A joint roadside operation between Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police resulted in several taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) being taken off the road for safety and licensing violations.
According to Milton Keynes City Council, a total of 36 taxis and PHVs were inspected during the coordinated enforcement exercise, with 14 vehicles found to be breaching road traffic and taxi licensing laws.
Officers identified multiple issues, including:
- Bald or damaged tyres
- Missing roof signs, door signage, and driver badges
- Absence of licence plates
- Expired licences
- Visible vehicle damage
Fixed penalty notices and suspension notices were issued to offending drivers, with several vehicles immediately removed from service.
The inspection covered vehicles licensed in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Wolverhampton, Luton, Central Bedfordshire and London, underlining the growing challenge of cross-border enforcement within the private hire industry.
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson told TaxiPoint:
“The public should rightly expect vehicles used for hire to be in a road-legal condition and that those operating the vehicles comply with relevant licensing laws. It is essential that vehicles are road legal and in compliance with licensing laws, and appropriate action will be taken when we find evidence that they are not.”
Milton Keynes City Council confirmed that further joint operations are planned to ensure all vehicles operating in the city meet the required safety and licensing standards.
DM News Commentary:
This latest operation adds to a growing number of multi-agency enforcement drives across the UK, where local authorities and police forces are targeting unsafe or non-compliant taxis and PHVs — particularly those licensed outside the areas they are operating in.
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