Transport for London (TfL) is launching its annual Safer Travel at Night (STaN) campaign, reminding the public of the dangers of unbooked minicabs and providing advice on how to safely get a taxi (black cab) or booked minicab home over Christmas and the New Year.
More on the Safer Travel at Night campaign: tfl.gov.uk/campaign/safer-travel.
Working alongside the Metropolitan Police (Met) and City of London Police (CoLP), TfL’s enforcement team – which will quadruple to more than 300 officers by next summer – are seeking to combat unbooked minicabs and other illegal activity by targeting priority locations. Officers will also be engaging with revellers to remind them of the importance of planning their journeys home, speaking particularly to those who may be tempted to take an unbooked minicab after a night out.
TfL advises: getting into a minicab that is not booked is dangerous. It is essentially getting into a stranger’s car.
Use a black cab or book the journey through a licensed minicab operator, via a booking app, phone, email or in the minicab office. Minicab operators will have a record of the journey, the driver and the vehicle used so, in the event of any problems, the driver can be traced. Before starting their journey, passengers should also receive vehicle details as well as driver information, including a photo. TfL officers will be speaking directly to minicab operators, reminding them of their responsibilities towards passenger safety.
Steve Burton, TfL’s Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: `We want people to enjoy themselves this festive season, but also stay safe. Working alongside the Police our enforcement teams will be dealing with any illegal taxi or minicab activity and speaking to passengers, drivers and minicab operators to help ensure everyone gets home safely. People should always plan their journey home and if using a minicab, make sure it’s booked with a licensed operator, if it’s not, it’s essentially a stranger’s car. These drivers are breaking the law and putting you at risk.’
Detective Supt. Adnan Qureshi, from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: `Our dedicated taxi and private hire policing officers are at the forefront of tackling illegal taxi and private hire activity and will be out on the streets targeting predatory touts. The officers will be conducting patrols and operations in support of Safer Travel at Night to detect, disrupt and deter criminal activity. Thousands of people in the capital take black cabs and minicabs home in the evening, particularly after a night out. We want to make sure you get home safely so if you’re planning to use a minicab, make sure it’s booked. If it’s not booked, it’s illegal and it’s not safe.’
Customers can report issues or make comment on their journeys in London’s taxi and private hire vehicles online at tfl.gov.uk/forms/12396.aspx.
