Posted on the 23rd February 2026 in PHTM News

PORTSMOUTH LEADERS WARN RESIDENTS TO AVOID OUT OF CONTROL WOLVERHAMPTON PHVS

Portsmouth councillors have issued a stark warning to residents after raising serious safety concerns over the influx of private hire vehicles licensed in Wolverhampton.

During a licensing committee meeting on February 20, councillors described the presence of these out-of-town cars as "out of control," with Committee Chair Cllr Emily Strudwick telling the public: “If it’s not Portsmouth, don’t get in it.”

The alarm stems from the fact that Wolverhampton’s licensing process is cheaper and faster than Portsmouth’s and does not require vehicles to have interior CCTV.

Local officials argue this creates a "real safeguarding issue," noting a report from last July where a Wolverhampton-plated driver allegedly made sexual advances toward a passenger.

Cllr George Madgwick warned that “people in Wolverhampton taxis are simply not protected as much as Portsmouth taxis.”

Beyond safety, local representatives criticised the quality of service provided by these cross-border drivers.

The council’s hackney carriage trade representative, Viv Young, suggested that topographical tests should be reintroduced, sharing his experience of a Wolverhampton licensed driver being “totally clueless as to where they’re going”, adding that their “driving standards are abysmal”.

There are also economic frustrations, as Cllr Abdul Kadir noted these drivers are "taking jobs from our taxi drivers," though the council admitted it has no legal power to charge or regulate drivers licensed by another authority.

Licensing manager Nickii Humphreys labelled the situation a “national problem” caused by new technology and shifting travel patterns.

While the government is currently consulting on a "modern, consistent and passenger-focused licensing framework," Portsmouth councillors are calling for more urgent action and public awareness to protect residents from what they see as a "moral imperative" to maintain high safety standards.


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