Driver suspended in operation targeting Stevenage taxisThe crackdown was a joint operation between the police, borough and county councils. The crackdown was a joint operation between the police, borough and county councils. Stevenage taxis that fail to comply with the law were targeted in a joint operation between the police and council, with one driver suspended.
Officers from Herts police, including members of the Stevenage Safer Neighbourhood Team, worked alongside licensing officers from Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council on Thursday.
The team started by carrying out checks on the buses and coaches dropping students off at The Valley School, while the afternoon was used to stop taxis, ensuring they were compliant with the law and the terms of their licences.
All the vehicles were checked for faults or defects, while background checks on the drivers were also carried out.
More than 40 vehicles were stopped during the operation. Two were issued prohibition notices for serious defects and the driver of one of these vehicles had their licence suspended.
Two other drivers were issued with a Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme notice for an insecure battery and damaged windscreen. Advice was also given to a number of other drivers for minor vehicle defects.
The day was part of Operation Vector – a county wide campaign to ensure that taxis and taxi drivers comply with the law and the terms of their licences.
Sgt Sam Cordingley from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit led the operation.
He said: “A large number of vehicles were stopped and encouragingly most were found to be in good working order.
“This operation was a good success and is vitally important to ensure that the public can remain safe when using licensed private hire vehicles and Hackney carriages. The checks we carried out on student transportation should also help reassure the public that we will take any infringement on people’s safety very seriously.
“Taxi drivers across the county should now be aware that if they do not comply with the law and their licences they will be found out and may be liable for a fine or prosecution.”
Councillor Richard Henry, responsible for safer communities, older people and health at Stevenage Borough Council, said: “Operations like this are a good example of how we’re working co-operatively with our partners for the benefit of those in the town. I’m pleased that most of the vehicles that we stopped were in good order, but it’s vital that licensed private hire vehicles and Hackney carriages are safe to use in Stevenage and we want the public to be assured that they are.”
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