Twelve Liverpool taxi and private hire drivers have had licences revoked with immediate effect after non-negative cocaine or cannabis tests.
The Echo and PHTM say the council has run monthly random testing since a 2019 policy, checking about 630 of roughly 4,800 registered drivers over seven years. Officials call drug use incompatible with being fit and proper. A licensing committee report proposes tighter rules: mandatory urine tests for some applicants with recent drug history, lab confirmation of non-negative screens, three-month exemption after a clear random test, and intelligence-led checks. Revoked drivers could seek reinstatement after a further test if still deemed fit and proper.