The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Cab Enforcement Unit, part of the Transport for London (TfL) funded Safer Transport Command (STC), made 40 arrests during a covert operation overnight on Friday 1 October and Saturday 2 October.
Cab Enforcement Unit officers patrolled touting hotspots in central London locations such as the Haymarket and in prevalent areas in south London.
They dealt with touting, illegal operating, illegal plying for hire, and unlicensed drivers and vehicles. This is not only to ensure compliance with regulations but most importantly to enhance the safety of the travelling public.
Officers used specialist undercover tactics to catch touts red handed. The operation was not only successful in arresting illegal touts, but also acquired valuable intelligence.
Cab enforcement operations are carried out on a regular basis in line with current intelligence on touting behaviour. More than a dozen operations have taken place in the last two months to tackle illegal cabs and touting across London.
Mayor Boris Johnson has taken a tough line on touting, and any licensed private hire driver convicted of touting will now lose their Public Carriage Office driver's licence. He also doubled the number of dedicated cab enforcement officers in the Capital to 68. The Cab Enforcement Unit has made over 5,500 arrests for touting and cab-related offences since 2003.
Chief Superintendent Joe Royle from the Safer Transport Command, said:
"We are working together with our policing partners to keep London moving safely by further driving down crime and the fear of crime.
"Illegal cabs and touting undermines the legitimate cab trade and raises the fear of crime.
"The Safer Transport Command regularly targets policing activity on unlicensed and uninsured vehicles, and carries out major operations targeting offenders who pose as taxi or minicab drivers.
"The safety of the public is paramount and I would advise everyone not to get into any vehicle that they have not booked and always book a cab through a reputable PCO licensed company."
Steve Burton, Director of Community Safety Enforcement and Policing, said:
"Dealing with illegal cabs and touting in London is a priority for TfL as we are committed to getting Londoners home safely and supporting the law abiding drivers in the taxi and private hire trades.
"TfL funds 68 dedicated Cab Enforcement Officers in both the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police who carry out regular covert and high visibility operations to deter and apprehend illegal cab drivers.
"It is also worth remembering that only taxis (black cabs) can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank without booking. Any minicab journey that hasn't been booked through a licensed operator is illegal uninsured and unsafe."
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