Council and police drive to cut congestion

Drivers causing disruption across the city centre were the target of a joint agency operation over the weekend.

The city partnership between Leeds City Council and the City Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), involved enforcement officers cracking down on drivers and issuing a total of 144 tickets for a variety of offences, and suspending 14 private hire vehicles on the night pending further investigation.

The partnership is working to take action against vehicles and drivers causing disruption and congestion at numerous city centre locations during the evenings and into the early hours over weekends.

Checks were in place for any private hire vehicles plying for hire around the city. This act is illegal and creates safety issues for passengers, as they are uninsured when not pre-booked. Over 30 private hire drivers were approached on the night, with none of the drivers picking up any of the officers.

The joint operations will be a regular event, with officers looking at vehicles that are in breach of parking regulations, for example parking on junctions or over bus stops, and over ranking on taxi ranks and also plying for hire.


Councillor Richard Brett, Leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for taxi licensing, said:

“We have worked closely with the neighbourhood policing team and parking services to monitor vehicles throughout the city centre, especially repeat offenders. The first operation has been a great success and we will continue to monitor the situation.

“We ask the public to continue to be vigilant when choosing a taxi to get into, and that private hire should be pre-booked wherever possible, and if not, that they only hail black and white taxis in the street.

“Private hire drivers that have legitimate booked fares in the city centre and park responsibly when picking up, dropping off or waiting for their customers are not to be discouraged from working. But those drivers who are in the city without a booking and cause unnecessary congestion will be approached and checked by the team of officers. Any breach of regulations will be dealt with accordingly.”

Chief Inspector Vernon Francis, who is responsible for policing in Leeds city centre, said:

“We appreciate that these are difficult times economically for drivers of taxis and private hire cars, but they have a key part to play in keeping traffic flowing in the and ensuring city centre roads don’t become congested and it is important that they stick to the rules.

“By working together with Leeds City Council to take action against those who break the laws or the conditions of their licence we can put a stop to these problems and reduce congestion on the city centre roads. The weekend’s operation was a great success and we enjoyed some great feedback from members of the public who commented on the huge difference it had made.”

Notes to editors:

The joint working partnership involves Leeds City Council’s taxi & private hire licensing and parking services departments and the City Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT).

For more information about the City NPT, visit www.wypnpt.org and click the links to 'City and Holbeck' and 'City’.


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For media enquiries, please contact;
Cat Milburn, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 247 4450
Email: Catherine.milburn@leeds.gov.uk