Licensing enforcement

This page covers checks that we carry out and outlines things we will report and investigate, as well as the result of recent operations.

Enforcement of the taxi and private hire licensed trade in Leeds is in line with legal and licensing conditions and is undertaken by means of on street inspections, investigations, operator base visits and the use of recording equipment, including Leeds Watch cameras in key locations.

Report an accident

You must complete an accident report form (PDF,182KB) and send it to us within 72 hours if you are in an accident.

If you cannot use the form

If you cannot use the form, email taxiprivatehire.licensing@leeds.gov.uk.

Report a conviction

You must inform us in writing within 72 hours if you receive any conviction, caution or motoring endorsement. If it is a motoring endorsement, do not wait for your licence to come back from the DVLA before telling us.​

If you cannot use the form

If you cannot use the form, email taxiprivatehire.licensing@leeds.gov.uk.

Checks we carry out

We regularly conduct roadside vehicle inspections and will issue rectification and suspension notices if required. The areas we check include but are not restricted to:

  • tyres
  • brakes
  • steering
  • lights
  • engine transmission
  • interior condition
  • bodywork condition
  • insurance certificate
  • driver and vehicle badges
  • meters (Hackney carriage vehicles)
  • fire extinguisher and first aid kit
  • rear and door plates
  • windscreen and rear window stickers
  • radios correctly fitted

Things we report and investigate

The most common matters we deal with and report are:

Private hire

  • unlawfully ply for hire
  • drive without valid insurance
  • fail to wear or display prominently their badge
  • stand or wait on Hackney carriage ranks
  • obstruct or fail to comply with a request made by authorised officers or Police officers
  • fail to carry assistance dogs (without displaying a medical exemption) or charge extra for carrying an assistance dog
  • fail to report accidents to the licensing service
  • fail to report convictions and other associated matters

Hackney carriage

  • breach Hackney carriage byelaws
  • drive without valid insurance
  • fail to wear their badge
  • do not initiate the meter at the commencement of every journey
  • obstruct or fail to comply with a request made by authorised officers or Police officers
  • fail to carry assistance dogs (without displaying a medical exemption) or charge extra for carrying an assistance dog
  • fail to report accidents to the licensing service
  • fail to report convictions and other associated matters

Complaints

We also investigate complaints made against drivers for the following:

  • driver conduct
  • race and sex discrimination
  • disability complaints
  • standard of driving
  • overcharging (Hackney carriage)
  • inappropriate behaviour
  • safeguarding concerns
  • breaches of licensing conditions and bylaws

Enforcement policies

Immediate suspension and revocation decisions policy

Drivers Plying for Hire policy

Recent operations

Our enforcement team work closely with other council departments and externally with West Yorkshire Police, VOSA, DVLA and The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Joint operations have also been held with other local licensing authorities.

Recent operations and results

12 January 2025

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 21 inspections were undertaken. 2x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 1x deferred suspension was issued.

28 December 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 17 inspections were undertaken. 3x deferred suspensions were issued for minor vehicle defects.

17 December 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 70 inspections were undertaken. 3x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 3x deferred suspensions were issued.

14 December 2024

Joint Operation in Barnsley, working in partnership with Barnsley Council and other South Yorkshire Local Authorities.

6 December 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police, DVSA and Bradford MDC Licensing. 20 inspections were undertaken. 6x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 2x deferred suspensions were issued.

29 November 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police and Bradford MDC Licensing. 57 inspections were undertaken. 7x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 2x deferred suspensions were issued.

28 November 2024

County Lines Mystery Shopper Exercise with West Yorkshire Police.

23 November 2024

Joint Operation in York, working in partnership with York Council.

22 November 2024

Joint Operation in York, working in partnership with York Council.

12 November 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 54 inspections were undertaken with 1x vehicle suspension issued for a major vehicle defect.

24 October 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 54 inspections were undertaken.

11 October 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 11 inspections were undertaken with 2x vehicle suspensions issued for major vehicle defects.

5 October 2024

Joint Operation in York, working in partnership with York Council.

4 October 2024

Mystery Shopper Exercise conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team at Leeds Train Station.

17 September 2024

Joint Operation in Harrogate and Ripon, working in partnership with North Yorkshire Council.

23 to 25 August 2024

Joint Operation at Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, working in partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Wolverhampton Council.

13 July 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 27 inspections were undertaken with 1x vehicle suspension issued for a major vehicle defect.

29 June 2024

Mystery Shopper Exercise conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team at Leeds Train Station.

27 June 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 57 inspections were undertaken with 2x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects.

15 June 2024

Joint Operation in York, working in partnership with York Council and Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

5 June 2024

Joint Operation with WYCA and Leeds City Council’s Passenger Transport Department. 9 inspections were undertaken with 1x vehicle suspension issued for a major vehicle defect.

28 May 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 44 inspections were undertaken. 4x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 3x deferred suspensions were issued.

28 May 2024

Child Sexual Exploitation Mystery Shopper Exercise with West Yorkshire Police.

24 May 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police at Leeds Bradford Airport. 43 inspections were undertaken. 2x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 5x deferred suspensions were issued.

15 May 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 99 inspections were undertaken with 5x vehicle suspensions issued for major vehicle defects.

7 May 2024

Joint Operation with West and North Yorkshire Police in the Wetherby Area of Leeds.

25 April 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Otley / Yeadon Areas of Leeds. 21 inspections were undertaken with 1x vehicle suspension issued for a major vehicle defect.

24 April 2024

Joint Operation with WYCA and Leeds City Council’s Passenger Transport Department. 30 inspections were undertaken. 1x vehicle suspension was issued for a major vehicle defect and 4x deferred suspensions were issued.

20 April 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Otley Area of Leeds. 12 inspections were undertaken with 2x vehicle suspensions issued for major vehicle defects.

17 April 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Armley Area of Leeds. 97 inspections were undertaken.

4 April 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 55 inspections were undertaken.

26 March 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 79 inspections were undertaken with 2x vehicle suspensions issued for major vehicle defects.

7 March 2024

Child Sexual Exploitation Mystery Shopper Exercise with West Yorkshire Police.

23 February 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 22 inspections were undertaken with 4x vehicle suspensions issued for major vehicle defects.

21 February 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Harehills Area of Leeds. 54 inspections were undertaken. 6x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 4x deferred suspensions were issued.

20 February 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 44 inspections were undertaken with 2x deferred suspensions issued.

15 February 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police at Leeds Bradford Airport. 26 inspections were undertaken with 2x vehicles suspensions issued for major vehicle defects.

14 February 2024

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 76 inspections were undertaken. 1x vehicle suspension was issued for a major vehicle defect and 1x deferred suspension was issued.

Contact us

Please provide your telephone number and if you are a licensed driver or operator quote your date of birth, your badge or vehicle plate number when contacting us.

Email

taxiprivatehire.licensing@leeds.gov.uk

Address

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing
225 York Road
Leeds
LS9 7RY

Monday to Friday, 9am to midday for drop-in business and 1pm to 3pm by appointment only.

Staff training every third Tuesday of the month until 10am​​​​​​​​.