Follow PHTM
Posted on the 10th June 2025 in PHTM News
TEN WORCESTER LICENCES REVOKED IN THREE YEARS WITH MYSTERY SHOPPER INITIATIVE UNDERWAY
Worcester City Council has revoked the licences of ten taxi drivers over the past three years, signalling a firm stance on maintaining high standards and enforcing regulations within the city's taxi services.
The revocations, revealed through a Freedom of Information request, highlight a range of offences leading to the revocations.
According to the figures, five licences were revoked due to "driving standards," while two drivers lost their licences for "non-compliance with condition of licence."
Additionally, one revocation was due to driver conduct, another for a combination of these issues, and one driver's licence was withdrawn due to criminal convictions.
Councillor Richard Udall, chair of the council’s licensing committee, underscored the seriousness of the council's approach. "I’m very serious about keeping high standards for taxi drivers, ensuring our standards are followed and having sufficient enforcement to keep any offenders under observation," he stated.
Cllr Udall acknowledged the gravity of such actions, adding: "Revoking a licence is a serious step - it’s withdrawing a person’s ability to earn a living, which is why it’s reserved for the worst or repeat offenders."
While confident that "the vast majority of our taxi drivers obey the rules - they are quality drivers and deliver a good service to the public," Cllr Udall affirmed the council's resolve: "However, we are determined to find and remove those who break the rules and ignore our policies, they will have nowhere to hide.”
In a significant shift, the council is enhancing its monitoring of taxi drivers' compliance. "We currently rely on the public to report problems and concerns to us. However, that will be changing,” Cllr Udall revealed.
He expressed particular concern over "complaints such as attitude and rudeness and the acceptance of taxi drivers of assistance dogs, disabled passengers and short journeys - this is a particular concern."
To address these issues proactively, the council is now deploying "mystery shoppers to ensure compliance. Those who fail the tests will be coming before a licensing sub-committee to face the consequences of their actions.”
In addition to internal compliance, Worcester City Council has also been tackling the misuse of city centre taxi ranks. A project dubbed "Operation Rome," launched last year following complaints from licence holders and the public, targeted private hire vehicles from other council areas using Worcester’s designated taxi ranks.
By March, this operation had identified 85 incidents involving 140 vehicles, leading to formal warning letters being sent to drivers from Wychavon, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton.
Read another story
- TEENAGER CHARGED WITH DRINK DRIVING AFTER TAXI STOLEN IN BIRMINGHAM
West Midlands Police reported that the vehicle was stolen by Alfie Mooney, 19, on Bromford Lane, Hodge Hill, shortly after 2am.
- NELSON TAXI DRIVER ORDERED TO PAY OVER £500 OVER ASSISTANCE DOG REFUSAL
Mohammed Sohail Akram pleaded guilty at Burnley Magistrates’ Court to the offence.
- MILFORD HAVEN TAXI DRIVERS ORDEAL: COUPLE JAILED FOR KNIFE AND NEEDLE ROBBERY
A Pembrokeshire taxi driver has spoken of enduring nightmares and profound family fears after being robbed at knifepoint and pricked with a needle by a couple in Milford Haven last October.
- BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL REVOKES 18 TAXI LICENCES AMID SURGE IN DRIVER OFFENCES
This figure marks a significant increase compared to the 11 revocations made in the same period last year.
- EDINBURGH'S BELOVED TAXI OUTING BRINGS JOY AND COLOUR TO CITY STREETS
The long-running Edinburgh Taxi Outing made its way through the city centre on Tuesday morning 10 June, as drivers donned their cabs with colourful balloons.
- LONDON GEARS UP FOR ROBOTAXI REVOLUTION AS UBER ANNOUNCES SELF DRIVING TRIALS NEXT SPRING
This comes after the UK government fast-tracked plans for fully AV pilots, allowing companies to operate small-scale taxi or "bus-like" services without a safety driver for the first time in Europe.
- TEN TAXIS INSPECTED IN SOUTH RIBBLE CRACKDOWN, ONE DEFECT NOTICE ISSUED
As part of National Licensing Week 2025, ten licensed taxis in South Ribble underwent inspections by local police and South Ribble BC aiming to ensure compliance with taxi licensing laws.
- PARKING PANDEMONIUM: ILLEGAL PARKING NEAR TAXI RANK SPARKS ROW IN WORCESTER
A simmering dispute over illegal parking near a Worcester taxi rank has boiled over, with a cycling group calling it a "massive problem" and a councillor labelling it an "anti-taxi campaign."
- CONSULTATION ON TAXI VEHICLE SAFETY LAUNCHED IN PENDLE
Pendle’s Taxi Licensing Policy has been updated to improve safety standards in vehicles and Pendle Borough Council wants your views on the proposed changes.
- CCTV APPEAL AFTER TAXI DRIVER THREATENED IN CORBY
Police officers are appealing for help to identify three men they believe may have information regarding an incident in which a taxi driver was threatened.
- TAXI DRIVER SUSPENDED IN WARRINGTON LICENSING CRACKDOWN
A multi-agency enforcement operation in Warrington town centre on Saturday evening, June 7, led to the suspension of one taxi driver and the delayed suspension of two others.
- SHOCKING VIOLENT ATTACK ON PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER IN OLDHAM
An Uber driver was the victim of a violent and unprovoked assault by two male passengers during a journey in Derker, Oldham.
- GMB UNION CONSIDERS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TFL OVER LICENSING DELAYS
The delays in processing licence renewal requests caused significant financial hardship for many drivers as they were left unable to work – in some cases for months at a time.
- DRIVERLESS TAXIS AND BUSES HIT UK ROADS A YEAR EARLY IN 2026 BOOST
This fast-tracked initiative underscores the Government's ambition for the UK to be at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology.
- EAST RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL REMOVES AGE LIMITS FOR PRIVATE HIRE CARS AND TAXIS
At a meeting of the council’s licensing committee, members voted in favour of removing the long-standing policy that restricted vehicles from being licensed beyond ten years.
- MILTON KEYNES GUIDE DOG OWNER INFURIATED BY PERSISTENT TAXI REFUSALS
Hannah Burgess, 27, recently shared an online video in which a driver initially declined to transport her golden retriever, Morris, before eventually relenting.
- WOLVERHAMPTON TAXI LICENCE FEES SET TO SOAR IN FIRST HIKE IN OVER A DECADE
The proposed hike, intended to cover mounting compliance and administration costs, will be decided by the council's regulatory committee on Wednesday, June 11.
- INFORMATION SOUGHT AFTER TAXI DRIVER ASSAULTED IN ESSEX VILLAGE AFTER FARE EVASION
A taxi driver was reportedly assaulted in the quiet Essex village of Mistley in the early hours of Sunday, June 8, after a passenger fled his vehicle without paying.
- PENDLE COUNCIL AXES DRIVER KNOWLEDGE TEST CITING SAT NAVS MAKE IT OBSOLETE
The decision was made at a taxi licensing meeting in May, scrapping the £29.90 test component for hackney carriage and private hire licence applicants.
- HAVE YOUR SAY ON PROPOSED NEW TAXI FARES FOR EXETER
The last tariff increase in Exeter was in 2022 and a consultation is taking place and members of the public can make comments right up until 13 July.
