Joint operation ensures taxi passengers' safety

Patrolling officers stopped vehicles in Durham City to check for road worthiness and legal compliance, with 28 drivers directed to a specialist garage for inspection by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Led by the council and Durham Constabulary, and supported by Joy Allen, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, the operation aimed to ensure taxis operating in the area are mechanically safe and that drivers hold the correct licence.

Of the 28 taxis directed to the garage, four vehicles failed the test due to issues with tyres, a split CV boot and an engine management light displaying. Two of the vehicles were licensed in County Durham and two were licensed elsewhere in the region, with the driver of one of those given a £100 fixed penalty notice and three penalty points due to a tyre tread being below the legal limit.

Another taxi, which was also registered outside of County Durham, failed to attend and officers are following this up separately.

The operation follows a similar exercise across County Durham and Darlington in December, which saw 58 vehicles stopped and 50 directed to a garage for further inspection.

Raising awareness and protecting the public

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Cabinet for rural communities, highways and community safety, said: "There are thousands of taxi drivers operating in County Durham, with the majority complying with the licensing requirements, keeping their vehicles in a roadworthy condition and providing a valuable service for residents and visitors.

"This crackdown was directed at a small minority of drivers who breach licensing conditions and put members of the public at risk by failing to ensure their vehicles are mechanically safe. We will continue to work with our partners to raise awareness of taxi licensing laws and to protect the public from those who flout these important regulations."

Improving road safety

Chief Inspector Jim O'Connor, from Durham Constabulary said: "The public need to be able to trust that the taxis they use are safe and the overwhelming majority are. But this joint operation shows that some do not reach the safety standards passengers rightly expect.

"Checks like this not only protect the public, but also protect the drivers - they help improve road safety, reduce the risk of collisions and ensure everyone gets home safely.

"We would like to remind people to use reputable companies when booking a taxi. When the taxi arrives, the driver should be wearing photographic identification as well as having their private hire licence displayed within the vehicle."