If you work nights, you will have seen a line of cars, night after night, illegally parked outside the late night bar "onAnon".
Last night was no different.
As I approached the bar from Piccadilly Circus I saw the line of illegally parked PHV's right back from the entrance of the bar to the pedestrian crossing.
I stopped adjacent to the Mini cab rank and phoned Westminster Parking Services. After initially speaking to Anthony, I was immediately put through to the night call centre manager, Les Wilson, who listened to my complaint and assured me he would send round an officer (CEO) to deal with these cars.
As I sat there waiting to log how long this process actually takes from initial call to warden turning up on site, I saw something, like a dream, a blast from the past, I just couldn't believe my eyes.
Round the corner from the direction of Piccadilly Circus came a London Bobby, on the beat.
He went straight to the mini cab on the back of this rank and told him in a firm manner to "MOVE". As he went along the line, I got out of my Taxi and asked him if he had been sent by Westminster Parking Services, he replied that he had not and this was his beat so to speak.
I told him that I had informed WPS, as in my opinion, these cars illegally parking in front of a venue that holds a PCO license as a satellite office constitutes touting. His reply shocked me again as I was expecting the same old "they can wait to be hired", rubbish.
I stopped adjacent to the Mini cab rank and phoned Westminster Parking Services. After initially speaking to Anthony, I was immediately put through to the night call centre manager, Les Wilson, who listened to my complaint and assured me he would send round an officer (CEO) to deal with these cars.
As I sat there waiting to log how long this process actually takes from initial call to warden turning up on site, I saw something, like a dream, a blast from the past, I just couldn't believe my eyes.
Round the corner from the direction of Piccadilly Circus came a London Bobby, on the beat.
He went straight to the mini cab on the back of this rank and told him in a firm manner to "MOVE". As he went along the line, I got out of my Taxi and asked him if he had been sent by Westminster Parking Services, he replied that he had not and this was his beat so to speak.
I told him that I had informed WPS, as in my opinion, these cars illegally parking in front of a venue that holds a PCO license as a satellite office constitutes touting. His reply shocked me again as I was expecting the same old "they can wait to be hired", rubbish.
He said "No sir this does not constitute touting, it constitutes forming an unauthorised rank, contra to section 46 of the Hackney Carriage act of ........." his words were lost in a storm of abuse from the Private Hire drivers.
He then politely pointed out that I, was indeed double parked and asked me to move along, which I did.
Even as he was telling the drivers to move, other Private Hire Vehicles were stopping and "Putting on", replacing the touts that had moved. One driver refused to move as he "Worked for this club and had been told by Charing Cross Police station that he could legally rank here".
As I pulled away the officer was taking out his note book, but I didn't see what the final outcome was as I wanted to comply with the officers wishes.
He then politely pointed out that I, was indeed double parked and asked me to move along, which I did.
Even as he was telling the drivers to move, other Private Hire Vehicles were stopping and "Putting on", replacing the touts that had moved. One driver refused to move as he "Worked for this club and had been told by Charing Cross Police station that he could legally rank here".
As I pulled away the officer was taking out his note book, but I didn't see what the final outcome was as I wanted to comply with the officers wishes.
30 minutes later.
I passed the venue again and it was smashed alive with touts clambering around the customers as they were leaving. I picked up a young girl who told me,
"Its a nightmare trying to get past those private taxis".
I asked her if she knew, because of the illegal manner in which the journey in one of these vehicles is undertaken, the insurance could be deemed as invalid?
She replied that the drivers of these vehicles tell the customers that Black taxis can't stop at this venue as the RANK is licensed to them and only they can pick up passengers at this bar.
Its Time that the PCO/TfL started to revoke the licenses of the venues that constantly break the conditions of that license. Places such as onAnon, Tiger Tiger, Swallow Street and Heddon Street have no legal parking outside, but still every night we see lines of unlawfully ranking mini cab touts.
Why were these licenses issued in the first place?
Surely the PCO has a duty of care to inspect these premises before a license is issued?
Most of these venues have no legal parking outside and yet TOCU, PCO enforcement and the local councils are just turning a blind eye.
What protection are they offering us for the money we pay for our license?
This situation is not going away. We must demand a judicial enquiry in to the PCO.
This is something we need to do now.
Its Time that the PCO/TfL started to revoke the licenses of the venues that constantly break the conditions of that license. Places such as onAnon, Tiger Tiger, Swallow Street and Heddon Street have no legal parking outside, but still every night we see lines of unlawfully ranking mini cab touts.
Why were these licenses issued in the first place?
Surely the PCO has a duty of care to inspect these premises before a license is issued?
Most of these venues have no legal parking outside and yet TOCU, PCO enforcement and the local councils are just turning a blind eye.
What protection are they offering us for the money we pay for our license?
This situation is not going away. We must demand a judicial enquiry in to the PCO.
This is something we need to do now.
.............................................................................................................
277 rapes in London in October.
Question: "Why are the figures rising so fast" asks the Commissioner of Police.
Answer: because the Police, PCO/TfL and local councils are doing nothing about these illegal touts, most licensed by TfL, who pressure young females into riding in their mini cabs as they leave night clubs. These unlawful ranks have become a breeding ground for predators looking for women who may not be in full control of their own safety.
See article in the Evening Standard Click here
Also see the BBC article Click here
The thing that astonished me is that they highlighted that "some of them are unlicensed"????
ReplyDeleteSurely it should be the other way round,the majority of these assaults are carried out by Licensed PHV drivers!!!!!
Mark
Does the PCO/TFL/POLICE GUARANTEE the insurance of these PHV.
ReplyDeleteMark
Jenny jones has spoke about the amount of rapes that are happening in these vehicles.
ReplyDeleteIts just a shame she doesnt make as much noise as she does about bike lanes
It seems that TfL and The London assembly have missed the point.
ReplyDeletewe have seen the statistics change from 6-8 serious sexual assaults including rapes (Approx 2) every month,To 8-10 rapes ever month.
In fact 277 rapes in London so far this year (to October) over half in journeys taken in unrecorded, touted, Mini cabs.
They are sweeping these figures under the carpet just to clear the streets.