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

7 December 2023

Joint Operation in York, working in partnership with York Licensing and North Yorkshire Police.     

6 December 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 44 inspections were undertaken. 1 x vehicle suspension was issued for a major vehicle defect and 1 x deferred suspension was issued.

2 December 2023

Joint Operation in Barnsley with Authorities from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, South Yorkshire and Wolverhampton Council.     

23 November 2023

Child Sexual Exploitation Mystery Shopper Exercise with West Yorkshire Police.     

13 November 2023

Mystery Shopper Exercise conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team. This exercise focused on the level of service provided to Guide and Assistance dog owners. During this exercise, 7 journeys were undertaken and all licensees checked, provided a satisfactory level of service.     

28 October 2023

Plying for Hire Test Purchase Operation conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team, 1 x driver has been reported on suspicion of unlawfully plying for hire.     

22 October 2023

Mystery Shopper Exercise conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team.     

19 October 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Morley Area of Leeds. 14 inspections were undertaken. 2 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects.     

18 October 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the East Leeds Area. 35 inspections were undertaken. 1 x vehicle suspension was issued for a major vehicle defect and 2 x deferred suspensions were issued.     

8 October 2023

Mystery Shopper Exercise conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team.     

7 October 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 42 inspections were undertaken. 2 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 2 x deferred suspensions were issued. 1 x driver was reported for having a tyre below the legal limit.     

4 October 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the East Leeds Area. 59 inspections were undertaken. 9 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 2 x deferred suspensions were issued. 1 x driver was reported for having a tyre below the legal limit.     

1 September 2023

Joint Operation with VOSA. 18 inspections were undertaken. 8 x vehicle suspensions, including 2 issued for major vehicle defects.     

19 August 2023

Plying for Hire Test Purchase Operation conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team, 2 x drivers have been reported on suspicion of unlawfully plying for hire.     

15 July 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 41 inspections were undertaken. 1 x vehicle suspension was issued for a major vehicle defect and 2 x deferred suspensions were issued.     

3 June 2023

Joint Daytime Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 19 inspections were undertaken. 2 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 1 x driver was reported for having a tyre below the legal limit.     

13 May 2023

Joint Daytime Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 36 inspections were undertaken. 3 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects.     

29 April 2023

Plying for Hire Test Purchase Operation conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team. All licensees tested passed.     

25 April 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council’s Environmental Action Team. 4 x inspections were undertaken. 1 x vehicles suspension was issued for a major vehicle defect.     

1 April 2023

Plying for Hire Test Purchase Operation conducted by the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Team. 1 x driver has been convicted of unlawfully plying for hire following this Operation.     

28 March 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council’s Environmental Action Team in Otley.     

25 March 2023

Joint Operation in York with Authorities from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Wolverhampton Council. 4 x Leeds City Council licensed vehicles were inspected. 2 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects.     

22 March 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 27 inspections were undertaken, no issues were highlighted with the licensed vehicles inspected.     

17 March 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police. 32 inspections were undertaken. 1 x vehicle suspension and 1 x advisory were issued.     

11 March 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 32 inspections were undertaken. 2 x vehicle suspensions were issued and 4 x deferred suspensions were issued.     

11 February 2023

Plying for Hire Test Purchase Operation with Bradford City Council’s T&PH Enforcement. 2 x drivers have been reported on suspicion of unlawfully plying for hire.     

28 January 2023

Child Sexual Exploitation Mystery Shopper Exercise with West Yorkshire Police.     

26 January 2023

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Harehills Area of Leeds. 48 inspections were undertaken, 9 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects and 1 x advisory was issued.     

18 December 2022

Joint Operation with West Yorkshire Police in the Headingley Area of Leeds. 47 inspections were undertaken, 2 x vehicle suspensions were issued for major vehicle defects, 2 x deferred suspension were issued and 6 x drivers were reported for breaching licensing conditions.

17 December 2022

Joint Operation with Bradford Council. 30 inspections were undertaken. 6 x vehicle suspensions were issued and 2 x deferred suspensions were 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​​​​​​​​.

Use this form to give us your comments. Do not use it to give us personal information - please contact us if you need to get in touch.