Private hire vehicle found with boxes and nitrous oxide canisters during police taxi safety operation
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
A private hire vehicle containing multiple boxes and canisters of nitrous oxide was found during a police operation focused on impaired driving and taxi safety.
The discovery was made as officers worked with colleagues targeting drink and drug impaired drivers, while also carrying out mystery shopping checks aimed at improving safety for passengers, particularly women.
In an update shared with drivers, the PC Patrick Quinton said colleagues had found “the PHV in the photo with lots of boxes and cannisters of Nitrous Oxide inside”.
The officer added: “I get more complaints/information about drivers with nitrous oxide ‘balloons’ than I do about drink or drugs combined.”
No further details were provided on whether the driver was arrested, reported, suspended, or referred to licensing officials.
During the same operation, officers carried out seven drug tests and six alcohol tests, mostly involving licensed drivers. All passed.
Police also issued nine tickets, eight of them for parking on taxi ranks, including two private hire vehicles.
Mystery shopping checks were carried out on 12 taxis. Police said there were “no great concerns other than badge display”, while noting an ongoing gap between what works operationally, what councils expect, what the law says and public safety requirements.
Other non-licensed drivers were arrested during the evening for a range of offences.
