Seven Stoke-on-Trent taxi drivers have been fined after a police operation that found they 'put the public at risk'.

The licensed drivers all plied for hire without being booked in advance, which meant they were not insured to carry out the subsequent journeys.

Stoke on Trent Live reported that the drivers, who have not been named but are all from Stoke-on-Trent, appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre in March. They were convicted and each handed six penalty points on their licence and a fine of between £700 and £1,200.

They have also each be referred to the relevant local authority’s taxi licensing committee for a decision over whether they are allowed to continue to work as drivers in the future.

Staffordshire Police ran the operation alongside teams from Stafford Borough Council, Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

Speaking after the case, PC Martin Randle, from the Road Policing Team who organised the operation, said:

“This was a lengthy case that involved multiple individuals who were found to have put the public at risk by driving without insurance in order to supplement their income illegally.

“Though we understand times are tough for a lot of people at the moment, it is not acceptable to put the public in danger and I’m pleased the drivers admitted their offending in court.”