Police Refuse to Uphold the Law

Tuesday night 25th of August, just before midnight. Berkeley Street, Mayfair, outside Nobu.
Two police officers are called by the restaurant to move cabs on that are forming an unofficial rank, taking back the work that is being stolen night after night at this location by clipboard men illegally touting on the pavement outside Nobu and the Funky Buddha.


I parked up in Stratton Street and stood by the two police officers. While I was there along with two other cab drivers, it became quite evident that a clip board man from the restaurant Nobu, was openly taking bookings on the pavement outside the premises.

I asked one of the police officers if he would observe with us what was happening right in font of him.
He replied that he was only there to move on the Taxis that were contravening article 33 of the Hackney carriage act (which he had on a piece of paper in his hand) and that he wasn't interested in any other offence that might be taking place.

As he was speaking, a driver of a Licensed PHV walked up to a customer leaving the Funky Buddha Night club and asked him if he required a TAXI. The customer was then taken to a PHV parked on the kerb outside the club and the driver walked up to the clipboard man and shouted out "Highbury Guv" at which point the clip board man stepped forward and started to write on his board. This action was in direct contravention of the Private hire act 1998 and according to PCO press release 19/09 constitutes touting, which is an arrestable offence.

All this took place in front of officer CW2969, it was pointed out by myself and two colleagues but to no avail, he flatly refused to up hold the law in the face of this criminal act. All he was interested in was moving on the licensed taxi's.


Just what is going on at these establishments?
Surely a criminal offence takes residence over a traffic offence?
Why are the police refusing to enforce criminal law?
How come when the restaurant call the police they turn up immediately?
When we call the police to move on the touts they don't come?

London has become a lawless city at night with the police taking virtually no action to stop these criminal acts taking place.
The public are being subjected to intimidation at the point of leaving venues, placed in cars with the drivers asking for exorbitant fares.
The rate of serious sexual assaults occuring in PHV's has increased, currently running at approx 8 including 2 rapes every month.

But still the police take no action.
In fact they are encouraging late night revellers to take these vehicles, just to clear the streets.
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Don't let Assembly member Murad Qureshi see this!