Rather than the focus here on the one prosecution, perhaps the more instructive stat is that there was only one driver who took the bait over the course of 95 test purchases
Seems quite a big operation, albeit over several months. And the cynic in me wonders if the crude stats actually show precisely what's been going on
Maybe someone on here can offer some local insight
Blackpool Council officers posing as customers catch private hire driver picking up illegal fares in resort
https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news ... ol-8505839
Blackpool Council officers posing as customers caught private hire driver picking up fares in Blackpool he was not licensed or insured for.
A private hire driver has been prosecuted for picking up fares in Blackpool he was not licensed or insured for.
Blackpool Council brought the prosecution against Danyal Masood as part of a crackdown on illegal ranking – where private hire drivers unlawfully pick up passengers from the street or taxi ranks.
Mr Masood, 31, of Richmond Hill St, Accrington, pleaded guilty to plying for hire and no insurance at Lancaster Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 28. He received eight points on his driving licence and was fined £300 along with a £120 victim surcharge and £725 costs.
Under UK law, two licensing regimes exist for cab drivers.
Licensed Hackney Carriages - traditional taxis - can ply for hire picking up passengers from the street or taxi ranks in the area they are licensed. Private hire licence holders must only accept fares booked through a licensed operator but can operate across borders. Private hire drivers cannot lawfully accept walk ups or occupy taxi ranks.
Mr Masood was a licensed private hire driver at the time he was tested by Blackpool Council. Officers posing as customers approached his vehicle and he agreed to take an illegal fare. When he arrived at the pre-determined location, he was met by enforcement officers who promptly dealt with the matter.
Blackpool Council’s Licensing Enforcement officers ran a spot-check operation in 2025 as part of its crackdown on illegal ranking. Over six operations between August and December, 95 spot checks were undertaken. Only one licence breach was discovered.
Cllr Paula Burdess, cabinet member for community safety, street scene and neighbourhoods, said: “The rules around taxi licensing exist to protect the public – if you get in a car that isn’t licensed for your journey it’s not insured, so if there’s an accident you’re at higher risk.
“This crackdown was about ensuring residents and visitors are safe when using taxis in our town, and also about ensuring the playing field is fair and level for all operators.
“It’s reassuring that our officers found the vast majority of operators to be working within the bounds of the law and their licences.
“We will continue to undertake spot checks like this and use enforcement action to halt illegal ranking. Any private hire drivers considering coming to Blackpool to do this should think twice as they will be caught and action taken.”
), but the usual loose phraseology here - a crackdown on 'illegal ranking' doesn't simply mean picking up unlawfully 'on the street' and ranking per se. Maybe it would have been better stated as a "crackdown on illegal plying for hire – where private hire drivers unlawfully pick up passengers from the street or taxi ranks."
)
) but it was the vast vast vast majority.