Random checks catch out cabbies in breach of conditions

Public safety was the number one concern last Friday night (3 February 2012) during a series of random checks of cabbies operating in Great Malvern town centre.

Licensing Officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services Licensing Team worked alongside West Mercia Police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) in a joint operation aimed at maintaining high standards among the town’s Licensed Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles.

The operation was part of an on-going campaign to ensure that licensed vehicles operating in Great Malvern meet the high standards required by legislation and Malvern Hills District Council licence conditions. Police vehicles with police and licensing officers on board, trailed the town centre streets and undertook a total of 16 random vehicle checks.

Of those vehicles stopped and checked, 7 were served with prohibition notices by VOSA; equal to 44% with problems serious enough to need a new MOT. Among the problems unearthed were bald tyres, split seatbelts, lights not working and broken suspension coil springs.

Mr Mark Kay Licensing Manager for Worcestershire Regulatory Services said that the operation was well received by the taxi trade:

“Most taxi drivers in the town operate legal and safe vehicles and so welcomed the fact that this operation was taking place. Licensed Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles play an important role in Malvern Hills, especially in relation to the night time economy, but we need to send out a message that the council and partner organisations will not tolerate any breaches in the licensing conditions that could compromise public safety.”

Cllr Bronwen Behan, Portfolio Holder responsible for licensing at Malvern Hills District Council added that the council, police and VOSA were all very pleased with how the evening went and wanted to thank the drivers involved for their cooperation:

“The public are paying for a service and they have a right to expect a safe and comfortable journey but they are not always best placed to check the condition of a vehicle before getting in to it, particularly at the end of a long night out,” she said.

“We have a legal and moral duty to ensure that all the Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles operating in the town are operating within the law and with due regard to the safety and comfort of passengers and there can be no compromise on safety.”  added Cllr Behan.