The Eagle has landed, and Operation Nightingale is in the can !...By our man on the front line Steve.

Well folks, it is done. The Eagle has landed, and Operation Nightingale is in the can !

My covert operation against mini cab touts and the lack of their enforcement, is now finished. Many thanks to the BBC for giving us such precious air time, I know that as a trade, we will all be grateful. Going out on Wednesday and Friday night of last week, we managed to get some outstanding footage, and to be honest, I was horrified at what it really is like.

Friday night at Embargo and Crazy Larry's, I sat outside at around the time our chaps were due. In the back of the cab, were the cameraman, reporter and a security consultant from the Parachute Regiment. He was there, simply to protect the cameraman. And he was needed !!

We sat outside the spot, watching what was happening.
At that time at about 01:15, our lads were busy coming back and forth, like little bees, trapping jobs all the time. I could see the touts parked up, and getting the hump about the presence of the licensed cabs "nicking their work" GGRRRRRRR! I wanted to get out the cab and scatter the scummy bastards, but of course, remained professional at all times.

I pointed out the unrest and agitation of one of the touts, and made the reporter and cameraman aware of him. I told them, that in my opinion, it would be this tout, that would give us a decent bit of footage soon, and how right I was ! They zoomed in on him, and waited. He was getting more and more of the hump at our lads pulling up and "nicking his work!" ( yeah, I know. Don't start me off!)

We waited another few minutes and then the exciting stuff happened.
A chap came out of Crazy Larry's, and approached my window, asking me to take him to Wimbledon. Probably as a result of having a few beers, he didn't notice the professional set up in the back of my cab, ie the cameraman with huge camera, headphones etc.
I politely explained that there were "passengers" in my cab, and advised him to wait outside the club door, and within minutes, a licensed London taxi would pick him up.
He did as I had advised, and stood outside the club door.

Then........Bingo ! Our agitated scummmy crook, approaches the guy. I was wired up with sound earpiece and microphone, sellotaped to my back, and running up into my ear. I quickly instructed the camera, that if it looked like a tout deal was about to be struck, I would leap from the cab and confront him. I was praying that one of our own lads, didn't appear at this very moment, as I badly wanted to trap this guy.

My prayers were answered.
The camera and the fantastic microphone on it, picked up the conversation of the illegal touting transaction, and they approached the touts car.I gave the reporter and camera and security the signal that I was getting out in 5 seconds. I counted down on my fingers, and at the same time, all 3 doors of my cab burst open, and I confronted the tout. A heated argument swiftly ensued, as the scum tried to tell me that the green disc on the back of his motor was a "licence" to carry this out. As you may imagine, I was having none of this, and was letting him know it. They would have heard me in Chelsea Harbour !

With that, the doorman, a big lump of middle eastern appearance, attempted to push me away and put his face into mine. He was screaming at the top of his voice, that they were "his" drivers and worked for him. After telling him that this is illegal, I explained to him the error of his ways and the fact that his breath smelt like shite. So there we stood, both around 6 foot 3 , neither of us, giving an inch ! At this stage, the security back up were getting concerned, as the tout was trying to push the camera away. I instructed security to deal with the actions of the tout, and I would have the doorman.

Without spoiling the surprise, this carried on for about 10 minutes, and take it from me as I have seen it, it was ten minutes of blinding footage. The expertise of the cameraman was superb, especially as this was quite a hairy moment.

Our next port of call was Nobu.
We got Ponytail and the clipboard, blatantly coming out to a tout, saying " there's 5 for Stratford, gimmee 20 quid" The black tout of Kenyan/Ghana nationality, hands over the score, and off they go. All on film ! I have got WCC Parking attendants, walking up to the fat Egyptian in the silver Merc, and laughing and joking, as if they were long lost brothers. AND whilst double parked illegally. All on film !

Next, we tried to get to Tiger Tiger, but due to an accident, the Haymarket was closed, and we were forced into Coventry Street. I noticed an obvious tout car further down the road, and again, alerted the crew. I instinctively knew he would try to pick up. We followed him into Shaftesbury Avenue.........Bosh !

I again jumped out, crew in tow, and prevented the young lady from getting in the touts car. The driver half fancied a row, but when he saw the film crew his bottle went, and he bolted. We then plotted up outside Ronnie Scotts, and got some great footage. I got home at 6 in the morning, absolutely knackered, but delighted at our efforts. We really do have some blinding footage of touting offences in London.

I tell you who we couldn't get any film of though..........TOCU !
I wonder why that was. Maybe they were hidden undercover somewhere, or not there at all.....who knows. Incidental, the "leading mini cab" company initially invited to give their views did not turn up for the research meetings, so were not included in the documentary. That's a shame, isn't it . The editor has told me that hopefully, a clip of the filming may be shown on BBC London news, sometime this week, and the rest of it all, sometime next month. She reminded me though, that as with all this stuff, preference is given to national importance of news stories.

So we shall have to keep our fingers crossed, as to when the whole thing goes out. I would like to give eternal thanks to the crew of the BBC that I worked with, it really was a pleasure. As for me, I hope you agree that it is job done as far as this little bit of business is concerned.

The fight goes on though.
We have much to do. Well done you guys at Embargo last Friday night. I had a lump in my throat watching you. It really was effective. May I say, that the real heroes here, are of course, the night driving colleagues of ours, who night after night, have to put up with these appalling conditions on the streets of our capital, simply because of lack of proper enforcement.

I have no personal issues with TOCU, only professional ones. They are simply not punching above their weight, and it is a free for all out there. Incidentally, I also managed to get damming footage of the pedi cab epidemic, with dangerous riding, no lights etc etc.The film crew could not believe the authorities were letting it happen.

On a personal note, I was embarrassed to be a Londoner last night.
That wasn't the London I want to be associated with. It is writhing and thriving on the absolute filth from every country in the world. That is not diversity and freedom, that is simply abuse and unfair advantage. It is bringing London and Londoners into disrepute, and quite frankly, is a disgrace.

Well done to ex Mayor Ken Livingstone.
You have achieved your dream, and the centre of London in the dark hours, now resembles a third world country. Our poverty and lack of control, is on display for the world to see. What a shame, what a terrible shame. Meanwhile, to celebrate our efforts, I am going to have a nice fried breakfast, and a big mug of tea. After that, I'm gonna try and get my model wife to put her Jimmy Choo high heels on and yellow and red dress, and sit and read the papers in bed. I like anything like that........................ Take care all. God Bless and be lucky.
Steve.


If you feel as strongly as Steve about this problem and want to do something to help, then join in the LTDF email campaign............Click Here