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The
first day of August saw the TfL funded Transport
Operational Command Unit (ie the Cab Enforcement
Unit or TOCU) take on London’s bad guys involved
either as illegal cabs or touting. The overnight operation known as Helvellyn 2, is part of an ongoing battle by the Met Police to rid the capital of the above two undesirable elements of society and on that particular Friday and Saturday, 24 arrests were made from the many vehicles that were stopped. Uniformed Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers patrolled some of London’s known hotspots to tackle touting, illegal operating, taxi ranking offences, illegal plying for hire and unlicensed drivers and vehicles. They also offered advice to members of the public on safer travel options and the danger of illegal cabs. Bar and club managers whose venues attract high numbers of illegal cabs, were advised on the danger these cabs pose to their customers. Chief Superintendent Joe Royle of TOCU later said: "We are working together with our policing partners to keep London moving safely by driving down crime and the fear of crime even further. Illegal cabs and touting undermines the legitimate cab trade and raises the fear of |
OPERATION HELVELLYN NABS 24 ILLEGAL CABS But they won’t tell us how many were taxis… |
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Part of Taxiwise Christmas campaign asking: “Which one is the rapist?” But still the touts are there... |
enforcement officers in the
Capital
crime. The Transport Operational Command Unit
regularly targets would be doubled to 68. The Cab
Enforcement Unit has made over 4,000 arrests for
touting and cab-related offences since 2003. We at Call Sign would never complain about these operations, in fact we have been involved with two of them in the past and support them wholeheartedly. But why is it that whenever we ask – as we did on this occasion and just as we have several times in the past – just how many of the 24 were licensed taxis, we get the answer that the breakdown is not available? Could it be that the answer is none and that the PCO’s ambition of equality just doesn’t work, because many PH drivers just can’t survive without touting? John Mason is the new Director of Taxi and Private Hire at the PCO. Let’s see how helpful you can be Mr Mason. Call Sign has given you the question, will you provide an answer? Our magazine is always open to you… |
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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
cab vehicle that they have not booked and to always book a cab
through a reputable PCO
licensed company." Mayor Boris Johnson has taken a tough line on touting and any licensed private hire driver convicted of touting will now lose their PCO driver’s licence. He also announced last year that the number of dedicated cab |
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At Three2go on September 12 |
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marathon down the Lee
Valley from St Margarets, to the 5k chip-timed race
around Hackney Marshes. The 1k fun run and family
festival on Hackney Marsh will round off the day. London taxi drivers will be playing a crucial role in 2012, but our work-life is sedentary – many of us were very fit, others have never got into regular exercise. So Three2go have set up a 5k race just for London cabbies and LTDA are donating a trophy for the winner! Sign on at www.three2go.org.uk Phone 02070917347 or email three2go@madasafish.com |
| Three2go is the third in the annual exciting 2go running race series and family festival, leading up to the London Olympic Games in 2012. It aims for community participation and fun for all the family, with a range of celebrities joining in including elite international triathletes Annie Emmerson and Rachel Joyce. There’s a race for everyone, from the | |
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