CROSS BORDER TAXI CHECKS: Wolverhampton licensed private hire vehicles working out-of-area in Warrington checked
City of Wolverhampton Council’s Public Protection team, in collaboration with Cheshire Police in Warrington, recently carried out a series of compliance checks on licensed private hire vehicles across its borders.
According to a council spokesperson, the operation revealed “a high level of compliance” among vehicles licensed by Wolverhampton, demonstrating adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
The inspection, captured in an image showing a white Skoda Octavia being assessed at the roadside, highlights an ongoing issue within the taxi industry: cross-border operations.
Cross-border taxi activity involves drivers operating far from the licensing authority that approved their vehicle and driver licence. While legal, this practice has raised significant concerns. Critics argue that vehicles operating outside their licensing jurisdiction may be harder to monitor, potentially compromising passenger safety and fair competition for local drivers.
The controversy stems from differing licensing standards across councils, with some authorities accused of having less stringent requirements. This has led to a rise in drivers seeking licences from councils perceived to have simpler or cheaper processes, only to then operate in entirely different areas.
Defenders of cross-border working, however, point to the flexibility it provides for drivers and operators to respond to demand, especially where local licensing regimes cannot meet passenger needs.
A City of Wolverhampton Council Public Protection spokesperson said: “Another busy night for our taxi Compliance Team in Warrington last night, working with Officers from Cheshire Police Warrington LPU, undertaking checks on licensed vehicles.
“A high level of compliance was again found amongst City of Wolverhampton Council vehicles.”
