More than 100 taxis and minibuses stopped during multi-agency Cardiff operation

A multi-agency taxi and minibus operation took place in Cardiff on July 18, aimed at ensuring vehicles transporting members of the public were safe, legal and roadworthy.

The operation was led by the Cardiff and Vale Special Constabulary and involved officers and partners from Cardiff Council, Newport Council, Vale of Glamorgan Council, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Community Safety teams.

Between 4pm on July 18 and 2am on July 19, a total of 103 vehicles were stopped and checked.

As well as carrying out physical inspections of vehicles, checks were conducted to ensure drivers were appropriately licensed and insured, and that vehicles met the required safety standards.

As a result, South Wales Police submitted four Traffic Offence Reports for offences including driving without insurance, defective tyres and failing to wear a seatbelt.

Four vehicles were issued suspension notices by their local authority, preventing them from operating as taxis until faults including lighting and tyre defects had been rectified and the vehicles re-inspected.

Additionally, a total of 25 local authority formal warning notices were issued for matters including missing or incorrect taxi licence badges, lighting defects, expired or missing first aid kits, expired fire extinguishers and vehicle bodywork damage. These vehicles will need to present for reinspection.

Eleven fixed penalty notices were issued by the DVSA for issues including lighting faults, faulty breaks, and a diesel leak. One vehicle was also identified without tax and was paid on-site.

Four separate local authority enforcement investigations were also launched, including allegations of carrying passengers without using a meter and operating unlicensed taxi services.

Three vehicles were also seized during the operation, including two being driven without valid insurance.

Special Inspector Benjamin Johns said: “Those using taxis and minibuses to travel into and out of the Cardiff area deserve to do so with reassurance that the vehicles they’re in are safe, legal, and roadworthy.

“This partnership working highlights how seriously we take the public’s safety. With the combination of resources during this operation, we were able to collaboratively ensure drivers and their vehicles transporting the public are safe.”