Telford taxi drivers checked during huge targeted police traffic operation
- Perry Richardson
- May 3
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
Multiple taxis operating across Telford and surrounding areas were stopped and checked during a traffic enforcement operation led by West Mercia Police.
Operation Kidbrook II took place on the morning of Wednesday 30 April, running for over three hours. Officers from Roads Policing, Safer Neighbourhood Teams and licensing compliance officers from Telford & Wrekin Council gathered at a disused car park off Haybridge Road, next to Telford College.
The location provided a controlled space where vehicles could be directed and inspected away from public traffic. It also gave officers a vantage point to observe potential traffic offences near the bus lane and traffic lights close to Wellington Fire Station, an area where previous operations had been less effective due to early detection by motorists.
Among the vehicles brought into the site were licensed taxis from Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, and Wolverhampton. Senior compliance officers carried out full checks on these vehicles, with several found to have tyres below the legal tread limit of 1.6mm. These were dealt with accordingly.
A total of 27 traffic offence reports were issued during the operation, and four vehicles were seized. While not all offences related to taxi drivers, the inclusion of licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles in the checks forms part of a wider push to ensure standards are maintained across the board.
The operation comes in response to public feedback highlighting concerns over anti-social driving and speeding in areas including Arleston, Wellington and Hadley. Officers are working in partnership with the local authority’s Safer Roads Team to identify further locations for similar operations.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, said: “Our top priority is the safety of our residents. By supporting West Mercia Police, we are demonstrating our commitment to keeping our roads safe for all users.
“Ensuring that every road user respects the traffic signage, such as bus only lanes, is essential to help keep traffic moving and reduce the risk of accidents. These lanes are restricted to buses, emergency vehicles and cyclists and encourage public transport use and safer travel options for cyclists.
“It is pleasing that no taxis licensed by us were found to have faults and is a clear demonstration of the high standards we have when it comes to taxi licensing. These checks ensure that taxis meet the Council’s rigorous standards and legal requirements.
“Telford & Wrekin Council will continue to work closely with West Mercia Police, local partners, and residents to ensure our roads remain safe and welcoming for everyone.”
PC Ryan Davies from West Mercia Police said: “Reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads is a key priority.
“We continue to work with our partners on multi-agency operations such as this one to tackle incidents of dangerous or anti-social driving and we know these are issues that cause concern to residents in the area. We are looking to conduct more operations together, like this one, in due course.”
