Taxis targeted in safety check operation

One in seven taxis stopped during a safety operation failed checks, police have said, but added the "overwhelming number" of taxis are safe.

Officers in Durham City sent 28 vehicles to a specialist garage for inspection.

Among those found to have issues, one driver was given a £100 fixed penalty notice due to a tyre tread being below the legal limit.

Durham Constabulary's Chief Inspector Jim O'Connor said: "Our operation shows that some taxis do not reach the safety standards passengers rightly expect."

"The public need to be able to trust that the taxis they use are safe and the overwhelming majority are."

The operation follows a similar exercise across County Durham and Darlington in December which saw 58 vehicles stopped and 50 directed to a garage for inspection.

From these, one driver was arrested for failing a roadside drug test for cannabis and seven vehicles were found to have issues relating to tyres, faulty brakes, no taxi sign illumination and an engine management light.

Two failed to attend the garage.

Durham County Council's John Shuttleworth said: "There are thousands of taxi drivers operating in County Durham.

"This crackdown was directed at a small minority of drivers who put the public at risk by failing to ensure their vehicles are mechanically safe."

Chief Inspector Jim O'Connor, from Durham Constabulary, said: "Checks like this not only protect the public but also protect the drivers, help improve road safety, reduce the risk of collisions and ensure everyone gets home safely."

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