Taxi Licensing Officers from Milton Keynes Council recently joined forces with Thames Valley Police to carry out checks on taxi drivers on an evening of positive enforcement action.

On 28 June licensed vehicles were stopped and checked on the roads of Milton Keynes during a safety operation which targeted Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles with suspected defects and licensing breaches.  The aim of the operation was to proactively tackle vehicle defects found among taxis in the city.

As a result, 18 vehicles licensed by Milton Keynes, South Northants and Aylesbury Vale Councils were stopped and checked at the roadside – of which 16 were identified as having defects that required further examination by the Council’s testing station.

All 16 vehicles were thoroughly inspected by qualified examiners with a variety of faults found which included bald tyres, defective lights, missing wheel nut, defective seat belt, body damage and missing heat shield.  One particular vehicle required a police Prohibition Notice to be issued.  5 vehicles were licensed by Milton Keynes Council, 9 were licensed by Aylesbury Vale Council, and 2 were licensed by South Northants Council.  Vehicle inspection reports were sent to South Northants and Aylesbury Vale Council’s for further action.

Cllr Mick Legg, Chair of MKC Regulatory Committee said: “It is vital that people have absolute confidence in the safety of licensed vehicles and this operation was designed to highlight those who do not maintain their vehicles.

“We will continue to work with Thames Valley Police and liaise with our neighbouring Local Authorities to ensure the safety of the public when using these services.”