Follow PHTM
Posted on the 8th April 2025 in PHTM News
DUDLEY SCHOOL TRANSPORT STING NETS ILLEGAL TYRE AND MINOR OFFENCES
A sting operation targeting taxis and private hire vehicles transporting children to special schools in Dudley has resulted in one driver receiving penalty points and several vehicles flagged for minor defects.
Dudley Council, in collaboration with West Midlands Police and the DVSA, conducted the surprise checks on Thursday 3 April at Merry Hill.
The operation, which inspected 47 drivers and vehicles, aimed to ensure compliance with safety and licensing standards.
While most drivers passed the checks, a driver was issued three penalty points for an illegal tyre with exposed cords.
"One driver was also hit with three points on their licence, as their vehicle was found to have an illegal tyre with no tread on the inside and had the corded inner of the tyre showing," officials reported.
Other infractions included two vehicles with faulty bulbs and one lacking the correct licensing sticker.
Andy Beaman, a Transport Officer at Dudley Council, highligjhted the operation's thoroughness. "We’re looking for any defects on the vehicles that go up and above where we’re contracted to check – our licensing people can do number plate checks, but with the police and the DVSA, they’re operational - they check if there is anyone on their record that they are after who may have slipped the net in terms of driving, and then also check the standards of the vehicles, looking for things like corroded chassis and illegal tyres. It adds that extra layer of protection."
Cllr David Stanley, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Dudley Council, acknowledged the overall compliance. "The majority of drivers and vehicles today were found to have the standards required, and I would like to thank them for their patience."
Read another story
- GLASGOW CABBIE ADMITS ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER MOWING DOWN FRAUDSTER OUTSIDE COURT
In a shocking act of broad daylight revenge, taxi driver Awet Teame, 32, has admitted to attempting to murder a man who had previously defrauded him out of thousands of pounds.
- GLASGOW PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING DRUNK TEEN PASSENGER
Private hire driver, Kamran Nawaz, 37, admitted to the crime, which occurred on May 23 of last year in the Anderston area of the city.
- WIGAN CABBIE FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY WINDOW TINT OF NEW VEHICLE
Tracy Hibbert, who has been a taxi driver since 1991, bought a 2019 Ford Transit Custom van in August.
- IPSWICH COUNCIL CRACKS DOWN ON ROGUE TAXI DRIVERS REVOKING 16 LICENCES IN FIVE YEARS
The move comes as the council reviews licences, addressing concerns ranging from DVLA issues and medical conditions to more serious allegations flagged by police and other authorities.
- TUNBRIDGE WELLS TAXI DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AFTER PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS
A Tunbridge Wells taxi driver has exhausted all avenues of appeal after a judge at Maidstone Crown Court upheld the borough council's decision to revoke his taxi/private hire licence.
- BLACKBURN AND PENDLE CABBIES SIGN UP IN DROVES AS UBER LAUNCHES LOCALLY
The onboarding process commenced on Tuesday at Lomeshaye Business Park in Nelson, marking the end of frustrating delays for prospective drivers who were initially told registration would begin in January, then March.
- GREATER MANCHESTER MAYOR CALLS FOR DEVOLVED POWERS TO FIX ENGLANDS BROKEN TAXI LICENSING SYSTEM
Figures show one local authority dominates taxi licensing across England, with nearly half of private hire vehicles working in Greater Manchester now licensed ‘out of area’.
- LYFT EXPANDS IN EUROPE AND DIVERSIFIES BY ACQUIRING FREENOW
FREENOW will continue operating as it does today to drive growth across 9 countries and over 150 cities across Ireland, UK, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and Austria.
- MAN NABBED IN TAXI NEAR KIDBROOKE WITH 30 INCH MACHETE IN HIS WAISTBAND
A man with a history of knife offences has been arrested after police discovered a 30-inch machete concealed in his waistband during a stop and search of a taxi near Kidbrooke, south east London.
- BARNSLEY DRIVER, VEHICLE AND OPERATOR LICENCE FEES SET TO RISE
Fees for taxi drivers operating in Barnsley are set to climb next year for the first time since 2014.
- SOUTH CAMBS PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AFTER FAILING TO DECLARE DRIVING OFFENCES
Kambiz Akhondi, 59, from Soham, appeared before Peterborough Magistrates who determined he was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence.
- THOUSANDS OF MILES OF ROADWORKS LIFTED AHEAD OF EASTER AS DRIVERS SET TO BE 500 BETTER OFF
Drivers are set to benefit from up to £500 of savings per year and see smoother Easter getaways as 1,127 miles of roadworks are lifted, the Department for Transport has announced today (16th April).
- UBER DRIVERS TAKE TOYOTA ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR A SPIN AT BRANDS HATCH TRACK DAY
This initiative builds upon the growing partnership between Toyota and Uber in the UK. Last year saw Toyota launch a dedicated website offering bespoke car finance deals for Uber owner-drivers.
- KIRKLEES CRACKDOWN SNARES SPEEDING DRIVERS AND UNSAFE TAXIS IN RURAL ROAD SAFETY BLITZ
The operation also focused on taxi safety, with a total of eight immediate prohibition notices issued to taxi drivers after significant faults were discovered on their vehicles.
- BARGOED TAXI BOSS CONVICTED OF FRAUD FOR FAKING WAV SAFETY CERTIFICATES
Peter Roland Banwell, 62, the former director of Banwell Buses Ltd, trading as Beeline Taxis, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on April 8, 2024, where he pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation.
- DERBY PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER SACKED AFTER FLY TIPPING VIDEO GOES VIRAL
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 3:40pm on 8 April near Willington, shows a member of the public confronting the driver and demanding he return broken paving slabs to his vehicle.
- EAST LONDON GANG'S MACHETE ATTACK ON PHV PASSENGER LEADS TO 75 YEARS IN JAIL
Four men have been sentenced to a combined 75 years in prison for the brutal murder of Anselam Senaj, a passenger in a private hire vehicle, in East Ham.
- YEOVIL TAXI RANKS FACE MAJOR OVERHAUL IN TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION
Following a 12-month consultation by the licensing team, the council's executive committee has approved a series of alterations.
- STRATFORD ON AVON COUNCIL REVOKES PRIVATE HIRE OPERATOR LICENCE FOR CLAREMONT CARS
The action was taken in the interest of public safety after Claremont Cars continued to breach the terms of its licence despite receiving prior warnings from the district council.
- OFF-DUTY LEEDS PRIVATE DRIVER CONVICTED OF RAPE AFTER FOLLOWING WOMAN HOME
Daniel Hayelom, 36, was convicted at Leeds Crown Court following a trial, and now faces sentencing on 2 May.
