SWOOP... CRACKDOWN ON BRISTOL TAXIS


Two operations to crack down on unlicensed and unroadworthy taxis and PHVs were staged last month.


During daytime checks at Temple Meads station, 103 vehicles were test- ed, nine licences were suspended because of safety defects, and


action was taken against nine unsafe taxis. The night-time operation examined 21 vehicles and two had licences suspended.


The operation involved Council Licensing Enforcement Officers, British Transport Police, Avon and Somerset


Police, VOSA, HM Rev- enue and Customs and HM Border Agency. Cllr Gary Hopkins, cab- inet member for environment and com- munity safety, said: “Actions like this make the roads of Bristol safer for passengers and other drivers.”


SAFETY CRACKDOWN IN ISLINGTON


Almost one in five of the 250 minicabs inspected on Isling- ton’s roads were found to be unfit for use. The PCO carried out 39 visits to minicab offices in the borough and dis- covered 42 vehicles to be unroadworthy with car problems such as bald tyres or invalid drivers’ details.


In the blitz on cab firms, police made ten arrests,


mostly for offences relating to stolen dis- abled badges. Islington Council’s Parking Services team seized 37 Blue Badges from minicab drivers, and handed out 27 Penalty Charge Notices to minicabs parked ille- gally. The council’s street wardens also issues 13 £80 fixed penalty notices for anti- social behaviour.


Cllr Greg Foxsmith, Islington Council’s executive member for environment, told the Islington Gazette: “These very success- ful operations have come about because of repeated complaints from our residents about the behaviour of some drivers. Rogue drivers be warned: there will be further joint operations.”


HALF OF BURNLEY TAXIS FAIL TESTS


Nearly half of all taxis pulled over in Burnley and Padiham during a police and council crackdown were found to have faults.


Nine vehicles were so dangerous that they were immediately taken off the roads. Another seven had


more minor faults. Further tests were car- ried out to see if any cabs were running on illegal fuels and all vehicles passed. Insp Mark Baines, of Burnley Police, told the Lancashire Tele- graph: “This exercise has shown there are


some who have not been complying with the law and that is clearly a cause for concern. Whilst some of the defects were relatively minor,


oth-


ers were very serious and could have put passengers in unnec- essary danger.”


NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE TAXIS CHECKED


Council enforcement officers teamed up with police to check vehicles in Newcastle city centre over a recent weekend. Four were immediately suspended after seri- ous defects were discovered.


Inspectors also issued 11 drivers with non- compliance notices for minor defects. They had five days to bring


their cars up to stan- dard or face bans. A further 22 drivers were hit with notices requir- ing them to provide proof of insurance. Overall, 82 vehicles were stopped. Of those, 53 were Newcastle hackney carriages, six were registered to Berwick council and 23 were PHVs, from Gateshead, North Tyne- side and Tynedale.


Stephen Savage, New- castle City Council director of regulatory services and public pro- tection, told the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Evening Chronicle: “Vehicles licensed by Newcastle City Council undergo stringent checks. However it is clear that a small num- ber of drivers are failing to make the most ele- mentary safety checks.”


PAGE 30


PHTM OCTOBER 2009


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