The prosecution of two private hire drivers who took undercover council officers from York Racecourse without a prior booking were among efforts to enforce licensing rules locally.

Almost 200 allegedly illegal tobacco products and more than 1,000 vapes were seized during raids on shops as part of City of York Council's enforcement efforts in the year up to March.

Council officers also worked alongside North Yorkshire Police during patrols to deter anti-social behaviour in the city centre on race days, including by checking on alcohol sales.

A council report stated enforcement work generally included advising businesses and routine checks to make sure rules are being followed, following up on complaints and identifying illegal activity.

Councillors are set to hear a summary of the council’s enforcement actions in 2023-4 on Monday, September 2.

The report stated two taxi drivers were prosecuted following test purchases on plying for hire during 2023-4.

They agreed to take council officers from York Racecourse to York city centre without a booking for cash, breaking laws against private hire drivers plying for trade.

A further 13 taxi driver licences were revoked and 18 were suspended, usually for failing to complete administrative requirements such as medical checks.

The council received 182 complaints and other information regarding taxis though the total includes both those upheld and accepted and those thrown out.

Council officers did routine checks on 187 taxis in York, typically at the weekend into the early hours of the morning.

They included checking whether drivers are licensed and inspecting tyres, lights, wipers and signage.

More detailed checks on the condition of vehicles including their brakes and suspension resulted in 13 being suspended and 79 drivers being told to mend them.

These came on top of the yearly checks council mechanics carry out on all taxis licensed with the authority.

Checks to make sure that vehicles were not insurance write-offs were also introduced in 2023-4.

Other enforcement action against taxis included handing out penalties to drivers caught smoking in their vehicles.

Officers also issued 13 tickets to vehicles parked in taxi ranks and told idling drivers to switch off their engines.

It is an offence to continue idling after being told to stop though no such offences were committed in York.

Council enforcement officers were in the city centre alongside the police and York BID Rangers to deter anti-social behaviour during the Ebor Race festival.

It included visits to off licences to ensure they were complying with alcohol sale rules.

Volunteers aged under 18 also took part in test purchases to see if shops would sell them alcohol, tobacco or e-cigarettes as part of enforcement actions throughout the year.

They visited eight premises and one 14-year-old volunteer was sold a vape by a pedlar but subsequent attempts to prosecute them were unsuccessful.

Licensing and trading standards officers seized 174 of allegedly contraband packets of cigarettes and 58 pouches of rolling tobacco following a visit to one premises.

The allegations are set to be discussed at a council licensing hearing on Thursday, September 5.

A further 1,100 illegal vapes were seized from three other premises following licensing and trading standards visits.

There are plans to include spray paint in future test purchase visits in response to vandalism complaints in some areas.

Selling spray paint to under 18s is illegal but council enforcement officers typically receive very few complaints about it, according to the report.

Other enforcement activity in 2023-4 included ensuring that street traders were complying with their permissions and that pedlars had certificates to sell.

The work included checks on pedlars selling tickets outside York Racecourse last year but they were found to hold certificates which allowed them to do so.