On Thursday, October 9, Police officers and Pembrokeshire County Council’s Licensing Team conducted joint safety inspections on taxis in Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.
PCs Kate and Phil from Milford Haven and Neyland Police, aimed to "protect passengers by checking that all taxis are roadworthy, insured, and operating within licence conditions." Officers also engaged with drivers to discuss compliance and address safety standard queries.
The checks are part of a regular series of operations across Pembrokeshire. Previous spot checks in April this year in Milford Haven, Neyland, and on the A477 revealed several issues, including:
Six suspension notices
Four delayed prohibition notices
One untaxed vehicle
Three drivers found without badges
An earlier operation in February 2024 in Haverfordwest stopped 26 vehicles, where "one taxi was found operating without a meter."
Dyfed-Powys Police stated that the latest checks "are part of ongoing efforts to maintain public safety and confidence in local transport services." The police anticipate "Further spot checks are expected to take place in the coming weeks."
Taxi drivers at Maidenhead Railway station are urging local authorities to find a better solution for congestion and other issues plaguing the station's forecourt since its re-design and reopening in 2021.
Normally, handing in one's badge requires a returning driver to redo the test to secure permission.
A petition launched by Cllr Simon Ball is calling for taxis and private hire vehicles to be allowed to use bus lanes in Rotherham, a request that will go before the council.
Thames Valley Police is investigating an alleged assault by a taxi driver that occurred on Cowley Road in Oxford around 12:37 am on October 8.
Cleveland Police has launched a hunt for a thief after a string of thefts from taxis in the central and Park wards of Middlesbrough.
Concerns have been raised about an allegedly unlicensed taxi driver operating illegally in the Sleaford area, driving a silver Skoda Kodiak with registration EU22 AYM.
Private hire drivers at Gatwick Airport, organised by Unite the union, are today staging a protest at the South Terminal roundabout, claiming that Uber is "destroying local livelihoods".
This support comes after a new report commissioned by DVS found overwhelmingly negative feedback on the island's taxi service, with 78% of respondents offering negative feedback.
Jamie Love (25) of Killyleagh was handed a three-year sentence at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, October 6, for assaulting a taxi driver.
Pensioner and taxi driver Geoffrey Thomas Albery was fined and disqualified from driving after being found behind the wheel over the legal alcohol limit and wearing "only his boxer shorts".
Police Scotland objected to the application, with an officer telling councillors that the applicant had driven without “due care and attention or without reasonable consideration” for others.
The full integration of the two companies is anticipated to be complete by "around Monday, October 19."
The initiative focuses on providing anti-spiking guidance for Veezu drivers, training them to "recognise the warning signs of spiking and respond appropriately to help keep passengers safe."
While the driver was reported as "uninjured," the "taxi was damaged" during the event.
According to new accounts filed with Companies House, the company's pre-tax loss ballooned to £179.4m, significantly up from the £75.5m loss reported in 2023.
The committee heard that the driver, who was not named, had failed to notify the council of her initial arrest and charges within the required 48 hours.
Jaymie Wilson, 35, has been ordered to pay a total of £770 after he became aggressive toward a taxi driver, uttered homophobic slurs, and threw a glass at him.
The details of the allegation stated that the passenger woke up to a horrifying situation: "The passenger passed out in the vehicle, upon coming around, the driver was licking her breasts.
The officials voiced fears that drivers licensed in other areas can operate in Rotherham, about whom local authorities have "no information."
South Wales Police and licensing teams from Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Newport councils conducted two operations, stopping over 50 taxis and private hire vehicles to ensure safety.