PRIVATE HIRE ENFORCEMENT: Out-of-area cross border checks uncover drivers not displaying badges
- Perry Richardson
- 17 minutes ago
- 1 min read
City of Wolverhampton City Council’s licensing enforcement team has been active again with cross border private hire checks, joining forces with licensing and police colleagues in two separate operations in recent days.
Officers carried out joint work with Cheshire East Council and Cheshire Police in Macclesfield town centre. Eight Wolverhampton licensed private hire vehicles were inspected. All vehicles met licensing standards, but three drivers were found working without wearing their required ID badges. Officers reminded drivers that badges must be worn at all times while carrying out licensed work.
A separate operation took place at Cheltenham races. Wolverhampton compliance officers worked alongside Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire Police in poor weather conditions.
The team focused on passenger safety and the behaviour of drivers operating around the racecourse. Officers said the aim was to ensure that visitors had a safe journey home and that licensed drivers followed the rules expected of them.
Cross border operations have become more frequent across England as local authorities respond to large numbers of Wolverhampton licensed private hire vehicles working outside the city. Joint checks allow councils to monitor standards, confirm licence conditions are being met and gather evidence where drivers are not following regulations.
Councils continue to stress that wearing ID, keeping vehicles to licensing standards and following local rules are mandatory for all drivers, regardless of where they are licensed.
Local authorities say these joint operations will continue as part of wider safety campaigns
