Four Wolverhampton private hire drivers face rap after badge blunder in out-of-area Chester clampdown
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Four Wolverhampton licensed private hire drivers face action after a Chester festive safety operation flags badge breaches.
A City of Wolverhampton Council Public Protection spokesperson confirmed that compliance officers took part in Operation Jingles on Saturday night alongside Cheshire Police and Cheshire West Council Licensing. The multi-agency initiative was deployed in Chester city centre as the night-time economy intensified for the festive period, with teams carrying out spot checks to support passenger safety.
Thirteen Wolverhampton-licensed private hire vehicles were inspected during the operation. According to the council, four drivers were found not wearing their mandatory identification badges, an offence that typically results in follow-up enforcement action and may lead to warnings or potential penalties. The council did not confirm the specific sanctions under consideration, noting only that action will follow.
Driver badge display remains a key compliance requirement across licensing authorities, intended to give passengers immediate clarity on who is carrying out the booking and to support enforcement in busy urban areas.
Four Wolverhampton-licensed private hire drivers are expected to face enforcement measures after failing to display identification badges during a joint festive safety operation in Chester.
The involvement of Wolverhampton’s compliance team reflects the council’s continued visibility in multi-agency checks across the region. The authority licenses a high volume of private hire drivers working beyond its boundaries, drawing repeated calls from neighbouring authorities for consistent oversight of cross-border activity. Operations such as Jingles are used to monitor standards and address any breaches at source.
A City of Wolverhampton Council Public Protection spokesperson said: “On Saturday night Compliance joined Cheshire Police and colleagues from Cheshire West Council Licensing on ‘Operation Jingles’ in Chester City Centre ensuring public safety during the festive period.
“13 City of Wolverhampton Council private hire vehicles checked. 4 drivers not wearing badges, action to follow.”
