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Council issues warning after private hire drivers caught illegally picking up passengers in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Updated: Jun 29


Image credit: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Image credit: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
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Private hire drivers in Newcastle-under-Lyme have been caught illegally accepting fares without bookings in a joint operation by the borough council and Staffordshire Police.


The licensing team at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council ran the enforcement in April, where four private hire drivers responded to on-street requests made by plain-clothed officers. The checks revealed that the vehicles were accepting passengers without prior bookings, which is against licensing regulations.

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By law, private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. If they are not, the journey is not insured and there is no formal record of it being made. Passengers who enter such vehicles risk travelling without any safety protections or recourse if something goes wrong.


The operation also found one vehicle in such poor condition it was immediately impounded for being unroadworthy.


Only hackney carriages licensed by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are allowed to be hailed in the street or collect passengers from a taxi rank. Private hire drivers found breaking these rules face potential loss of their licence.


The council has confirmed that more spot-checks will be carried out during the summer to enforce compliance and protect public safety.

Stephen Sweeney, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, said: “We want to encourage visitors to our vibrant town centres and ensure they have a safe journey home.


“We’d like to remind people either to use one of our hackney carriage taxis, which are black and have a white stripe down both sides, or book ahead for a private hire vehicle. People should be aware that journeys in private hire vehicles which have not been pre-booked are not insured or recorded, which risks their safety and wellbeing. Private hire drivers which undertake such pick-ups are breaking the law.

“We’re committed as a council to protect our residents and visitors’ safety and support our taxi drivers who operating legitimately.”


Inspector Joel Hurst, from the Newcastle-under-Lyme local policing team, said: “We’re continuing to work collaboratively with our partners to combat illegal taxi activity and to keep local communities safe.


“Using unlicensed taxis that aren’t pre-booked can put people at risk, and that’s why we’re continuing to act proactively to address the issue in Newcastle-under-Lyme.”


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