Two taxis were taken off the road by inspectors as part of a crackdown on vehicle safety in Chichester City centre.

Officers from Chichester District Council, along with Sussex Police and inspectors from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), spent an evening checking hackney carriages and private hire vehicles in a bid to keep the public safe.

The checks resulted in two hackney carriages being issued with prohibition notices and taken off the road.

One taxi was found to have no brake lights, and one had three tyres below the legal depth limit. Many hackney carriages are contracted by West Sussex County Council's Education Department to transport children to school, making these spot checks vital to keeping the public safe.

Councillor Heather Caird, Portfolio Holder for Health at Chichester District Council, said: "Our priority is public safety, and it is great to see that so many of the taxis checked were well maintained and comply with the conditions in their licence. It was clear from those taken off the road that this sort of initiative is so important in guaranteeing the highest of standards for vehicles used by the members of the public of all ages."

In the second crackdown of the evening, Licensing Officers from the District Council worked alongside Sussex Police to check City Centre licensed premises. The Chichester District Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) had identified the St Pancras and Hornet areas of the City as experiencing public place violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Licensing Officers, and Police, visited all pubs, restaurants and takeaways in these areas as part of the joint licensing enforcement operation. The premises were checked to ensure compliance with Premises Licences issued under the Licensing Act 2003 which permits them to sell alcohol, provide late night refreshment or entertainment.

During the evening technical advice was given to numerous licensed operators and enforcement action taken under the new Gambling Act 2005.