Wiltshire Police is investigating an alleged assault on a taxi driver in Swindon following a fare dispute.

The incident reportedly occurred around 1 pm on Sunday, 27 April, in Sandgate, near the Greenbridge Roundabout.

According to police reports, a passenger in the taxi allegedly refused to pay their fare. Subsequently, "a man then allegedly punched the driver of the taxi in the face."

Authorities have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A police spokesperson stated: "We are investigating a reported assault that occurred in Sandgate, Swindon, at 1pm on Sunday (April 27).

"A taxi driver was punched by a man after a passenger failed to pay a fare. Our enquiries are ongoing and anyone who witnessed the altercation is asked to contact 101 quoting crime reference number 54250050668."

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A joint operation by Police Scotland and The Highland Council's trading standards team in Inverness city centre on Friday, 25 April, saw roadside checks conducted on 30 taxi and private hire vehicles.

While the majority of drivers were found to be operating within licensing regulations, two taxis now face enforcement action following the swoop.

The checks identified "several licensing infringements" and led to "numerous" warnings, primarily concerning "construction and use requirements" related to passenger safety and comfort, including seatbelts, flooring and vehicle age.

Despite these issues, Mark McGinty, trading standards’ team leader, expressed satisfaction with the overall level of compliance. He stated: "From a trading standards perspective, we are pleased at the high level of compliance with only two vehicle checks resulting in enforcement action."

McGinty further emphasised the importance of the taxi service, noting: "This trade provides an important service to the local community and visitors alike, and it is paramount that legality and safety are ensured. We will continue to work with the trade and our partners to that end."

While enforcement action will be taken against the two non-compliant vehicles, the operation highlighted that the "majority of drivers were operating within the terms of their taxi licence, with roadworthy vehicles and correct documentation."

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Perth and Kinross Council has launched a public consultation to gauge opinions on the current cap of 80 taxi licences in the city, citing a significant increase in unmet demand.

The move follows an "Unmet Demand Survey" which highlighted longer passenger wait times compared to pre-pandemic levels and continued difficulties for disabled users, particularly wheelchair users.

The survey's findings indicate a "significant demand for the services of taxis in Perth that is not met," recommending an increase of 24 licences to address the issue.

This has prompted the council to consider two potential options: increasing the limit by 24 or removing the cap entirely, allowing for an "unlimited" number of licences.

At a Licensing Committee Meeting on March 25, 2025, councillors agreed to seek the views of both the public and the taxi trade before making a decision.

The council emphasised the importance of this feedback, stating: "We are making sure everyone's voice is heard before a decision can be made about which option the council should adopt."

The consultation also seeks input on the types of vehicles that should be prioritised for any new licences issued, such as wheelchair accessible vehicles or electric vehicles.

The council acknowledges that any change to the current licensing limit "will have an impact on people who currently have a taxi," underscoring the need for broad engagement.

The feedback gathered will be crucial in shaping a report to the Licensing Committee, which will ultimately decide on the number of additional taxi licences and any potential vehicle restrictions.

Members of the public and the taxi trade are encouraged to participate in the short consultation via the link provided: https://shorturl.at/VOEXP.

Their input will play a vital role in determining the future of taxi services in Perth.

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Private hire drivers across the United Kingdom and globally are staging a 24-hour strike today, Thursday, May 1st, in a coordinated effort to demand better pay, improved working conditions, and crucial protections for gig economy workers.

The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) is spearheading the action, which sees drivers logging off popular apps such as Uber and Bolt in major UK cities including London, Newcastle, Bristol and Manchester.

The impact is being felt locally, with Manchester drivers joining the global movement and planning a city centre protest this afternoon.

One Greater Manchester driver, identified only as Cosmin, expressed the dire financial straits many face, stating: "Between 4am and 2.30pm [one day this week] I made just £71. Over £20 of that will go on fuel and insurance, without adding the cost of car maintenance overall."

He further highlighted concerns about commission rates, alleging: "Uber shows customers a different price to the fee that we see from rides, and then they charge more than 25pc commission on our earnings. I’ve seen it as high as 40pc sometimes."

Nader Awaad, of the IWGB, powerfully articulated the drivers' collective struggle: “Drivers around the world today are not living but surviving – we’re hanging on by a thread. There are hidden epidemics of depression, chronic pain and broken relationships plaguing the workforce, because of unhealthily long hours spent on the road trying to scrape a living."

He also raised concerns about job security and safety, adding: "We live with the constant threat of losing our income if our accounts are unfairly deactivated, and the anxiety that, with no proper safety protections, we might be the next driver to face violent assault."

Mr Awaad framed the strike as a stand against industry giants, asserting: "Shareholders at the top of this industry think they can get away with devastating drivers’ lives to fund their luxury lifestyles, but workers around the world have had enough, and are uniting across borders to send a powerful message this May Day. This is a global fightback against a broken system.”

Adding to the disruption, a two-hour walkout was planned at Heathrow Airport commencing at 7am. While the airport anticipates "minimal impact" on terminal operations and advises passengers to consider alternative transportation, the action underscores the widespread discontent within the private hire sector.

In response to the global strike, Uber stated they have "taken a number of steps in partnership with Heathrow to mitigate any impact."

A company spokesperson emphasised their ongoing engagement with drivers, particularly through their agreement with the GMB union, which is not participating in the strike.

"Uber is currently meeting with hundreds of drivers across the country to hear directly from them about how we can improve their experience on the platform," the spokesperson said.

Regarding commission rates, while Uber stated that weekly "take rates" average between 20-30%, they did confirm that rates can reach as high as 40% on popular routes, such as those to Manchester Airport. The company also noted that drivers are limited to a maximum of 10 working hours at a time and can view a breakdown of their earnings.

Despite Uber's claims of improved worker benefits, the widespread participation in this global strike, including the planned protest in Manchester, signals that many drivers believe these measures fall short of providing a sustainable and fair livelihood in the demanding gig economy.

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Chester Local Policing Unit is continuing its ongoing efforts to ensure taxis are operating lawfully in the area.

Operation Recordings, carried out by Chester Beat Management Team and the Special Constabulary, was established in a bid to ensure taxis were safe, correctly licensed and compliant with their regulations.

With support from the Cheshire West and Chester Council Licensing Team, over 400 taxis have been stopped and checked since the operation was launched in an attempt to engage with drivers and increase visibility alongside partners in tackling unregistered and unsafe taxis operating in the area.

Over the past weekend (Friday 25 April – Sunday 27 April), officers conducted inspections on a number of locally licensed taxis as well as taxis licensed in other council areas.

Officers were deployed to a number of hotspots for taxis registered both in and outside of Chester. Drivers were engaged with while officers conducted a number of safety checks, including making sure all vehicle lights were fully operational, drivers were in possession of their IDs and, where appropriate, CCTV cameras were in operation.

As a result of the policing activity over the weekend, four taxis were issued with warning notices for faulty break lights and incorrectly displayed number plates.

Inspector James Wilson said: "Operation Recordings was launched by the of the Chester Beat Management Team along with local partners including taxi licencing officers for Cheshire West and Chester, Wolverhampton, Wrexham, Sefton and Flintshire, in order to combat unlicensed passenger vehicles.

"It was reassuring to see that so many of the taxis that operate in our area were compliant with the appropriate legislation.

"Our officers will continue to support the legitimate taxi drivers in Chester and ensure those enjoying a day out here can return home safely."

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