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| Raid on illegal minicabs ends in 25 arrests http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10826 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Raid on illegal minicabs ends in 25 arrests |
Raid on illegal minicabs ends in 25 arrests THE shocking scale of illegal mini-cab activity in the West End was revealed in a police operation at the weekend. Police checks found 28 cabs being driven without a private hire licence, nine of which were unroadworthy. A total of 25 drivers were arrested, nearly all of them of illegal cabs. Five were held for illegal touting for business and others were arrested for drink driving, immigration offences and assault. More than 100 police, community support officers and traffic wardens descended on the West End in the early hours of Saturday and yesterday in a high-visibility operation to crack down on the illegal cab trade. Officers checked a total of 250 vehicles focusing on touting "hotspots" such as Haymarket and Strand. The operation - organised by Transport for London and the Met - also included roadside safety checks on vehicles. Nine cars were seized because they were unroadworthy for a variety of reasons including suspect brakes and no suspension. One source said: "Essentially some of these drivers are using junk cars. These illegal mini-cab operators are a danger, they are using unroadworthy vehicles and they are undermining the licensed cab trade." Some drivers are also believed to be using illegal cabs to carry out sex attacks on women passengers. Police say the arrests were made even though the high-visibility operation was designed more to deter touts. Inspector David Brown said: "This operation was extremely successful. The cab enforcement unit made its presence felt and I believe we sent out a message that if you commit these offences you will be arrested and prosecuted." Mayor Boris Johnson ordered a crackdown on illegal mini-cab touting after his election last year. He doubled the number of dedicated cab enforcement officers to 68 and launched a "one-strike" rule which meant that any licensed driver convicted of touting would immediately have his or her licence revoked. He said today: "The safety and security of people travelling around London is a top priority, and during the election I promised to crack down on the illegal touts that put the lives of Londoners and visitors in danger. "I want everyone to be able to enjoy a good night out without being preyed upon by these illegal touts Not only can they be dangerous individuals, but their cars can also be uninsured death-traps. We are doing all we can to stop them, and partygoers can make themselves safer by using our fantastic Cabwise text service, which quickly provides the numbers for safe licensed taxi and minicab companies in the area." The operation came after hundreds of black cabs blockaded streets in the West End this month in protest at a council plan to allow mini-cabs to use a bus stop as a cab rank in the evenings. |
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| Author: | skippy41 [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:01 pm ] |
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I hope this is not just a one off and there out every weekend |
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| Author: | toots [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:05 pm ] |
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IMO it is far too easy to be PH in London and it's disgraceful. The crackdown will have little effect if it is not followed up with regular operations. |
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| Author: | Stationtone [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:31 pm ] |
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I hope other councils take this kind of action on a regular basis.These people should have the full force of the law rain down on them.Unfortunately my council do not seem to take a tough stand on this and the problem is escalating and i feel that it is going to take someone to get hurt before they change there attitude. |
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| Author: | GBC [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:01 pm ] |
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| Author: | rambo [ Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:17 am ] |
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Well done to all involved. The only problem is, there is no such thing as 'one strike and your out'. |
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