Taxi Driver Online

By Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo





CHRISTMAS revellers were today warned to avoid Liverpool cabbies who "cherry pick" passengers and charge inflated fares.

Licensing officials have learned that many taxi drivers are avoiding regulated ranks in the city centre to over-charge customers.

They will be out in force to catch cabbies who are suspected of breaking the law.

An undercover operation is being launched by Merseyside police and the council to snare rogue drivers.

Officers will manage the queues at the Burma Stand rank in Nelson Street in Chinatown over Christmas and New Year.

Joe Curran, Chamber of Commerce Pubwatch manager, said: "There is strong evidence that cabs are not going to ranks, but are 'cherrypicking' fares at hugely inflated prices.

"We want visitors to the city to have an enjoyable time and take away a good impression of the city.

"More importantly they should be able to get home easily and safely without being ripped off."





Citysafe, Liverpool's Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership, is appealing to cabbies to look after their customers over the festive season.

Cllr Dave Antrobus, executive member for community safety, said: "People should always note down the number of the cab and contact the licensing office if they suspect a driver is cherry picking.

"We do run operations in conjunction with the police to catch drivers who don't obey the regulations, but we need the assistance of the public if we are to effectively deal with this issue."

The Transport and General Workers union is backing the move to root out the rogue cabbies.

Tommy McIntyre, union representative, said: "This type of practice does nothing for the cab trade.

"We have got 3,500 taxi drivers working in Liverpool and the vast majority are decent and hard working."