Out-of-town private hire vehicle checks in Darlington prompt warning notices to drivers

Image credit: Darlington Council

Licensing officers in Darlington have completed a multi-agency inspection aimed at addressing concerns over the number of out-of-area private hire vehicles operating in the town.

The joint operation, carried out over the Bank Holiday weekend, saw Darlington Borough Council work alongside Newcastle City Council to inspect 43 private hire vehicles picking up passengers from Darlington Station.

The checks followed public questions raised online about cross-border hiring and the possible safety implications for local passengers. Officers inspected documentation and signage, with a focus on ensuring that all vehicles operating in the area were compliant with national legislation.

Among the 43 vehicles, 11 were licensed in Newcastle, eight in Stockton, five in Middlesbrough and two from other licensing authorities. All of them held the legal right to work in Darlington.

Minor compliance issues were recorded, including incorrect signage. Newcastle officers issued five warning notices to drivers, while one case was referred to Middlesbrough Council and another to Stockton for issues including bodywork damage.

Seventeen Darlington-licensed vehicles were also inspected. Six received warnings for minor issues, such as out-of-date first aid kits.

The council confirmed that no issues were found that breached the public safety threshold. The inspection is the first in a planned series of enforcement operations set to take place throughout the year.

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Chris Knox, head of community safety, said: "All private hire drivers and vehicles, regardless of which company they work for, or which local authority area they are from, require a licence. To get this, certain safety standards set out by the government must be followed. These include all drivers being required to have an enhanced Disclosure And Barring Service (DBS) check when they first apply for their licence or renew it. Different councils may also have additional local requirements for those registered in their area. 

“While some minor issues were flagged and dealt with, this weekend’s inspections were reassuring and confirmed that all vehicles and drivers checked met the safety thresholds required by law.”

Cllr Jim Garner, cabinet member for stronger communities, said: "We are committed to ensuring local residents and communities are well connected and that they have access to safe, secure and reliable transport links. 

“We have robust policies and procedures in place to ensure that those travelling in Hackney carriages or private hire vehicles can be confident in their safety, and operations like this are a great example of how we work with our partners from other licencing authorities to address concerns and make sure everyone is operating inside the law.”

Cllr Dan Greenhough, cabinet member for economy, jobs and skills at Newcastle City Council, said: “Cross border taxi hire is an issue that affects all local authorities and we are very pleased to support this joint enforcement work alongside our neighbouring councils.

“This partnership approach allows us to confirm that consistent standards are applied across the region as well as ensuring the safety of the travelling public.”