A joint taxi enforcement operation has been carried out in Walsall as part of ongoing efforts to maintain high safety and licensing standards across the region.
The operation, which took place on 28 November 2025, involved officers from Walsall Council, City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midlands Police. Between 8pm and 1am, a total of 16 vehicles were inspected in Walsall town centre as part of routine compliance checks.
Most of the vehicles were found to meet the required standards, with eight passing all inspections without issue. Where concerns were identified, officers took immediate and proportionate action to address potential risks to passenger safety.
One vehicle was suspended after being found with a bald tyre, although the suspension was lifted later that evening once the tyre had been replaced and penalty points issued. Another vehicle was temporarily suspended due to missing identification and safety equipment, with the issue resolved shortly afterwards.
A third vehicle was suspended for displaying illegal “ghost plates” and was required to return with compliant registration plates alongside other rectifications. In addition, two drivers received penalty points for illegal window tints.
In a small number of other cases, minor issues such as missing safety equipment were identified and resolved without the need for formal suspension.
Councillor Adam Hicken, Portfolio Holder for Enforcement and Safe Communities at Walsall Council, said:
“Passenger safety is our absolute priority. Operations like this are about making sure licensed vehicles meet the standards people expect when they get into a taxi in Walsall.
“Residents across Walsall get rightly fed up with dangerous vehicles being used on our roads and our teams work around the clock with the police and other agencies to conduct checks.
“Taxis are no exception. It’s encouraging to see that most vehicles were compliant, but where issues are found we will always take action. We’ll continue working closely with neighbouring councils and the police to keep standards high and protect the public.”
A spokesperson for City of Wolverhampton Council added:
“We take our licensing responsibilities seriously and our officers work proactively across the country, wherever our drivers work, carrying out regular operations with partners to protect the public and ensure they travel in safety.
“We will continue to support Walsall Council to carry out further compliance operations such as this to make sure vehicles meet the requirements to carry members of the public. This includes cracking down on taxis using ‘ghost plates’ which are illegal.”
Joint enforcement activity of this kind plays an important role in ensuring public safety, supporting responsible drivers and maintaining confidence in licensed taxi services across Walsall and the wider Black Country.