A BLACK cab driver is calling for tougher enforcement on mini cab drivers in an area that is blighted by unlicensed cab drivers illegally touting on the street.

Peter Rose, who is also the secretary for UNITE Cab Section, London Branch, has been campaigning for a taxi rank outside nightclub, Funky Mojoe in South Woodford, which he says is a known hot spot.

He says that minicabs, who stop people on the street are breaking regulations, which state that all private hire drivers have to be pre-booked and this is putting lives at risk.

Mr Rose said: “The licensing laws are there for a reason, for the safety of the public.

“The danger of people getting into these unlicensed cabs is that the journey’s are not being recorded, so if people get into trouble it is harder to track.

“This is putting people at risk and it is particularly dangerous for females.

“We are not against people going out and enjoying themselves, because it provides business for the taxis, but we need to make sure that things are done properly.”

Following a visit last December with a TfL officer, from the London Taxi and Private Hire (LTPH) department, they were stopped more than once while walking from George Lane towards the High Street and subsequently, the area was made a priority.

Regular patrols by the Met’s Safer Transport police officers were stepped up, but following another visit last month with the Deputy Director of LTPH from TfL, who license all taxi and private hire drivers, he claims that the situation has not changed.

For the past several months, several anti-touting operations have been conducted and black taxi drivers and local cab companies have previously spoken out about the problem, saying they were losing business and criticised the police of doing little to help.

Redbridge Council has said both mini cabs and black cabs are regulated by the London Carriage office and that enforcement is carried out by the Metropolitan Police.

source: http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/