Leeds taxi drivers protested outside the city council's offices today in protest of their cars being taken off the roads for reportedly small infractions.
More than 100 private hire drivers congregated outside the Leeds City Council licensing office in Torre Road from 10am this morning (February 15).
The protest was set up by Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO). Their representatives claim private hire cars are being treated differently to hackney carriages, alleging they are being treated harshly.
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Speaking prior to the protest, vice chairman of the organisation Zahid Mahmood said: "Tomorrow morning drivers, this is an emergency meeting.
"We need to hold taxi and private hire to account and tomorrow we will show them we have woken up and we're going to hold them to account. We're no longer letting them get this beaurocracy and hypocrisy going on anymore. Enough is enough."
In speaking to our reporter at the protest, Mr Mahmood added that drivers have "finally had enough", resulting in the action today which saw dozens of drivers hold placards outside the offices of Leeds City Council's licensing department.
The group claim a driver had a scratch on the tailgate of the car and two interior gull panels which were fixed "straight away" but still has not been "plated up".
However, a Hackney carriage vehicle was given a 28-day notice to get similar issues fixed which the organisation claims is a "double standard."
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This protest follows a series of similar protests which have taken place in Leeds in recent months.
Previous protests were in objection to a Leeds City Council safeguarding policy which could see licenses taken away from drivers more easily as it gives more powers to passengers.
Leeds City Council has been asked for a comment by LeedsLive.
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