Macclesfield Local Policing Unit joined forces with Cheshire East Council in an operation designed keep people safe.

The operation, which was conducted on Friday 25 April and Saturday 26 April revolved around officers conducting inspections of both locally licensed taxis and those licensed in other council areas that operated in Macclesfield and Poynton.

Over the two nights, officers were deployed to Poynton and Macclesfield Train Stations and taxis ranks, a main hub for taxis registered both in and outside of the two areas.

While at the ranks, officers from both the LPU and Cheshire East Council engaged with the drivers and 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.

They also checked they had road tax and insurance, the driving licence of the driver, whether the taxi is registered correctly, and whether they have the valid permits to operate.

Officers from Macclesfield Beat Management worked alongside officers from the Roads and Crime Unit in Macclesfield Town Centre on Friday and Saturday night conducting inspections of both locally licensed taxis and those licensed in other council areas that operate in Cheshire East.

Over the course of both nights, more than 60 taxis were stopped in Macclesfield and Poynton. Twenty-five of them were issued with Traffic Offence Reports for a variety of offences including having tyres below the legal tread depth, driving without due care and attention, using the Pedestrianised Zone as a cut through, misuse of hazard lights, failing to maintain obligatory lights, a driver not wearing a seatbelt and rear registration mark light not lit during darkness.

Four taxis have been reported to the local authority for licensing offences including failing to display taxi plates correctly.

Inspector Nick Rogers said: “It was really reassuring to see that so many of the taxis that operate in our towns were compliant with the appropriate legislation, with the few found to be in breach being swiftly dealt with.

"Our officers will continue to support the legitimate taxi drivers in and around Macclesfield with this operation. In fact, we expect we will use this tactic in other Cheshire East areas now that we have seen its benefits in keeping people safe.”

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Taxi drivers and passengers in South Staffordshire will soon have the option to activate audio recording during journeys via a new "panic switch" system.

This move by South Staffordshire Council's licensing committee aims to bolster safety following a worrying spate of assaults on taxi drivers in the region.

The decision to permit the installation of CCTV systems with optional audio recording comes after an extensive consultation last year, which garnered significant support for the measure. An overwhelming 88% of the 1,329 respondents believed audio recording would enhance passenger safety, while 96% felt it would better protect drivers.

A council report underscored the escalating safety concerns, referencing "several high-profile assaults on licensed drivers," including the tragic manslaughter of Wolverhampton driver Anakh Singh in October 2022 and the murder of Mohammed Istakhar in Solihull in November 2022.

The report also highlighted a more recent knife attack on a taxi driver in April 2024 after picking up a passenger from Coventry Railway Station.

The report stated that: "Given the risk to the council's drivers, the position on audio recording and its crime deterrent benefits has been reviewed, to provide greater protection to drivers from this type of attack."

While not mandatory, the new policy will allow drivers to install the audio equipment if they choose. Crucially, a "panic switch" will be fitted inside the taxis, enabling either the driver or the passenger to initiate audio recording when necessary.

Greg Bickerdike, licensing manager at City of Wolverhampton Council, which manages taxi licensing for South Staffordshire, clarified that it is not a "mandatory requirement" but will empower drivers to install the equipment.

He emphasised the dual accessibility of the system, explaining: "For the protection of them and passengers' privacy, there will be a switch the driver or passenger can turn on at any time. It's not just a one-way thing, it has to be accessible to both taxi passengers and drivers."

Officials have stressed that this mutual accessibility is paramount, ensuring that both parties can quickly activate recording in a threatening situation.

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At Uber, we believe that movement should be accessible to everyone.

However, some riders still do not use the Uber app because they prefer using cash or don’t have a UK bank card.

By allowing payments in cash we can bring new riders to the Uber app, creating more earnings opportunities for you.

From Thursday 1 May, we will be introducing cash as a payment option for riders and we will be letting you decide if you want to take cash trips.

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A Bolton man who subjected a Chorley taxi driver to a vile racist rant has been handed a 12-month community order.

The man, in his 50s, pleaded guilty at a pre-trial hearing on December 11, 2024, to racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm following the incident on May 12, 2024.

The court heard that the taxi driver picked up Fell and another male passenger from a Chorley taxi rank at approximately 1:30am. Initially requesting a journey to Houghton, the passengers then changed their destination to Bolton mid-journey.

Upon arrival in Bolton, the £75 fare became the catalyst for a torrent of abuse directed at the driver.

According to court documents, Fell, who was seated in the back of the taxi, launched into a tirade that included deeply offensive and Islamophobic remarks such as: "Go to your hajj. Go and pray to your f***ing god," and "Your a f***ing rag head, you horrible bas***d."

He also made disturbing comments about the driver's faith and perceived background, stating: "F***ing temples everywhere, breeding us out," and "Your a f***ing Muslim and you want to do hajj, and you want to f***ing rag me like the rest of your caste because your breeding us out of this f***ing country."

Despite being repeatedly warned by the driver that his racist abuse was being recorded on the taxi's CCTV and would be reported to the police, the man continued his verbal assault and refused to pay the fare, declaring: "I am not paying you £75, I would rather slit my own throat and do hajj."

The entire journey was captured on the taxi's recording system, and the footage was provided to Lancashire Police as crucial evidence, leading to the man's arrest and subsequent charge.

He was sentenced at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on April 17, 2025. The 12-month community order mandates that he attend a programme of 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay a £100 fine.

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A South Oxfordshire licensed private hire and hackney carriage driver has been slapped with over £1,000 in costs and a six-month driving ban after being caught illegally operating in Reading.

Talal Bin Mumtaz Raja, from Reading, was found guilty of four offences at Reading Magistrates' Court on April 7, 2025.

The court heard how undercover licensing officers from Reading City Council conducted a "test purchase operation" on March 23, 2024. They flagged down Mr Raja's vehicle outside the Penta Hotel on Oxford Road, where he agreed to an unbooked £12 fare to Tilehurst.

While Mr Raja holds a hackney carriage licence, this only permits him to pick up passengers without pre-booking within his licensed borough of South Oxfordshire.

Crucially, the investigation also revealed that his driving and vehicle licences were suspended at the time due to his failure to complete mandatory disability training.

Presiding magistrates delivered a hefty penalty, including fines of £700 for "plying for hire" and "operating without insurance."

Mr Raja was also ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a £280 victim surcharge. 

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