Police crackdown on bogus taxi drivers in Hull
TRAFFIC officers are to stop and question taxi drivers in Hull tonight as part of a crackdown on bogus drivers.
It comes after a woman was sexually assaulted in the back of a cab.
-
Checks: Humberside Police running spot checks on taxis and taxi drivers in Hull.
The 24-year-old victim was attacked after calling for a taxi to pick her up from the King George Dock ferry terminal around tea-time on a Friday afternoon.
Now, Humberside Police is planning a major initiative to stop taxis in the city to check they are licensed as the festive party season gets under way.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Casualty reduction officer PC Keith Ward said cars will also be checked to ensure they are road-worthy during the five-hour operation, tying in with late-night shopping.
He said: "We want to reassure the public that we're doing all we can to keep bogus taxis off the road.
"Every year, we organise four or five clampdown sessions around the Christmas and new year period and check hundreds of taxis to make sure the right badges are displayed and the vehicles are safe for passengers.
"We want people to know we aren't letting people drive around in unlicensed taxis, we are doing something about it.
"We will also be checking things like tyres, first aid kits and fire extinguishers.
"Officers do have the power to suspend the taxis until the problem is resolved and they report back to taxi licensing."
PC Ward said there will be two traffic officers stopping taxis from 6.30pm with further divisional support.
He said: "With it being late-night shopping, there will be plenty of cabs about and officers should have a field day. Unless someone gets into a hackney carriage vehicle, they should book a private hire taxi.
"From the front it could be any car and people should be checking for a company logo and plate on the back of the vehicle. If they are unsure, or they ask to see the driver's ID and they hesitate, they should get out immediately."
PC Ward also warned if people get into a unlicensed taxi it could be uninsured.
He said: "In the event of a collision they would not be able to make a claim."
Councillor John Hewitt, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and communities for Hull City Council, said they are working closely with the police to check licences and taxi drivers.
He said: "We want to ensure they are legitimate and protect the public against bogus taxi drivers that should not be operating and are posing a risk."
A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said investigations into the sexual assault are ongoing and CCTV footage is being looked at.
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
Comments
by Dark999knight
Monday, December 24 2012, 11:02AM
“If the police listened to the correct intelagence a sniffer dog would make some searches more productive!”
by bewildered1
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 7:14AM
“Richtreat
"acedriver, surely you could spare a little of your precious time in order that our wives, mothers, girlfriends etc are protected from wierdo's?"
Hi Richtreat- this operation has nothing to do with "bogus" taxi drivers. It is a straightforward check on licences and vehicle safety, the police and licensing department do it every year at this time- check the archives.
They tagged "bogus"" cabs on the end of this as a bit of PR spin to make it look like they were doing something about it.
The officer interviewed gives the game away with this:
"Casualty reduction officer PC Keith Ward said cars will also be checked to ensure they are road-worthy during the five-hour operation, tying in with late-night shopping.
He said: "We want to reassure the public that we're doing all we can to keep bogus taxis off the road."
To be fair to the police the public are in more danger from bad driving and dangerous vehicles than from "bogus" cabs and to set up an operation to catch a potential bogus cab sex attacker would be virtually impossible and extremely expensive.”
by bewildered1
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 7:13AM
“Richtreat
"acedriver, surely you could spare a little of your precious time in order that our wives, mothers, girlfriends etc are protected from wierdo's?"
Hi Richtreat- this operation has nothing to do with "bogus" taxi drivers. It is a straightforward check on licences and vehicle safety, the police and licensing department do it every year at this time- check the archives.
They tagged "bogus"" cabs on the end of this as a bit of PR spin to make it look like they were doing something about it.
The officer interviewed gives the game away with this:
"Casualty reduction officer PC Keith Ward said cars will also be checked to ensure they are road-worthy during the five-hour operation, tying in with late-night shopping.
He said: "We want to reassure the public that we're doing all we can to keep bogus taxis off the road."
To be fair to the police the public are in more danger from bad driving and dangerous vehicles than from "bogus" cabs and to set up an operation to catch a potential bogus cab sex attacker would be virtually impossible and extremely expensive.”
by Richtreat
Monday, December 17 2012, 6:54PM
“acedriver, surely you could spare a little of your precious time in order that our wives, mothers, girlfriends etc are protected from wierdo's?”
by acedriver
Monday, December 17 2012, 8:06AM
“another night of police wasting our precious time,we are struggling to make any money as it is without police tying our time up.why not stop giving taxi licences out and make it one out and one in and we might be able to earn some decent money for working 14 hours a day.the council are idiots.maybe thye police should check how many hours a day some of these immigrant legal taxi drivers are working and see what a risk to the public they are,some are working 18 hour days,and the licensing authorities do nothing about it.you wouldnt get away with it in any other driving job”
by BigJohn
Monday, December 17 2012, 6:56AM
“"Spelling gestapo you got to love them!!!!"
You're so right Dave. Not everyone has had the benefit of a good education and some folk just find spelling difficult. They should be pitied not corrected. (Capital 'G' in 'Gestapo', by the way)”
by dascodave
Sunday, December 16 2012, 4:03PM
“Judging by the picture that runs with this story if the police dont find any faults or misgivings withe the taxi drivers car they will just nab em for parking on double yellow lines instead to get their quota for the day!!!”
by bobsbar
Sunday, December 16 2012, 9:47AM
“Was this like the crackdown on illegal DVD's at Walton St. Market we're only People from the UK were targeted ?”
by smartguy1
Friday, December 14 2012, 7:52PM
“They deliberately said they were doing it Thursday but they actually doing it tonight and tomorrow as the police hadn't realised that Thursday nights are not busy like they used to be doh.”
by glen1954
Friday, December 14 2012, 5:15PM
“Iets hope the bogus taxi drivers dont find out about this clampdown because if they do i have a feeling they will lay low tonight and be out tomorrow night and until another warning is publicised.”