Wolverhampton private hire vehicle checks in Salford day after Mayor of Manchester reveals campaign to tackle out-of-area working
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 21
Compliance officers from Wolverhampton and Salford councils teamed up on Maundy Thursday to carry out joint enforcement checks on taxi and private hire drivers operating in Greater Manchester. The operation aimed to ensure licensed drivers and vehicles from both authorities met the required safety and operational standards.
Cross-border enforcement remains a contentious issue across the industry. The term refers to licensed drivers and vehicles operating outside the area in which they were licensed. This is legal, due to legislation allowing drivers to accept bookings in areas outside their licensing authority as long as the booking is made through a licensed operator in the same area they are licensed.
Wolverhampton has become a focal point in this debate, having licensed a high number of out-of-area drivers in recent years. These drivers often work in cities like Manchester, Birmingham and London, raising concerns among local authorities and drivers over safety standards, local accountability, and unfair competition.
Critics argue that councils like Wolverhampton may lack the daily coverage to enforce compliance once their licensed drivers begin operating elsewhere. This gap in enforcement is said to create uneven standards across regions and frustrate drivers who feel subject to stricter oversight in their own licensing area.
Greater Manchester’s Mayor, Andy Burnham, has recently outlined plans to address the issue. Speaking earlier this week, Burnham said the current system is “broken” and pledged action to reduce the number of out-of-area drivers operating in the region. Measures under consideration include asking for stricter local licensing policies and further lobbying of government to tighten the rules around where licensed drivers can work.
Burnham’s comments reflect growing pressure on national policymakers to revisit legislation that many believe is no longer fit for purpose in today’s highly mobile private hire market.
Commenting on the operation on Thursday, a City of Wolverhampton Public Protection spokesperson said: “On Maundy Thursday, Compliance Officers worked with compliance colleagues from Salford Council carrying out checks on both Council's drivers and vehicles in Salford, Greater Manchester. Working together to ensure everyone gets home safe this Easter.”
