Wolverhampton licensing officers join Chester checks as part of out-of-area enforcement drive
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 6
Compliance officers from City of Wolverhampton Council took part in a joint operation with Cheshire Police on 28 June, checking licensed vehicles operating in Chester. The operation was aimed at ensuring drivers and vehicles, including those licensed by authorities outside of Cheshire, were following licensing rules.
During the checks, officers came across a driver giving paid driving lessons in a private hire vehicle. The driver was not licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council, and the matter was handled by police at the scene.
Wolverhampton Council has long been increasing its compliance activity across the country following a rise in the number of its licensed vehicles working outside of the local area.
National legislation allows private hire drivers to be licensed by one authority and operate in another, which has led some drivers to register in areas with quicker or cheaper licensing processes. Wolverhampton is seen as one such licensing authority often chosen by drivers based in other regions.
To address concerns raised by local councils and the public about enforcement gaps, Wolverhampton’s officers now regularly visit areas outside their city to carry out spot checks on vehicles and drivers licensed under their authority. These checks are done in partnership with local police and council enforcement teams to ensure that safety standards are maintained, no matter where the vehicle is operating.
The council said these operations help ensure compliance with licensing conditions and build cooperation between councils.
A City of Wolverhampton Council Public Protection spokesperson said: “Compliance Officers worked in Chester with colleagues from Cheshire Police carrying out compliance checks on licensed vehicles. Police dealt with 1 driver (not a City of Wolverhampton Council PHD) who was giving driving lessons in a local PHV!”
