Taxis face checks in county-wide police operation
- Perry Richardson
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
Norfolk Police have confirmed that taxis and private hire vehicles will be part of a nationwide commercial vehicle enforcement campaign running from 26 January to 8 February.
The operation, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, is aimed at vehicles used for business and trade and will see police forces across the country intensify checks on a wide range of commercial drivers. In Norfolk, that remit explicitly includes taxis operating on the county’s roads.
During the two-week period, officers from Norfolk Police will work alongside the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, carrying out roadside stops and inspections at multiple locations. Taxi drivers can expect checks covering both road safety compliance and wider regulatory requirements linked to commercial use.
Police said the campaign is designed to address offences commonly associated with professional driving, including drink and drug driving, speeding, mobile phone use and seatbelt compliance. For taxis and other commercial vehicles, enforcement activity will also cover driver hours, vehicle condition, load safety and other breaches specific to trade use.
Two-week NPCC-led operation will see taxis stopped alongside lorries and vans as officers target safety, licensing and illegal working offences
The operation will also be used to identify individuals working illegally in the UK and those using commercial vehicles to facilitate wider criminal activity. Norfolk Police said taxis form part of the broader commercial transport network and can be exploited in organised crime, including immigration-related offences.
By including taxis within the scope of the campaign, officers aim to reinforce standards across the licensed trade and ensure vehicles carrying passengers are operating lawfully and safely. Police described the initiative as part of a wider effort to make the county a hostile environment for those seeking to misuse the road network.
Norfolk Police have not published stop targets or enforcement thresholds but said the campaign provides an opportunity to disrupt criminal activity while reminding legitimate commercial drivers, including taxi drivers, of their legal responsibilities.
PC Chris Leah, of the Commercial Vehicle Unit in Norfolk, said: “We consider those who drive for a living as professional drivers. You may think this means they have the experience and knowledge to avoid committing road traffic offences however this is not always the case.
“Due to their size and in some cases, their loads, they have the potential to pose the biggest risk to other drivers if they are involved in a collision on Norfolk’s/Suffolk’s roads.
“Fatal four offences, such as using a mobile phone, driving under the influence, not wearing a seatbelt or speeding are the biggest contributors to those killed or seriously injured on the road. Add the weight of a commercial vehicle or a dangerous load and you’re looking at catastrophic consequences.
“We will always seek to engage with and educate drivers in the first instance and those found to be committing offences will be dealt with in a robust manner.”
