A DUDLEY Uber driver has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

The taxi was stopped in Sandwell at 11pm on Friday (November 3) as part of routine safety checks carried out by Sandwell Council’s taxi licensing team in partnership with West Midlands Police and vehicle examiners from the DVSA.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and a small amount of cannabis and drugs paraphernalia were recovered from the Dudley Council-licensed vehicle, which also had two defective tyres.

The driver, who has been suspended by Dudley Council, has been released under investigation awaiting test results.

In total, 14 taxis were stopped as part of the checks - eight vehicles were found to have no issues and three had issues that were fixed on site.

Additionally, one Sandwell driver was given seven days to fix a handbrake issue and one from Birmingham was given 10 days to correct a problem with lights.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “These taxi operations are a useful way of us making sure vehicles are safe to be on the road.

“On the occasions that we do find problems with vehicles, we can either help the driver to get the problem sorted out there and then, or we make sure they are fixed as soon as possible by the driver themselves."