Police crack down on taxi safety in pre-Christmas operation in York

Image credit: North Yorkshire Police

North Yorkshire Police conducted a collaborative operation with various partners to carry out checks on taxis and private hire vehicles in York in the lead up to Christmas.

On 6 December, officers from the city centre policing team, along with the British Transport Police, Special Constabulary, and roads policing officers, joined forces as part of "Operation Edge". The operation aimed to identify and address any safety concerns in the local taxi industry.

Supporting the initiative were partner agencies including City of York Council, Leeds City Council, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Together, they patrolled the city centre in marked police vehicles, targeting taxis without passengers onboard.

When an empty taxi was spotted, the authorities requested the driver to stop and follow the police vehicle to a designated bay. There, thorough checks were conducted by the police and partner agencies to ensure the legality and mechanical safety of the vehicles.

From the 22 vehicles inspected during the operation, several faults were identified, prompting immediate action. Out of these:

• Five vehicles were suspended due to significant defects

• Two vehicles were issued rectification notices for minor defects, which required the owners to address the issues promptly

• Fifteen vehicles were found to be satisfactory, adhering to the necessary safety regulations.

PC Dave Ellison from North Yorkshire Police said: “I am grateful to the partner agencies who assisted us with this operation which enabled us to engage with taxi drivers in the City of York.

“We are currently running our Christmas Drink and Drug Drive campaign and are encouraging members of the public to leave their car at home and use a taxi.

“Thankfully, most people act on this sensible advice so we want to do all we can to ensure that taxis and private hire vehicles in the city are operating safely and legally.

“I ask that all taxi drivers ensure that their vehicles are maintained, remain fit for purpose and are road legal.”