156 PENALTY POINTS ISSUED: Over half of taxis checked during Oxfordshire compliance operation fail compliance

In a recent targeted operation, more than half of the taxis inspected across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse were found in breach of licensing conditions.

Conducted in partnership with Thames Valley Police, the operation aimed to assess whether local taxis were meeting council requirements for both safety and compliance.

During the four-hour exercise, 34 licensed vehicles from South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and Oxford City were pulled over and inspected. Nineteen of these vehicles, over 55% of those checked, failed to comply with essential licensing rules. Among the identified issues were drivers not wearing their official badges, disconnected roof signs, and the absence of visible fare charts for passengers.

As a result, 156 penalty points were distributed across various council-issued licences, with some licences now subject to review due to high point accumulations.

In addition, Thames Valley Police took separate action against five vehicles, issuing fixed penalty notices for offences identified during the checks.

This joint effort between councils and police reflects an ongoing commitment to uphold standards in the region’s taxi services, with potential repercussions for drivers repeatedly failing to meet required criteria.

Councillor Georgina Heritage, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Taxis are a vital part of our transport system, particularly for those where public transport is difficult to access or those with disabilities. Passengers deserve to be able to ride in safe, comfortable and properly insured vehicles.

“These enforcement operations allow us to ensure licensed vehicles in our district do not put passengers at risk.”

Councillor Helen Pighills, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Community Health and Wellbeing, added: “This a great example of our partnership working with Thames Valley Police. It’s quite concerning that so many non-compliant taxis were found – hopefully this will serve as a wake-up call to other drivers.”