Some taxi drivers have criticised the cost of meeting higher and higher requirements to work the roads.

Only the leeches and some of the ops, if they aren't one of the same.

Police launch blitz on rogue cabbies in Brighton and Hove

Police are to check on the records of taxi drivers across Brighton and Hove to try to weed out those working illegally.

Officers are to be sent on late-night patrols to visit taxi ranks across the city to check drivers’ credentials over the next few weeks.

They are being briefed to check Hackney carriage licences and look over cabs to make sure they meet safety standards.

Police stressed the move has not been prompted by any specific complaints about problems with taxi drivers.

Andy Charalambous, the vice-chairman of Brighton and Hove Streamline taxis, said the city did not suffer from any crime issues surrounding taxis such as bogus or rogue drivers.

Some taxi drivers have criticised the cost of meeting higher and higher requirements to work the roads.

A new BTEC qualification which costs £250 to complete has been introduced by Brighton and Hove City Council.

It includes street knowledge and route tests, disability awareness and equalities training, literacy tests, a taxi driving test and customer care training.

What happened to the element of surprise?...would it not be have been prudent and not tell everybody of the Polices intentions..Doh!..