed part of the operation, with officers speaking to groups travelling in and out of the city centre to provide advice on personal safety and the importance of using properly licensed vehicles.
Multi agency team finds a series of standards issues and suspends one taxi during weekend safety operation
Authorities involved in Operation Parkin said such checks form a routine part of their year round compliance activity. Demand for taxis typically rises sharply in December and regulators have been increasing spot checks to maintain safety standards and deter unlicensed operators during peak trading.
Licensing teams across the region have been working jointly more frequently in recent months as councils look to strengthen oversight of vehicles licensed outside their own areas but operating across boundaries. The cross border nature of taxi work in parts of Lancashire has prompted closer cooperation between local authorities and police forces to ensure consistent checks.
Further operations are expected over the coming weeks as the festive season continues and passenger numbers increase. Regulators say they intend to maintain a visible presence on key routes during busy evenings to monitor compliance and respond to any emerging risks.
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