Cross-border taxi and private hire checks at East Midlands Airport delivers ‘disappointing’ results
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 7
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 8
Leicestershire Police’s Roads Policing Unit has carried out a vehicle safety operation around East Midlands Airport, targeting roadworthiness, with a particular focus on private hire vehicles (PHV) and taxis.
Officers, supported by the airport policing team, stopped 29 vehicles during the checks. Out of these, 21 were escorted for further inspection by vehicle examiners, with support from the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Taxi and PHV Licensing Department.
The operation uncovered a range of issues. Six drivers received delayed suspensions, giving them a set period to fix identified vehicle defects or risk having their taxi or PHV licences revoked. Two drivers had their licences suspended immediately due to dangerous tyre defects.
Six further drivers were reported for various traffic offences, including driving without insurance and using vehicles with illegal tyres. One licensed vehicle received a prohibition notice after being found in an unroadworthy condition.
The operation forms part of an ongoing effort to ensure public safety by maintaining minimum vehicle standards, particularly among licensed vehicles serving the airport.
PC Adam Sparrow, Leicestershire RPU, said: “The aim of the operation was to ensure that people going to the airport for their summer holiday arrive safely.
“From an operational point of view it was a great success and we had lots of positive comments from passengers and the other agencies we worked with. However, it is disappointing that we found taxis that were unroadworthy risking the safety of their passengers, not something you expect when you get in a taxi.
“We will be carrying out another operation in the near future and would urge taxi drivers to ensure their vehicles are 100% roadworthy.”
