Police worked with licensing officers from local councils to carry out checks on 210 taxis over the last fortnight.
The work was carried out alongside staff from local authorities like Preston City Council, Chorley Council and South Ribble Borough Council – but also Wolverhampton Council – the local authority known for processing applications for drivers faster and at a lower cost than others.
The purpose of the checks was to identify unlicensed drivers and make sure taxis were operating responsibly.
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After the 210 checks, which included a checkpoint on London Road between Preston and Walton-le-Dale, a number of offences were identified including illegal tyres and lights with defects.
Two passengers were also searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Sergeant Ben Elliott from Lancashire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit said: “Our priority is making sure everyone can enjoy a night out in Preston, Chorley and South Ribble safely and that includes getting home without putting themselves at risk.
“This operation is not just about enforcement, but also reassurance. By working closely with our partners, we are making sure that taxis are properly licensed, roadworthy and driven by people who meet the standards expected of them.
“We want the public to feel confident that the vehicle they step into at the end of the night is safe and legitimate. As part of NightSafe, we will continue to carry out targeted operations like this to protect the public and uphold standards across the night-time economy.”
