Taxi blitz hits Manchester as police arrest one and pull dozens off the road in late-night crackdown
- Perry Richardson
- 51 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Greater Manchester Police carried out a large-scale taxi and private hire enforcement operation in Manchester city centre, stopping and checking more than 174 licensed vehicles in a single evening.
The operation resulted in one arrest, 24 licensing suspensions, five vehicle defect notices and two immediate prohibitions.
The checks were conducted as part of a proactive road safety and compliance exercise, according to a statement published by GMP Traffic on social media. Officers worked alongside licensing teams to assess vehicle condition, documentation and driver compliance.
Police said the action was taken to prioritise passenger safety, even though the operation caused disruption to some customers whose journeys were delayed or cancelled as a result of vehicles being removed from service.
Police checks on more than 170 taxis in Manchester city centre result in enforcement action as authorities target passenger safety.
Immediate prohibitions are typically issued where vehicles are found to be unroadworthy, while licensing suspensions can relate to documentation, insurance, vehicle standards or driver conduct. GMP has not published a breakdown of the specific offences identified during the checks.
The arrest made during the operation has not been detailed, and police have not confirmed whether it was directly related to licensing, vehicle compliance or a separate criminal matter.
Taxi and private hire enforcement activity has increased in several UK cities in the lead up to Christmas, with police forces and local authorities looking to demonstrate robust oversight of passenger transport, particularly during night-time economy hours.
A GMP Traffic spokesperson said: “As part of a proactive operation, GMP officers checked over 174 taxis in Manchester City Centre, resulting in 1 arrest, 24 licensing suspensions, 5 vehicle defects and 2 prohibitions.
“Keeping passengers safe remains our priority, even if it led to a few unhappy customers tonight.”
