Operation cracks down on illegal private hire cars

Vehicles can only pick up passengers if the journey has been booked through a private hire operator

Fourteen private hire drivers face a review of their licences after an operation to crack down on instances of passengers being picked up illegally.

Friday's action followed intelligence about drivers plying for hire in Northampton town centre.

West Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire Police staff acted as customers and asked parked-up private hire vehicle drivers if they were free.

They are only allowed to pick up passengers if the journey has been booked through a licensed operator.

The Conservative-controlled council said all private hire drivers are trained when they first apply for a licence about the difference between them and hackney carriages, which can lawfully be flagged down.

Maureen Allsopp-Clarke from the Northamptonshire Police safer roads team said: "Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked and cannot pick up fares as this not only breaches their licence conditions but also invalidates their insurance.

"As part of the operation, we not only checked that private hire drivers were following all laws and regulations when carrying members of the public but also that they had the correct documentation to reduce the risk to vulnerable people who may fall prey to unlicensed drivers in the night-time economy."