Taxi Driver Online

Weapons seized in private hire purge


DRUGS and weapons were seized during a purge on private hire taxis in Glasgow.

A total of 708 drivers were checked, with 111 offences detected and 22 cars taken off the road.

Officers also removed illegal drivers from the road during last Friday's purge.

Officers and council enforcement teams carried out checks on cars operating across the Strathclyde Police area.

The operation uncovered drugs offences, drivers carrying offensive weapons inside vehicles, driving without insurance and operating as a taxi while not licensed.

A 31-year-old male was reported to the procurator fiscal for weapons offences and alleged possession of drugs after being stopped in the city's South Side.

In the city centre, 50 defect notices were issued, with six cars being temporarily prohibited from use.

The move was sparked after police found a number of serious organised crime groups had infiltrated trades, including the private hire taxi business.

Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "Intelligence revealed some taxi companies are owned by or have links to organised crime.

"We are determined to tackle the scourge of organised crime and the damage it causes to our communities.

"We also want to protect the majority of taxi firms that are legitimate but who are losing business to these criminal groups.

"Although officers detected a number of offences, the vast majority of private hire taxis operate within the law."

The operation formed part of serious and organised crime phase of the force's campaign against violence.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "Tackling serious organised crime is one of the Scottish Government's top priorities.

"Where it infiltrates legitimate business, like the taxi and private hire trade, we are determined to take action.

"I welcome this action by Strathclyde Police."

He added that the move would protect hard-working, law-abiding taxi drivers.

Publication date 23/09/09

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

708 drivers? That's what you call a purge.

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IDFIMH

I agree.....a busy friday indeed.

CC

Hopefully Edinburgh police do the same

yet in the past when I complained to a policeman who could see a phc seagulling he just shrugged his shoulders and said he wasn't bothered as long as the streets were being cleared