Out-of-area private hire driver licence revoked after ‘ghost plates’ and fraudulent insurance uncovered
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
A private hire driver licensed by Wolverhampton, but working in Cheltenham, has had both his driver and vehicle licences revoked after being found using illegal number plates and having previously submitted fraudulent insurance documentation, following a joint enforcement operation in Cheltenham.
The incident occurred on Friday 15 November 2025 during a multi-agency taxi compliance operation held alongside Cheltenham’s November race meeting. A Wolverhampton licensed private hire vehicle was stopped and inspected by an Avon and Somerset Police taxi compliance officer working with a Cheltenham Borough Council licensing officer.
During the inspection, officers found the driver was not wearing his required identification badge and did not have the second badge displayed in the vehicle, both of which are mandatory licence conditions. More significantly, the vehicle was displaying so-called ghost plates, which are illegal number plates designed to evade Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and avoid enforcement of charges and restrictions.
As a result of the findings, police immediately revoked the vehicle licence and took further enforcement action. The matter was then referred to the City of Wolverhampton Council licensing team for consideration under its licensing policies.
Joint police and council operation during Cheltenham race meet leads to revocation and national register listing
Subsequent checks by the council identified that the driver had previously supplied a fraudulent insurance certificate as part of his licensing records. The case was brought before the City of Wolverhampton Council licensing committee, which concluded that the driver was no longer fit and proper to hold either a private hire driver or vehicle licence.
The committee decided to revoke both licences with immediate effect. In addition, the driver will be placed on the National Register of Taxi Licence Revocations and Refusals, meaning any future application to another licensing authority will be flagged with details of the case.
Councillor Victoria Atherstone, cabinet member for safety and communities at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “Cheltenham Borough Council is committed to ensuring the safety and legality of taxi and private hire services in our town, including licensed taxis from other authorities that support our visitor economy to ensure safe journey’s within and beyond Cheltenham’s boundaries. Ghost Plates are obviously illegal and anyone who tries to mislead authorities, residents and visitors to our town, need to take note, you are highly likely to be caught with detrimental outcomes.
“This successful case of partnership working sends a very clear message that we will not tolerate illegal activity in our town and ensure that we protect Cheltenham residents and our visitors through strong partnership working with other police forces and licensing authorities. I would like to thank our licensing team and our partners for their diligent work in the successful conclusion of this case.”
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "We take our licensing responsibilities seriously and our officers work proactively across the country, wherever our drivers work, supporting and carrying out regular operations with partners to protect the public and ensure they travel in safety.
"We will continue to support Cheltenham Borough Council to make sure vehicles meet the requirements to carry members of the public. This includes cracking down on taxis using 'ghost plates', which are illegal."
PC Patrick Quinton, the Avon and Somerset Police taxi compliance officer, said: “The overwhelming majority of taxi and private hire drivers are safe, reliable, hardworking and trustworthy. Those who are dishonest, as in this case, can expect to be investigated and appropriate action taken by both the police and Licensing Authority - regardless of where they are licensed.“
