Major private hire vehicle police operation in York reveals multiple safety failings and takes seven vehicles off the road
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 10
North Yorkshire Police carried out a joint operation in York to check the safety and licensing of private hire vehicles.
The Roads Policing Group, supported by Special Constables, worked with City of York Council and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on the evening of Saturday 2 August. The checks aimed to ensure that vehicles met licensing requirements and were in a safe condition to carry passengers.
Several licensed vehicles from both North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire were stopped. Defects found included faulty rear brakes, worn tyres, bodywork damage, lighting faults and registration plate offences. One vehicle was seized after it was found to have no valid tax.
In total, 32 vehicles were inspected. Seven were suspended due to significant defects and three were issued with rectification notices for minor faults. A further ten received advisory notices for minor breaches of conditions. One driver was issued with a Traffic Offence Report for a defective rear number plate. Twelve vehicles passed all checks without issue.
TC Dave Ellison from North Yorkshire Police said: “I’m grateful to the partner agencies who assisted us with this operation.
“Vehicle safety is paramount; people who choose to use and pay for a taxi expect that the vehicle that they are using is safe.
“We used the opportunity to engage with taxi drivers and where appropriate enforce.”
Councillor Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy at City of York Council, said: “This proactive, multi-agency operation reflects our ongoing commitment to public safety and licensing requirements, on which there cannot be any compromises.
“The agencies carried out inspections on taxis and private hire vehicles licensed in York and elsewhere, to ensure they meet the required standards. The 7 licence suspensions and 1 vehicle seizure were all vehicles licensed outside the city. It’s good to see there were no significant issues for York licensed cabs but disappointing to see required standards not being met by all operators.
“New requirements put in place last year raise the emphasis on safety and driving standards even higher to help protect all road users including passengers, so operators need to ensure they’re aware and comply with them.”
