Over 100 taxis checked under joint licencing operation across Cheshire East

Nantwich Beat Team joined forces with Cheshire East Council to ensure taxis were operating lawfully in the area.

As part of a wider operation to keep residents safe when out and about, Nantwich Beat Team, with support from Crewe Local Policing Unit (LPU), the Roads and Crime Unit, Streetsafe, the Special Constabulary, and Cheshire East Council, launched Operation Withdraw across the town to ensure that the taxis ferrying visitors and residents were correctly licenced.

The operation, which was conducted on Friday 4th to Saturday 5th April, revolved around officers conducting inspections of both locally licenced taxis and those licenced in other council areas that operated in Cheshire East.

Whilst this is not illegal for taxis in licenced in other areas to operate in Cheshire East, it makes it much harder for drivers and vehicles to be safety checked by local authorities to ensure that they are suitable to transport the public.

Officers were deployed to Crewe Railway Station, a main hub for taxis registered both in and outside of Cheshire East.

Whilst at the ranks, officers from both the LPU and Cheshire East Council engaged with the drivers and conducted a number of safety checks, including making sure all vehicle lights were fully operational, drivers were in possession of their IDs and, where appropriate, CCTV cameras were in operation.

Operational activity took place across the entire Eastern area from Nantwich to Macclesfield and every town in between.

In total, officers checked over 100 taxis during the operation in order to engage with drivers and increase visibility alongside partners in tackling unregistered and unsafe taxis operating in the area.

Sergeant Matthew Stonier, of Crewe Local Policing Unit, said:

"Operation Withdraw was launched by the Nantwich Beat Team along with local partners including taxi licencing officers for Cheshire East, in order to combat unlicensed passenger vehicles.

"The aim of the operation is to provide reassurance to those using taxis in Crewe, that they are safe to use and road worthy with enforcement action being taken where appropriate. It was really reassuring to see that so many of the taxis that operate in our area were compliant with the appropriate legislation.

"Our officers will continue to support the legitimate taxi drivers in Cheshire East and ensure those enjoying a day out here can return home safely."