Taxi Driver Online

Yorkshire Evening Post

November 8, 2007

Police watch as cabbies break the law

I felt absolutely compelled to write in over reports in your paper about the police and their so-called attempts to curb the problem of illegal taxis.

Regardless of what I see in the paper, I do not believe anything is being done to stop this problem.

It is particularly bad on Albion Street outside Bar Risa and Tiger Tiger, where these illegal taxis stop and wait outside in the bus lane (where they should not be) for any people who stumble across them. They pull out into the middle of the road with no thought for anyone else - as I've had many near misses with them!

This is a regular thing for me to witness especially on a Saturday night as my partner lives above Bar Risa so I have a good view on what goes on below me.

Many times police come round and put their blue lights on to move them on while they're on patrol, but the police don't realise they just turn round again and move back to the same spot once the police have left.

This problem very much annoyed me last Saturday night as when I was coming into town. Once again you could see all the illegal taxis parked outside Tiger Tiger - but what bothered me were TWO police cars parked at a junction facing one particular taxi, and all they continued to do was talk amongst themselves.

It could not have been more obvious that this taxi hadn't booked any fares as you could see a young girl trying to bargain a price with the driver - but the police did nothing.

Protecting

Police should be protecting the public to make sure they only get into licensed taxis.

Don't get me wrong, I understand on a Saturday night police have many other problems to face, but not when, especially in that particular area, there are police everywhere!

There have been many a times when I have watched the police and their movements from my balcony, and to be honest it has left me baffled as to what they actually do to protect the public on a busy night.

G Raynor, Leeds
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What they will say, off the record, is that they don't care what kind of licensed vehicle get them home, as long as they get the streets cleared.

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IDFIMH

And on the record they will probably say"sort it with you're local LA"

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07K29Fc15U