Posted on the 11th August 2025 in PHTM News

SEVEN OUT OF TOWN PHVS SUSPENDED IN YORK TAXI OPERATION

To support the taxi trade’s high standards and passenger safety, an operation to stop and check private hire vehicles was carried out last weekend.

On the evening of Saturday 2 August members of North Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Group deployed in company with Special Constables to check on the safety of PHVs in the York area.

Working with partners which include the City of York Council and the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), PHVs in the York area were stopped and checked to ensure licensing was in order and vehicle safety was of appropriate standard.

Several PHVs were stopped from the North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire areas.

Vehicle faults found included defective rear brakes, defective tyres, body work defects, as well as issues with vehicle lighting and registration plate offences. One taxi was also seized as it’s tax had expired.

The full findings of the operation were:

•  32 vehicles inspected

•  7 vehicles suspended for significant defect

•  3 vehicles had rectification notices issued for minor defects

•  10 advisory notices issued for minor breaches in conditions

•  Traffic Offence Report for a defective rear number plate

•  12 vehicles were satisfactory

TC Dave Ellison from North Yorkshire Police said: “I’m grateful to the partner agencies who assisted us with this operation.

“Vehicle safety is paramount; people who choose to use and pay for a taxi expect that the vehicle that they are using is safe.

“ We used the opportunity to engage with taxi drivers and where appropriate enforce.”

Councillor Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy at City of York Council, said;

“This proactive, multi-agency operation reflects our ongoing commitment to public safety and licensing requirements, on which there cannot be any compromises.

“The agencies carried out inspections on taxis and private hire vehicles licensed in York and elsewhere, to ensure they meet the required standards.

“The seven licence suspensions and one vehicle seizure were all vehicles licensed outside the city.

"It’s good to see there were no significant issues for York licensed cabs but disappointing to see required standards not being met by all operators.

“New requirements put in place last year raise the emphasis on safety and driving standards even higher to help protect all road users including passengers, so operators need to ensure they’re aware and comply with them”.


Read another story