Taxi and PHV compliance intensified in Leeds as report reveals complaints, inspections and enforcement rise
- Perry Richardson
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Taxi and private hire (PHV) compliance activity increased significantly in 2025, with enforcement teams expanding inspections, suspensions and joint operations in response to rising licence volumes and ongoing safety priorities, according to the Leeds City Council Licensing report.
More than 7,000 vehicle inspections were carried out during the year, a sharp increase from 4,622 in 2024, reflecting both growth in the licensed fleet and a more proactive compliance approach. Inspectors examined vehicles across categories including new applications, accident checks and retests, with all vehicles required to meet minimum safety standards before being licensed.
Alongside scheduled inspections, enforcement officers undertook 39 joint operations with police and partner agencies, resulting in 2,412 roadside checks targeting issues such as illegal plying for hire, safeguarding risks and licensing breaches. While most vehicles were found compliant, 159 were immediately suspended due to safety concerns or regulatory breaches, highlighting ongoing risks within the sector.
Compliance checks extended beyond locally licensed vehicles. Officers also inspected 993 vehicles licensed by neighbouring authorities, with 51 suspended at the roadside. The cross-border activity reflects wider industry concerns around out-of-area working and the need for coordinated enforcement across licensing boundaries.
Annual licensing data shows increased roadside checks, higher complaint volumes and growing private hire sector shaping compliance pressures
The increase in enforcement activity comes alongside rapid expansion in the private hire market. Licensed private hire driver numbers rose to 6,042 in 2025, up from 5,463 the previous year, while private hire vehicles increased to 4,575. This growth has added operational pressure on compliance teams and reinforced the need for scalable inspection and monitoring systems.
Complaint volumes also rose, with 762 complaints recorded against taxi and PHV drivers and operators during the year. The most common issues related to driver conduct, driving standards and parking or licensing breaches. Cases involving inappropriate behaviour, discrimination and safeguarding concerns continued to form a key part of enforcement workloads, directly linked to the “fit and proper” test applied to licence holders.
Regulators maintained a graduated enforcement approach, prioritising early intervention and corrective action where possible. In 2025, 95 drivers were required to undertake additional training due to motoring offences or conduct concerns, with no cases escalating to committee hearings under this policy.
Formal licensing action remained a central compliance tool. During the year, 35 licences were revoked and 116 suspended, with common reasons including motoring offences, violence, sexual offences and medical issues. Medical grounds accounted for nearly half of all suspensions, often as temporary precautionary measures.
Regulatory checks were also strengthened through interim compliance requirements. Drivers remained subject to ongoing DBS, DVLA and medical checks throughout their licence period, while new rules required authorities to record HMRC tax information, tightening financial compliance within the sector.
Operationally, licensing authorities continued to emphasise partnership working as a key compliance strategy. Joint activity with police, transport agencies and neighbouring councils supported intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement, particularly in tackling safeguarding risks and illegal activity.
At a national level, proposed reforms to consolidate licensing under larger transport authorities could significantly reshape compliance responsibilities. If implemented, the reduction in licensing bodies may lead to more standardised enforcement practices but could also create transitional challenges for local compliance teams already managing rising demand.
