Monthly figures released by the city council reveal a number of fines and prosecutions for taxi and private hire drivers during April with more than 120 private hire drivers fined for parking on taxi ranks

Rule-breaking taxi and private hire drivers have been hit with a barrage of penalties as part of an ongoing Liverpool City Council campaign to keep passengers safe.

Monthly figures released by the city council reveal a number of fines and prosecutions for taxi and private hire drivers during April. More than 120 private hire drivers were fined for parking on taxi ranks, which are designated for black cabs only.

And two private hire drivers from Sefton and one from Liverpool were prosecuted for having illegal tyres on their vehicles.

The city council’s licensing team, undertook a series of vehicle safety inspections throughout April. As part of this programme, 76 drivers were warned that their vehicles were defective. A further 41 vehicles from Liverpool and other local authority areas were taken off the road due to safety concerns.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Steve Munby, said: “The council and its partners are committed to making transport in our city as safe as we possibly can for passengers.

“Council officers are regularly involved in patrols and operations to make sure that all taxi and private hire drivers at work in the city are abiding by the rules and their vehicles are safe for the public to use.

“The vast majority of taxi and private hire drivers perform a great service. They have complained to us in the past about those drivers who do not play by the rules. We have listened to their concerns and taken action.”

During the month almost 40 drivers from Liverpool and other areas were also served with written cautions for a number of issues, including failing to display their badges, failing to behave in a civil manner and faulty tyres.